Brit Blog - ANGLOPHILES UNITED

TONIGHT! CENTRAL PARK! THE GREAT BRITISH RUN!

5/31/2012

Tonight’s the night! Anglophiles in the NYC area simple MUST be at Central Park for the Great British Run, sponsored by the British Embassy to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The race is 6K—one kilometer for each decade of the Queen’s reign. Registration opens at 6:00 p.m. and the race begins at 7:30. Participants and spectators are encouraged to wear British-style clothing—or clothing that reflects the British spirit. There’ll even be a costume contest! Also on hand: live British music, rugby players, and much more!

I’m not running, but I’ll certainly be at the race--so look me up! Registration is $20, and all proceeds go to two wonderful British charities. Even if you’re not running, you can register (as I will)—thus contribute to the charities. Also, registrants receive a swell gift bag and a chance to win roundtrip tickets from NYC to London!

Zella says: BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

For more info about this exciting event HERE

BRITISH ENGLISH vs AMERICAN ENGLISH

5/30/2012

[Note: This is a continuation from yesterday’s blog in which I presented Britishism that began with the letters “a” through “g.” Today, I present those beginning with “h” through “l.”]

Once upon a time, I worked for a very large New York City book publisher, who, periodically, gave me British books to “Americanize” before publishing the books for American readers. I changed both British spellings and British words that were foreign to Americans. Of course, being a royal (lowercase “r”) Anglophile, I loved this task!

In the United States, nearly all book publishers today use the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a reference for spelling and word meanings—while UK editors use the Oxford English Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster dictionary is a direct descendant of the famous dictionary that Noah Webster wrote, An American Dictionary of the English Language. Webster, a Connecticut Yankee who studied at Yale, was a lexicographer and English spelling reformer. He thought British spellings were unnecessarily complex and simplified them—thus, for example, giving us “honor” instead of “honour.” With two English-speaking countries calling upon different dictionaries to supply “proper English,” little wonder American English and British English parted ways. Such would have been the case anyway, with the distance between our countries, but differing reference books helped cement the deal.

When I first started Americanizing books, I was quite surprised to find almost all of the unfamiliar words in the British books were, actually, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary—but they were typically labeled “chiefly British variant.” Seeing words used in wonderful new ways fascinated me! And like any good Anglophile, I soon incorporated them into my own vocabulary. I hope you will too!

Below is an index of British words that confound many Americans. Because the entire list is a bit long, I’ll present the information in my next few blogs posts. Enjoy!

Britishism / Americanism

H

hair slide = barrette

headmaster/headmistress = principal

hire = rent

hob = stove cook-top

holiday = vacation

holiday-maker = vacationer

hooter = nose

Hoover (trade name) = vacuum

hot flush = hot flash

housing estate = subdivision

I

ice lolly = popsicle

immersion heater = hot water heater

indicator (on a car) – turn sigle

inverted commas = quotation marks

J

jam = jelly

jelly = Jell-o (trade name)

jim-jams = jammies, pajamas

Jobcentre = employment office

joiner = cabinetmaker

judder = vibrate

jumper = sweater

K

kerfuffle = fuss, commotion

kettle = tea kettle

kip = sleep

kirby grip = hairpin

knackered = tired, exhausted

knickers = panties

L

ladybird = ladybug

larder = pantry

launderette = Laundromat

lavatory = bathroom, rest room

lead (electrical) = electrical cord

leasehold = property that may be purchased or sold but belongs to a third-party

let = offer for rent

letter-box = mailbox

lido = public outdoor swimming pool

lift = elevator

lipsalve = ChapStick (trade name)

litter bin = trash can

loft = attic

loo = john, toilet

lounge = family room

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AMERICAN ENGLISH VS. BRITISH ENGLISH

5/29/2012

Once upon a time, I worked for a very large New York City book publisher, who, periodically, gave me British books to “Americanize” before publishing the books for American readers. I changed both British spellings and British words that were foreign to Americans. Of course, being a royal (lowercase “r”) Anglophile, I loved this task!

In the United States, nearly all book publishers today use the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a reference for spelling and word meanings—while UK editors use the Oxford English Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster dictionary is a direct descendant of the famous dictionary that Noah Webster wrote, An American Dictionary of the English Language. Webster, a Connecticut Yankee who studied at Yale, was a lexicographer and English spelling reformer. He thought many British spellings were unnecessarily complex and simplified them—thus, for example, giving us “honor” instead of “honour.” With two English-speaking countries calling upon different dictionaries to supply “proper English,” little wonder American English and British English parted ways. Such would have been the case anyway, with the distance between our countries, but differing reference books helped cement the deal.

When I first started Americanizing books, I was quite surprised to find almost all of the unfamiliar words in the British books were, actually, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary—but they were typically labeled “chiefly British variant.” Seeing words used in wonderful new ways fascinated me! And like any good Anglophile, I soon incorporated the British words into my own vocabulary. I hope you will too!

Below is an index of British words that I think may confound many Americans. Because the entire list is a bit long, I’ll present the information in my next few blogs posts. Enjoy!

Britishism / Americanism

A

advert = ad, advertisement

amongst = among

aubergine = eggplant

B

banger = sausage

barmy = nutty

barrister = trial lawyer in an English superior court

baths = public swimming pool

(the) beeb = BBC

beefburger = hamburger

blighter = contemptible person

bloke = a guy (informal)

bloody = damn (mildly offensive)

bobby = cop

bonnet (of car) = car hood

boot (of car) = car trunk

braces = suspenders

brilliant = great, fantastic, cool

brolly = umbrella

bum = butt, buns

busker = street musician

C

car park = parking lot

cashpoint = ATM machine

castor sugar = confectioners’ sugar

chap = guy, fellow

cheeky = nervy, sassy, bold

cheerio = good-bye

cheers = thanks or good-bye

chemist (store) = drugstore, pharmacy

chips = French fries

Christian name = first name

cinema = movie theater

city center = downtown

cling film = plastic wrap, such as Saran Wrap

cloakroom = coat-check room or bathroom (i.e., toilets)

concession (when buying admission tickiets) = discount

conk = nose

copper = cop

cornet (for ice cream) = cone

cot = baby crib

council estate = public housing project

crisps = potato chips

cuppa = cup of tea

c.v. (curriculum vitae) = resume or curriculum vitae

D

daft = stupid

demerara sugar = brown sugar

digestive biscuit = similar to a graham cracker

draughts = checkers (game)

dressing gown = bathrobe

dummy (for infant) = pacifier

E

Elastoplast (trademark name) = Band-Aid (trademark name)

elevenses = mid-morning tea break

en suite = a sleeping room (in home or hotel) with attached bathroom

estate agent = real-estate agent

F

fag = cigarette

faggot = type of meatball

fire (gas or electric) = heater

fizzy drink = carbonated soda of any type

flannel = wash cloth

flat = apartment (rented or owned, such as a condo)

flatmate = roommate

flautist = flutist

football (game or ball) = soccer (game or ball)

fortnight = two weeks

freehold = unrestricted ownership of real estate

fringe (hair) = bangs

G

garden = yard

gawp = gawk

git (person) = a fool

goods lift = freight elevator

goose-pimples = goose bumps

gymkhana = horse-show competition

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GEEKY ANGLOPHILES UNITE!

5/28/2012

My inner geekiness is all excited this morning! I just discovered the most STELLAR pop-up show in London: “The Enlightenment Cafe,” being performed this upcoming weekend at the Old Vic Tunnels, beneath Waterloo Station. The show is an interactive blend of theater and science, with each performance having its own specific scientific theme that gets expressed through zany scientific experiments, “speed debating,” and other entertaining theatrics. What a hoot! If I were on the other side of the pond, I would surely be there!

The Enlightenment Café harkens back to 17th century coffeehouses, called “penny universities.” At that time, across Britain and Europe, the intelligentsia moved from the tavern to the coffeehouse, where they talked about and debated important issues of the day. Now you, too, can experience those heady times at The Enlightenment Café!

