The Americanization of the UK

England and the english language was, is and always will be an amalgamation of lots of cultures.

But you are right about one thing - beef jerky being sold at petrol stations is worrying. Do people not know how much tastier biltong is?
 
shoot1st said:
Not 100% sure what the technical term for it is (is it question intonation?), the one where the tone of your voice goes up at the end of sentences as if you're continually asking questions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_rising_terminal

I find that distracting and particularly annoying, in fact unbelievably annoying to the point where I could beat the person to death with a fish, especially when the people who use this to communicate do so with every single sentence.
Click to expand...
I've always referred to that as AQI- Aussie questioning intonation.
 
Luke said:
I've always referred to that as AQI- Aussie questioning intonation.
Click to expand...

I first heard an explanation of it by Stephen Fry and he referred to it as AQI too but have since heard several explanations of it that seem to suggest it originated from the west coast of America.

The first time I heard it in use was on American TV shows (initially Friends, I'd imagine) and then before long started to hear UK people doing it, mainly younger people, but over the last few years more and more older people are doing it.

It must be pretty infectious as if one person in a group starts doing it before long the rest are doing it too.
 
arknor said:
o'rly ?
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Burger King Holdings is the parent company of Burger King; in the United States it operates under the Burger King Brands title while internationally it operates under the Burger King Corporation banner. The company began as a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain in 1953. Originally called Insta-Burger King.

"wimpy" was english, i dont think they are around anymore?
Click to expand...

Wikipedia not having the correct facts ;)

During that history, the brand has been sold many times.

It was owned by Pillsbury for sometime before it was sold to Grand Metropolitan, a UK based company in 1989. They saw the opportunity on Wimpy and bought the entire franchise and turned them into Burger Kings. I'm just old enough to remember that happening.

It's now back in US hands, however for more than a decade it was British owned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom