What`s up: As the Americans say

Фото: Depositphotos

Whatever you say, English is the ideal choice for international communication: in the 16th and 17th centuries it was Spanish, from the 18th century it was French, and in the 19th century it was actually German. Unlike the last two languages, and from Slavic or Asian languages, English is much simpler. But the language barrier still arises sometimes.

A new joint study by American and Spanish linguists, Fall of an Empire: The Americanization of English, says that due to the global dominance of film and television productions from Hollywood, American English is increasingly dominant not only in English-speaking countries, but is even changing the pronunciation of the British.

I have always been sure that British English is much more difficult to understand than American. As it turned out, sometimes it is not easy to explain with the Americans. It all depends on where the person is from.

In large multicultural cities, sellers, waiters, police officers, museum workers and government officials are accustomed to an endless stream of tourists and immigrants, so they can patiently and loudly repeat when they ask for an incomprehensible word.

Everything is different in small towns, where not only the pronunciation, but even, it seems, a typical Slavic facial expression or posture betrays you, a “stranger,” with all the guts. There it is more difficult to communicate, because people speak faster with a characteristic pronunciation depending on the state.

But in Washington, I perfectly understand my acquaintances from both the southern states of Texas and Georgia, western California, central Colorado, and from the northern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. But two acquaintances, natives of Washington itself (both from wealthy families, educated, traveled a lot or even lived abroad), sometimes it seems to me that they speak Chinese to me. I think what’s added to the specific pronunciation is that they start talking and forget that there’s nothing in front of them. native speaker (native speaker), but I do not dissuade them and nod my head or give a damn.

However, the longer you are in the environment, the faster you pick up the language around you. This is especially noticeable in children. Those born here very rarely speak their parents’ language: English is simpler and sounds everywhere. Therefore, a second-generation migrant, that is, an American who speaks the language of his ethnic group fluently, is a great rarity and value, because speaking other languages ​​is a huge advantage.

Back in school, I was surprised by the huge number of phrasal verbs (phrasal verbs), which are used in informal communication (colloquial language). But now I understand that all conversations are based on them. In addition, Americans often ignore the rules that we memorized in class and speak in a way that is easier.

Instead of wishing you a good day, Americans leave: Have a good one (“have good things”, what exactly is unknown). You can answer right back at you (“same to you”), which to me sounds like “that’s how I am.”

You are my favorite person (“You are my favorite person”), a restaurant worker might say with a smile to the people who listen to him and form a line in accordance with his instructions.

Good for you (“good for you”), they say when they want to be happy for another. Help yourself (“help yourself”) can mean “take it, help yourself.” If they sympathize, they say I feel you ("I feel you"). About the new episode of the series they can say that it crispy and crunchy ("crispy and crunchy") robust (“strong”), flavorful ("full of taste") groovy (“exciting”) Cool beans (“cool beans”) - they will say instead of “Good!” And if the situation is completely informal, then young people use it in the same sense that's rad (abbreviated from radical, "this is radical") or that's sick ("sick").

By adding suffixes, Americans can create an adjective from any noun or verb. Or, for example, you can give the meaning “a little” or “not quite” by adding -ishFor example, not-ish, that is, “no, but not really.”

Americans even call cities differently. Instead of Washington - DC (that is, The District of Columbia, District of Columbia, not to be confused with the state of Washington, which is on the other side of the US from the city of Washington). Instead of New York - the city (full name of the city is New York City, because there is still a state of New York). Philadelphia just cut to Philly (Fili). Not to mention the pronunciation of Chicago (instead of the usual Chicago), Boltimore (instead of Baltimore), Illinois (and not Illinois), and stress: Tennessee (on the last syllable), Iowa (on the first syllable), the Potomac River ( on the second syllable).

Americans love everything that can be reduced. What struck me most was the word that arose back in 1890, POTUS - President of the United Statesthat is, the president of the United States. The beginning of this trend in the year 1879 put the word SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States), The US Supreme Court, which reduced the number of characters in correspondence by telegraph.

Similarly, adding -OTUS is created and FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) - First Lady of the United States. The Vice President may sometimes be called VPOTUS, although more often they say VP, and the Constitution is called COTUS.

Also here has long been firmly established concept spanglishthat is, a mix of English and Spanish thanks to a significant number of ethnic Mexicans. Americans and other words, mainly related to the kitchen, are borrowed from migrants. For example, our dumplings call pierogi - “feathers” (in the Polish manner, not Russian). There is no chance of relearning the correct name. And everyone has at least heard of borsht (“borscht”), although it is considered a Russian dish.

Well, the traditional shock for new arrivals in the United States. Question What's up? How are you? What's going on (down)? How's everything? - which are different options to ask how you are doing, do not at all mean that the interlocutor wants to hear an answer, but is simply a manifestation of American politeness.

The original column is published on the website. Ukrainian service "Voices of America".

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