
Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
20: Speaking Canadian and Australian English in a British-American binary
May 17, 2018
Hosts Lauren Gawne and Gretchen McCulloch, along with guest Lynne Murphy, delve into the relationship between Canadian and Australian English and the dominant British and American varieties. They touch on topics such as the history and formation of Australian English, differences in language usage and spelling pronunciation in Canadian English, and the unique language distinctions between the national varieties. They also explore the semantic differences of words like 'soup' and 'frown' in UK versus North American usage.
38:56
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Quick takeaways
- Politeness strategies in British and American English differ, with the use of 'please' being essential in British English but potentially too explicit in American English, leading to confusion and cultural clashes.
- Semantic differences can exist within seemingly shared words and concepts, as seen with the different meanings of 'frown' in British and American English, highlighting the importance of paying attention to small linguistic nuances.
Deep dives
The Differences Between British and American English Politeness
Lynn Murphy's book 'The Prodigal Tongue' explores the differences in politeness between British and American English. In British English, using the word 'please' is crucial for politeness, while in American English, it can sound too explicit and commanding. Americans tend to minimize the imposition by using different verb forms or asking in a more indirect manner. On the other hand, Brits believe that not using 'please' is impolite, regardless of other polite expressions used. This difference in politeness strategies can lead to confusion and cultural clashes between speakers of British and American English.
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