Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about the American witch who got transferred to Hogwarts or the American journalist who came to Fleet Street? I'm just saying, people, respect a story's nationality!
Oh NO. An American writer writing an American character in a British setting. Scandalous.
Most fanfic authors are American. Deal with it.
I just think it's annoyingly simple-minded of American writers not being able to use the right nationality. I write some Twilight fanfiction once and I managed to do it without introducing a British character just to make it easier for myself. I stuck with the American vocabulary for the purposes of the story
I just think it's annoyingly simple-minded of American writers not being able to use the right nationality. I write some Twilight fanfiction once and I managed to do it without introducing a British character just to make it easier for myself. I stuck with the American vocabulary for the purposes of the story
blimmin yanks init
I don't bother reading OC fics so its fine :)
I don't mind it when authors write in an American character, to be honest, I think it can bring a little something more, as long as the OC isn't a Mary-Sue...
But one thing I can't stand is author's who make British characters talk like American's. That's just a blatant disregard for the British in my opinion, it's not hard to make up an effort and look up some of the words online. I have a friend who writes Harry Potter fiction, and she's canadian, and she actually researches it so she knows she's using the correct terminology.
If you're going to put so much effort into a fic, then IMHO, you should use the correct form of the language.
>>7 Also, on most microsoft word packages you can have either 'UK' or 'USA' English, so you can even have the spell checked watching out for words like colour/color etc.
I don't mind characters of another nationality in the story - I have a British character in my Heroes fanfic, but I think you have to be careful. I try to use American words when other characters are speaking, and yeah, sometimes I think it can make it more interesting, especially with different meanings for different words. But I can't stand reading British fandoms (like Harry Potter, for example) where the author uses blantent American words.
The spelling makes no difference. You don't pronounce 'colour' differently to 'color'. It's the vocabulary that matters ('gas', 'sidewalk', 'soccer', 'faucet') and odd things like 'aluminum' that ARE pronounced differently.
I'm sure I've said this before...
>>10 I guess, but I find it helps me to get more into the story if they're using the right spellings for the country. And as far as American characters in Harry Potter is concerned, can I please point out the whole 'no transfer students' thing? Unless you can think of a really good reason, I'm not going to accept a non-British (or Irish) character going to Hogwarts.
@11, hehe, ever read My Immortal? :) Apparently, we have Hot Topic in England...
My Immortal makes both my eyes and my brain cells melt.
Slang and abbreviations are fine, if they're in character. So Ron would say 'gimme', but Hermione wouldn't, etc.
Fair point.
Gosh, I learn loads off this site! :D Awesome stuff.
Just to point out with the whole 'spelling things wrong' for being British or American.
I have a...Friend who I call my 'brother' he's American. Me and him argue about how words are spelt and what things are. Such as I know over there they call it Soccer, as we call it Football...
One thing what kind of confused me was how 'American football' and Rugby weren't the same. Because Rugby you can't kick the ball I think ^^' Imma have to ask him later.
>>16 Yes. You do.
They're totally different games, different rules, different strategies and everything, I don't know much about either of them, but I know that.
But Ellipses is right, the spelling I can get past, it's hard to get out of a habit, for instance I couldn't spell 'Apologise' with a 'Z' instead of an 'S'...it's just in my nature to write it...
But in the case of writing about things, then yes, I think it shows respect for the Author and for the people of the country, if you actually take the time to figure out what words you should be using.
On the subject of slang, it doesn't bother me much, as long as it's slang that the character would use in their own country, British people don't have the same slang as Americans do, or any other country in fact.
>>18 It amuses me that you used a capital 'A' for author.
>>20 It amuses me that that amuses you.
I'm doing a whole fanfic series based on a run of British characters and have always felt slightly guilty, like it ought to be a Brit who is writing it.
It amuses me even more that I capitalise Author and Science, but never god...
I don't understand why that amuses you...
To be honest, I'm not sure why it amuses me either. It just does. My friend is awful with capitals. It seems like she capitalises every single noun...apart from proper nouns. Copying her homework hurts!
>>21 amusing of how amusing you find me pointing out that you are amusing is amusing. :) lol.
>>27 I think that was the general idea, yes.
... Must... Resist... Too... Easy...
>>31 Gasp! You read the guardian?!
Actually, I include many cultures in my fanfics. Two characters are from England, but one has a Cockney accent and another has a London accent. My main character is American but his right hand man comes from another planet and natively speaks an English dialect (don't ask. I'll update the Codex on it soon)
My point: Diversity Good, exclusivity, Bad.
I don't really read newspapers, the Guardian when I've got it, otherwise I don't buy them... :( I'm not very intellectual. Plus they're all politically biased one way or another. That's er... my excuse.
I like a good Sudoku though!
The Independent wants to do what??? Personally I'm a Times reader, although I also read the Morning Star for some comedy value. "Greek workers rise up against politicians" and also because I don't want to be influenced by Mr Murdoch with my political views. Then there is the Private Eye...
I have to say, British characters who speak like Americans annoy me, or the new American girl who transfers to Hogwarts and falls in love with Harry etc. but if they're well written I enjoy any story.
For some reason I prefer the Times On Sunday as opposed to the regular Times. The news about the Independent is awful, but I can't remembr where my friend said she heard it, so it may not be true (lets hope...) I never read The Observer, but the whole:
"Brown:You ruined my life!"
"Blair: ..."
Is kinda funny (I imagine Brown screaming like Kevin the Teenager before running off) though more than likely a blatant and stupid lie. It's like the bloody Sun...
On topic, the whole American girl in Britain made me think of the ever (in) famous 'My Immortal.' I rarely read OC stories, so I never really experience fanfic culture-abuse. I do hate American films were all Brits speak bad cockney or like Hugh Grant.
Forget Hugh Grant; think Liquid Snake.
I hate people who assume everyone from the UK has to have an accent and speak the slang...I'm Scottish, so some people instantly assume I speak like 'Oh aye ya ken he's like oot.' I have no accent, hardly speak like a stereotypical Scottish 'lass' and no, I have no idea what Robert Burns is talking about!
I write for many American fandoms...but I realise that sometimes it's 'realise' and other times it's 'realize'. Seems like my laptop keeps changing its language. And I don't really use slang in stories...apart from the obvious 'yeah, dunno, gimme, d'you' slang but I don't really put emphasis on the accent.
But seriously, does anyone know how annoying it is to write Mario's accent? 'What do you want-a?" -shudders- I hate those little -a's now...
moonphase - Yeah, I do attempt to stay away from the OCs, eugh, the mary sues really get to me... My Immortal is good for laughs, but I can remember reading it and then having to do English coursework, it was kind of hilarious, I couldn't type AT ALL, at least it was the first draft.
Back to the completely off topic newspaper discussion.
Haha, I think that's true. I picked up the Sun when I was about nine and saw page three and I was scarred for life. I don't understand how, that in the 21st Century, they are still allowed to put pornography in a newspaper.
Hex3618- Hehe, must be hard to do that. I personally do not write in accents either, but I don't make all the seventeen year olds speak in a very proper English accent and can not abbreviate. Then I suppose people will be told by a reviewer soon enough...
Eugh The Sun. Heat magazine has done more good for the world than that pitiful 'newspaper.'
That's debatable.
@Anonymous- Really? I mean Heat is also bad, but The Sun is just plain awful. If you ever try and read it, it has sport news and about one page of news which is done in a font so large and language so simple, I am sure even an five year old kid that does not speak English could understand. Heat on the other hand spews s*** about people, but at leas- well no I suppose it is pretty bad. But it doesn't pretend to be a newspaper when it most obviously is not.
>>48 I especially love how the put certain words in bold, like your an idiot who needs everything pointed out to you in an obvious manner- any otherwise you'll get all confuddled by all the words and letters @_@ Its seen as a paper for the working class, which annoys me, because it makes the working class seem like a bunch of idiots. They're so politically biased as well. They way they swapped ships from Labour to Tory the moment Tory began getting more popular. Someone needs to tell them its not like supporting someone from freaking Big Brother...
The there arwe the blatant lies. Like you say, at least Heat is honest as a gossip mag, The Sun is meant to be a newspaper, i.e. as truthful and as unbiased as humanly possible. Yet it just lies about stuff all the time. I remember when I was in school and this kid insisted that some "pakis" had 'come over 'ere wiv all they're f-ing kids' and the government had given them a six bedroom house, two cars and every single person a mobile phone. -_-
@50- That last comment sounds more like something in the Daily Mail. And The Sun's been slamming Griffin of late.
The Sun swings with public opinion to try and suit its intended audience. It's always seemed pretty open about this, tbh. It's not something ppl take seriously.
Heat, by contrast, is far more insidious. I'd say it's FAR more sexist than The Sun, and the values it advocates are much more damaging than pg 3 is.
They're both trashy, but Heat is sneakier in its approach.
I kind of love the way this went from Americans in British fandoms like Harry Potter, to Newspapers -laughs-
I'd probably slap the author of a story who made Harry say something like 'candy' honestly :) (even thoguh I sometimes say candeh... ._.)
I hate it when I’m reading in a British fandom and I stumble across Americanisms. He’s wearing pants? Well that’s all well and good, but he’d certainly be getting some funny looks if he wasn’t wearing any trousers! Captain Jack’s in pants and suspenders? Well that’s a bit saucy don’t ya’ think?
The spelling doesn’t bother me (you can color all you want - except when it’s a letter or email written by a British character, then it’s strictly colour) it’s just the wording that really gets my goat.
Okay if you genuinely don’t know that the word should be different for the dialect you’re using, then that’s fine, but when it’s consistent and obvious, I can’t help but be annoyed by the lack of effort.
If I’m writing in an American setting, I’d use Americanisms, so if an American is writing in a British setting, I say write in bloody English!
Couldn't agree more, J. The 'pants' issue always makes me laugh when its used in the wrong way. :3
I agree with the last comment about Americanisms it get's really annoying especially with the candy thing, same with the pants. I'm sure there's something else but I can't remember it :L
I agree with the whole Americanisms thing. I frequently get irritated when British characters talk about their 'moms'. IT'S GOT A FREAKING 'U' IN IT!!!! (sorry, brain is a lickle bit fried.)
@J Dead on. Apart from the color thing. That just drives me mad anyway. Ditto favorite. Once more, it has a 'u' in it. I have friends (bearing in mind I live in Manchester) who can only spell in Americanisms because of fanfiction. I have to proof read a lot of coursework for them.
@The conversation about the Sun (I can't remember who it was) - The Sun is an appalling, rag-like excuse for a newspaper. And I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but it is. Heat isn't much better.
I always try and write in proper English when I am writing. I even go as far as to spell to-day like that because thats the real way. I find it annoying, for example in Harry Potter when you buy the American version it has American spellings, but if you buy Twilight (although I would never, unless it was to burn but I know this because I used to like Twilight :|...) in the UK, it still has the American spellings. Also when British characters start using things like, sidewalk or gas, for Christ's sake it's a pavement and petrol. Also when they say fall for autumn or when they say semester instead of term. Or restroom instead of loo, or is that just me?
@Fee I agree with the bit about the Sun XD
But you DON'T spell 'today' like that...
@ I/S: That’s not the ‘real’ way to write today, it’s the old way. It hasn’t been in common use for a long time. Don’t write it like that unless, for whatever reason, you’re using old English, it’s both annoying and unnecessary.
one word. Cookie.
I find it weird when characters in Britain eat a 'Hershley' bar or go to hot topic, or something like that.
I've seen a Hershley bar sold once in England and that was in Selfridges (they also sold wonka bars and the like.) Other than that they're not sold over here the same way as the other chocolates like nestle and so so on.
ground floor, Selfridges, Bullring, Birmingham - they've got 'em ;)
@I/S No, it's not just you. Many American characters go to the restroom or the bathroom. Also, periods? It's a FULL STOP. