All Questions
Tagged with dialects word-usage
79 questions
5
votes
1
answer
362
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Is "wheat skin color" a thing in any dialect of English or just a bad translation from Chinese?
While shopping for action figures, I came across various sellers offering "wheat skin" colored figures, for example here and probably more notably Walmart.
That color seems to be what I'd ...
- 291
1
vote
0
answers
47
views
Prefixing a road name or number with "the" -- geographical preference or proper English? [duplicate]
In reading about the LA Freeway Fire this week, it struck me (from the East Coast) as very awkward when they consistently refer to roads by prefixing them with "the". i.e., "The I-10&...
- 111
2
votes
0
answers
117
views
Where does the subcontinental usage of 'one' to mean 'named' come from?
Sometimes, when reading texts published in India, written by authors of Indian origin, I notice a usage of the word one in the sense of 'named,' or 'is called.' For instance, it's present in this ...
- 8,646
1
vote
1
answer
53
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In what varieties of English is "working" used (as a gerund) instead of "work" (as a noun)?
A recent question on the English Language Learners Stack Exchange concerned the use of the phrase "have been knowing" (as opposed to "have known"). While the latter is standard in ...
- 628
3
votes
3
answers
397
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Dialectal variation in subtleties of usage of the word "sore"
I grew up in southern England, and now live in Scotland. There are many interesting and well-known quirks of usage that differ between Southern English English and the various Scottish dialects and ...
- 213
3
votes
0
answers
118
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"Yeap" and "yep" and "yeah" [duplicate]
Is the use of "Yeap" and "yep" and "yeah", more predominant in different English speaking countries, or is it more a matter of personal preference?
UPDATE: The ...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
56
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phonetics of certain words with "i"
I have from time to time noticed the different pronunciations of some words like civilization and organization where the "i" phonetically sounds like "aay". It is more clear in ...
- 13
3
votes
1
answer
455
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What is the origin of extra prepositions added after verbs in Indian English?
It seems that speakers of Indian English often add prepositions to create phrasal verbs in situations where the verb would have been sufficient on its own.
Some examples I have noticed:
to “pass out” ...
- 1,816
1
vote
2
answers
192
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"Best" as a sign-off in a chat message
A new colleague of mine, a native English speaker with whom I have only communicated via text, used "Best!" at the end of a chat message.
Does this signify anything to the extent of "...
- 113
1
vote
0
answers
43
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Pronouncing Diacritics Aloud [closed]
When pronouncing diacritics aloud, how would you say words with a tilde or macron?
For example, how would you spell jalapeño and/or Māori?
Would you say “n-tilde” and “a-macron”? I assume that’s ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
3k
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Difference between "greater than" and "greater then"? [closed]
What are there a difference between the following sentences?
They are pronounced the same or? Maybe it depends on the dialect?
A: Are you sure 'x' is "greater than" 'y'.
B: Are you sure 'x' is "...
- 620
1
vote
0
answers
63
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Are there English dialects that still use the verb "to snithe"?
Wiktionary says that it's used in some dialects in Northern England, but I wonder if that information is still up-to-date. Have you personally heard the verb being used?
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
177
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The use of the preposition 'about' in a distinct sense
The ODE defines the preposition about in such a distinct sense that other dictionaries don't:
1.1 So as to affect.
I Just found one example of 'about' used in such a sense: 'there's nothing we can ...
- 4,657
2
votes
2
answers
8k
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Is there a clear preferred usage between *lifespan* and *life span*
I haven't been able to find any clear guidance on this. To me, life span looks wrong, but I have no evidence to support my intuition.
A tentative look (webster vs oxford) suggests that perhaps BrE ...
- 1,151
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Using the word 'tiffin' to refer to a lunch box
In "Indian English" (whatever that means) the word 'tiffin' is used to refer to lunch boxes in south Asia. Please feel free to Google the word if you want a picture of what such lunch boxes look like.
...
- 311
1
vote
0
answers
79
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What is the name of this American/British dialectic phenomenon? [duplicate]
When telling stories in the past tense, I've noticed that Americans will tend to say "I was standing on stage..." or "I was sitting at our table at Friendly's last night when..." while the Brits will ...
4
votes
1
answer
352
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Which English dialect(s) use "ennet" to mean "duck"?
Since at least Old English, the word duck has been used to describe the aquatic bird, derived from the verb to duck: Proto-Germanic *dūkaną. However, in most other Germanic languages, a word with a ...
- 5,190
10
votes
3
answers
15k
views
What does "sectarian" mean on this train poster?
I was astonished to learn that in Britain you can be sentenced to five years in prison for using the technical jargon of a particular religious denomination in public. This is based on this poster:
...
- 2,564
5
votes
1
answer
7k
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Fantastic and fantastical
In my own idiolect, "fantastic" can mean "having fantasy elements" or, metaphorically, "very good," while "fantastical" can only have the literal sense. So, for instance, a fairy tale might be "...
- 2,639
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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Do "multiple choice" questions always have only one correct answer?
In most dictionary definitions it seems that "multiple choice" questions actually refer to questions where only one "correct" answer among several choices is expected to be chosen (...
- 542
3
votes
2
answers
3k
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Can you use 'fun' as an adjective? [duplicate]
I was walking to school (England) with my eight-year-old talking about stuff she'd been doing the day before. At some point she said that something had been "...funner..." than something else.
I did ...
- 18.1k
5
votes
1
answer
3k
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What's the semantic content of the word "yo" in the speech of Jesse from Breaking Bad, and in which dialects is this construct found in the real world
So I've been watching breaking bad. A really interesting dialectical feature of the character Jesse, is his use of the word "yo".
At first I thought nothing of it, it's just "slang&...
- 1,151
-4
votes
1
answer
153
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Usage of "better" and "than" in: "I like the Christmas tree better than her" [closed]
What is wrong with the following sentence?
I like the Christmas tree better than her.
When I said it I wanted to emphasize that I don't like her and that I think the Christmas tree is better than ...
- 3
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What does the word "please" do?
Does please make any statement a question? Is it polite?
"TAKE OUT THE TRASH" vs. "Take out the trash, please" is one an option?
My son says when I say please it makes it a ...
10
votes
2
answers
2k
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Origin of "even you" without connotations of surprise/insult/praise? (Indian English)
I live in southern India, and I've noticed that in Indian English, the word "even" can be used without indicating surprise, as it does elsewhere.
Some examples:
Even you should be able to ...
- 3,295
8
votes
2
answers
710
views
"the 'first/last' of the [day/night/week, etc.]" for "the 'beginning/end' of the [day/night/week, etc.]
Where in the U.S. and Canada do they say, at the first/last of [the day/night/week, etc.] for at the beginning/end of [the day/night/week, etc.]?
Luck had it that they only experienced a very minor ...
- 43.1k
4
votes
1
answer
18k
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"receptacle" vs. "outlet" in AmEng
What's the difference between receptacle and outlet to cal the device in a wall you put a plug into in order to provide electricity for a lamp, television, etc.?
outlet
(also receptacle, ...
- 43.1k
0
votes
1
answer
2k
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"The Stars and Stripes" vs. "Old Glory" vs. "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Is there a difference in using any which of those terms to call the national flag of the U.S.?
Which one is most commonly used?
The Stars and Stripes
The national flag of the U.S., consisting of 13 ...
- 43.1k
0
votes
1
answer
10k
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"call someone/something" vs. "call someone/something up" for "make a phone call to someone/something
What's the difference between call and call up to mean make a telephone call to? Is the latter any more informal than the former, or is it mainly a regional thing?
call someone or something up
To ...
- 43.1k
8
votes
4
answers
17k
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"exhibition" vs. "exposition" vs. "exhibit" in AmEng
What's the difference between those words with regard to a public showing, as of goods or works of art? Can these be used interchangeably?
Both "exhibit" and "exposition" are ...
- 43.1k
2
votes
1
answer
5k
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Is "put someone on/over to" for "put someone through/connect someone to" idiomatic?
Where in the English speaking world do they say, "put someone on/over [to]" for "put someone through/connect someone [to]" as in:
If you'd like to speak direct to one of our ...
- 43.1k
3
votes
2
answers
8k
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"throw out/away" vs. "toss (out)" vs. "pitch (out/away)" for "dispose of; discard; get rid of as worthless or useless" in AmEng
What's the difference between "throw out/away," "toss out," and "pitch (out/away)" to mean, "get rid of as worthless or unnecessary"? Can these be used just ...
- 43.1k
6
votes
2
answers
503
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This baby-walking device is called a ([prefix]-)[name] by people from [location]
It shouldn't be hard to agree that people around the world have babies, and people with babies like to take walks with their babies. So we invented various wheeled devices to securely hold baby ...
- 13k
6
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Usage of "homework," "schoolwork," and "assignment" in AmEng for schoolwork given to students to do at home
As far as AmEng goes, is there any difference in using either homework, schoolwork, or assignment to call schoolwork given to students to be done at home? Can these be used just about interchangeably?
...
- 43.1k
1
vote
1
answer
206
views
"separate" and "terminate" for "dismiss/discharge" from employment in AmEng
According to Oxford Dictionary Online,
separate
US Discharge or dismiss (someone) from service or employment.
terminate
chiefly North American End the employment of (someone); dismiss:
...
- 43.1k
2
votes
1
answer
6k
views
"downtime" vs. "time off" vs. "free time" vs. "spare time" in AmEng vernacular
How do those terms differ from each other?
downtime
North American A time of reduced activity or inactivity:
everyone needs downtime to unwind ODO
spare time
Noun
time available for hobbies and ...
- 43.1k
1
vote
2
answers
150
views
"flat," "stone," "dead," "dirt," "plumb," and "right" as indicators of directness, completeness, or general intensity [closed]
What's the difference between those words? Can they be used just about interchangeably as adverbs indicating completeness or totality?
Please, compare:
Looking back over my years of wildlife work, ...
- 43.1k
3
votes
1
answer
1k
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"Poor as Job's cat"
In which part(s) of the U.S. can one still hear the colorful simile, (as) poor as Job's cat?
poor as Job - Poverty-stricken, indigent, destitute. The allusion is to the extreme poverty which befell ...
- 43.1k
4
votes
2
answers
395
views
Usage of the verb "squinch" in AmEng
Collins American English Dictionary says:
squinch (skwɪntʃ)
(US)
transitive verb
to squint (the eyes); squinched up her eyes in disgust. M-W
2.
a. to pucker ...
- 43.1k
3
votes
1
answer
3k
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"stop over" vs. "stop off" vs. "lay over" in AmEng vernacular
What's the difference between those terms? Can they be used just about interchangeably?
stopover n./stop over v.
Dictionary.com
noun A brief stop in the course of a journey, as to eat, sleep, or ...
- 43.1k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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"available (availability)" vs. "valid (validity)" for "having sufficient power or efficacy" in AmEng vernacular
Per Random House Webster's College Dictionary, Ed. 1991,
available
suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand:
I used whatever tools were available.
readily obtainable; ...
- 43.1k
2
votes
5
answers
522
views
Ambiguous meaning of NAmEng sense of "skill" in Harrap's English-French Dictionary
Harrap's New Shorter English-French/French-English Dictionary, Ed. 1982, states,
skill
n
1. habileté f, adresse f, dextérité f; technical skill, habileté, aptitude f, technique; ...
- 43.1k
1
vote
4
answers
3k
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"crash" vs. "wreck" for [road/air] accident in AmEng
What's the difference between those terms in relation to a road or air accident?
crash
verb
(Aeronautics) to cause (an aircraft) to hit land or water violently resulting in severe damage ...
- 43.1k
5
votes
2
answers
2k
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"The government 'is' always changing 'their' mind" in AmEng
Why would using the construct "is/their" instead of "is/its" in the following examples likely be frowned upon by some native speakers and marked as incorrect on tests?
The class ...
- 43.1k
1
vote
1
answer
133
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...if somebody would've just did it
(This would never have happened) "...if somebody would've just did it."
(Just heard on 'Undercover Boss' (US TV))
I know this is 'wrong'. And I realise that it is 'colloquial' (belonging to common ...
- 18.1k
4
votes
1
answer
134
views
Are "pay phones" still, if ever, called "pay stations" in the U.S.?
What is pay station in the U.S.?
If you look it up, say, on ODO, it is defined as an AmEng equivalent of pay phone.
pay station: n. US term for pay phone ODO
Now, if you search Google Images for ...
- 43.1k
10
votes
3
answers
18k
views
"jam," "jelly," and "jello" in AmEng vernacular
What exactly is the fruit preserve called "jam" in the U.S.?
Is it what is referred to in France as "confiture"?
If so, then what would be the French for,
what is called "jelly" in the U.S. ("jam" ...
- 43.1k
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
"pocketbook" for "wallet" in AmEng vernacular
Is pocketbook a common term for wallet in AmEng vernacular, or is it primarily recognized as another word for "purse/handbag"?
If indeed a relatively commonly used word for "wallet/...
- 43.1k
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
"woodsy" vs. "woody" for "covered with trees/wooded" in NAmEng
What's the difference between those terms?
Context would be a quaint little village nestled into a hillside covered with trees, sort of like this one.
WOODY:
4. Abounding in trees; wooded. (...
- 43.1k
3
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Collective "linens" vs. "linen" in AmEng vernacular
What's the difference in using the uncountable noun linen either in the plural or in the singular to refer to articles or garments, such as sheets, tablecloths, or underwear?
How did originally ...
- 43.1k