British

[Glen]

In the TV series Downtown Abbey I think I heard it pronounced Downt'n rather than Downtown. Is that the accepted pronunciation or did I misunderstand?

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Glen

In the TV series Downtown Abbey I think I heard it pronounced Downt'n rather than Downtown. Is that the accepted pronunciation or did I misunderstand?

DownTON Abbey!

[What will happen with poor Mr. Bates?]

[Baltipal]

Originally Posted by Glen

In the TV series Downtown Abbey I think I heard it pronounced Downt'n rather than Downtown. Is that the accepted pronunciation or did I misunderstand?

I always smile when I hear Americans visiting my country say they are going to "StratFORD upON avON" I think it's cute!

Can anyone translate this?

[Rusty]

I got all but one word right. Do you want it 'translated', or are you just having a bit of fun?

[Baltipal]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I got all but one word right. Do you want it 'translated', or are you just having a bit of fun?

Just a bit of fun, I live a few miles from Dudley so had less problem understanding it, the difference between 'Black Country yam-yam' dialect & my own natural 'brummie'.
I must add that it is a mocked up road sign not a for real one.

Which word couldn't you get BTW?

[aleCcowaN]

The Swedish chef would have written "Iff yuoo ere-a defft eeuoogh tu cume-a doon hiri, yuoor tie veell be-a spueelid" instead.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Baltipal

Just a bit of fun, I live a few miles from Dudley so had less problem understanding it, the difference between 'Black Country yam-yam' dialect & my own natural 'brummie'.
I must add that it is a mocked up road sign not a for real one.

Which word couldn't you get BTW?

It was 'wum', oddly enough. After I found the 'translation' online, I couldn't believe I let the leading 'w' mess with my brain so much that I couldn't make it out.

[Baltipal]

Originally Posted by Rusty

It was 'wum', oddly enough. After I found the 'translation' online, I couldn't believe I let the leading 'w' mess with my brain so much that I couldn't make it out.

"HOME" What else! lol

[ROBINDESBOIS]

I find American ENglish easier to understand and pronounce. British English has a larger vocabulary.

[BenCondor]

American English, in the standard form heard on national broadcasts, has more relaxed vowels than British English and I've heard several students of English claim that it is easier to pronounce. As for having a "larger" vocabulary, I personally doubt it, since it is almost the same. That is, as an American English speaker I can pick up a British English newspaper, scholarly article, novel or basically anything and understand it perfectly. There are differences such as the famous bonnet=hood; boot=trunk difference [speaking of a car]. AE speakers don't usually use "daft" to mean crazy, (though it would be understood). But it's not as if, as an American English speaker, I'm using a dictionary half the size of a British English dictionary!

There are plenty of differences in slang, of course, but I doubt there is much more British slang such as to significantly enlarge the vocabulary.