The Enlightenment Cafe show dates: Thursday – Sunday, May 31 – June 3

Price: ₤15 + booking fee

For ticket info and list of each performances’ scientific theme, click HERE

NEED EVEN MORE GEEKINESS IN YOUR LIFE? Then check out this list of most excellent lectures taking place in London this upcoming week. Topics ranging from society to architecture to particle physics are covered. Attend a few lectures, then cap off your week by seeing The Enlightenment Café—that’s my suggestion! For list of upcoming brainiac lectures in London this week, click HERE

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PRINCE CHARLES "GETTING DOWN"

5/27/2012

Ack! You may want to avert your eyes! In this video, Prince Charles is attempting to be "hip"--not an attribute that comes easily to His Royal Highness, most would agree. The Prince, still on his Diamond Jubilee Tour of Canada, dropped by a music workshop for aspiring DJs at UforChange in Toronto yesterday. Charles' ability to "get down" may be a bit impaired, but hey, he's trying his level best! Go, Charles!

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ARE YOU AN ANGLOPHILE?

5/26/2012

Are you an Anglophile?

We Anglophiles just can't help ourselves: We need to express our British alter egos. Some display Union Jacks, as has our fellow Anglophile, the "odd man out," in this photo. Some cross the pond every chance they get. Some incessantly watch BBC programming. And some extreme types have even been know to affect a British accent and use a monocle and walking stick! Many accuse us of being an eccentric lot, to which we reply, "Why, thank you!"

For today's blog, I offer you some jolly good fun with links to quizzes and lists that test your Anglophilia. Enjoy!

ARE YOU AN ANGLOPHILE? (Non-Brits only) QUIZ
ARE YOU AN ANGLOPHILE? QUIZ
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ANGLOPHILE IF...." LIST
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ANGLOPHILE WHEN..." LIST

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GREAT PACKAGE DEAL TO LONDON!

5/23/2012

Wowzers-bowzers! Here's a fab offer for a trip to London.... For the price that you would typically pay for a round-trip airplane ticket, this package throws in airfare, hotel accommodations for four nights, daily continental breakfast, and a free tourist pass or theater ticket. Not bad! (Note: The package even includes travel during high tourist season!) For more info, click HERE

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VOGUE MAGAZINE: BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE!

5/23/2012

British Vogue magazine offers suggestions for beauty products that pay homage to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. (The baubles are stellar!) To see them, click HERE

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ELIZABETH: QUEEN, WIFE, MOTHER

5/23/2012

Awwww, how charming. Prince William talks candidly about his pre-wedding jitters and his relationship with his grandmother the Queen in the documentary Elizabeth: Queen, Wife, Mother.

In this documentary, airing June 1, the popular British broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh interviews Prince William—as well as Prince Andrew and Princess Anne (William’s aunt and uncle). It is one of two documentaries that ITV has created for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The second is The Queen & I, featuring important events during the Queen’s reign and home movies from those who have met her.

You lucky Britain-based Anglophiles will get to view both of these documentaries on ITV1 in early June. Those of us on this side of the pond will have to read about them! We do, however, have our upcoming Katie Couric documentary about the Royal Family that airs next week, Tuesday, May 29, on ABC.)

To read a preview of “Elizabeth: Queen, Wife, Mother” on E! Online's site, click HERE

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UNITED AIRLINES SWEEPSTAKES: WIN A TRIP TO LONDON OLYMPICS!

5/22/2012

Win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games! United Airlines is holding a mega sweepstakes with lots of prizes, including trips to London to cheer on “Team USA.”

The lowdown: The sweepstakes offers THREE grand prizes! (Grand prize is a 5-day, 4-night trip to London for two, including, round-trip airline tickets, accommodations, and entry to the games.)

The contest also offers a whopping SEVENTEEN first-place prizes! (First place prize is two domestic, round-trip airline tickets to any of United’s stateside destinations. Alas, no trip to London, but we Anglophiles do enjoy traveling and can always use such tickets!) Contest ends May 30, 2012.

Enter HERE

(You can enter the contest one time/day. Go for it, my deal Anglophile friends! I am!)

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