Short answer: NO, I don't. Sorry, I won't come back speaking the Queen's English. Though, I am slightly less awful at imitating it, and I'm even starting to be able to tell the differences between people's accents from different parts of the UK.
One thing I have picked up on though, is the different expressions used in every day speech. I've found that using British English with natives here facilitates conversations and prevents people from looking at me funny. For example, I once had a conversation that went sort of like this:
Me: "Excuse me, could you tell me where the movie theater is?"
Stranger: "What?"
Me: "The movie theater?"
Stranger: "The what?"
Me: "The cinemas?"
Stranger: "Oh, it's right over there."
Therefore, here I will attempt to give you a side by side comparison of American English expressions and their most common British counterparts, in categories. Differences in pronunciations are included as well.
FOOD and KITCHEN
cilantro = coriander
ground beef = mince
cookies = biscuits (only the oven baked ones-choc chip, sugar, etc. are "cookies")
biscuits (like the KFC ones) = scones (pronounced scONs)
yogurt (in a small container) = pot of yogurt
oREgano = "oreGAno"
basil = basil (rhymes with "dazzle")
saran wrap/cling wrap = cling film
scotch tape = cello tape
OUT AND ABOUT
sidewalk = pavement (even if it is made of tiles)
highway = motorway
handicapped = disabled
truck (a big one) = lorry
movie theater = cinemas
store = shop
shopping carriage/cart = trolley
car (on a subway or train) = carriage
line (of people) = queue
show/concert = gig
elevator = lift
exit = way out
mail = post
gas/gasoline = petrol
gas/gasoline = petrol
SCHOOL
private school = public school
public school = state school
private school = public school
public school = state school
high school/secondary school = college
college = university
professor = tutor
a senior/head of department = professor
office hours = surgery session
study = revise
MISCELLANEOUS
tired = knackered
really good = quite nice
friend = mate
cool = cool/wicked
expiration date = expiry date
has expired = has gone off
wasted (drunk) = pissed
too lazy/don't feel like it = can't be bothered
cell phone = mobile phone ("mo-BYEL")
crazy = mental
10 pounds (£) = 10 quid, or a "tenner"
50 pence = 50p ("fifty pee")
10 pounds (£) = 10 quid, or a "tenner"
50 pence = 50p ("fifty pee")
half past two = half two
aluminum = aluminium ("a-loo-MIN-ee-um")
THINGS THAT AREN'T WORDS BUT ARE INTERESTING NONETHELESS
-The most often quoted unit for weight of a person is stone (1 stone = 14 pounds); metric kg are also used, but less often. Pounds (lbs) are almost never used for people.
-Speed limit signs are all quoted in mph, not km/h; distances are quoted in miles on signs.
-There is no Wal-Mart here, but ASDA is owned by them.
-American chocolate sucks.
-They use real cane sugar in everything (not high fructose corn syrup).
-Tea goes best with digestive biscuits.
THINGS THAT AREN'T WORDS BUT ARE INTERESTING NONETHELESS
-The most often quoted unit for weight of a person is stone (1 stone = 14 pounds); metric kg are also used, but less often. Pounds (lbs) are almost never used for people.
-Speed limit signs are all quoted in mph, not km/h; distances are quoted in miles on signs.
-There is no Wal-Mart here, but ASDA is owned by them.
-American chocolate sucks.
-They use real cane sugar in everything (not high fructose corn syrup).
-Tea goes best with digestive biscuits.
-"Oriental" is not offensive
-certain words spelled with double consonants in America are spelled with one in the UK, and vice versa; for example--enrollment = enrolment; traveling = travelling
So, if I do say one or more of these things when I do come home, please don't hold it against me. It will take some time to get back into the swing of things.Cheers!
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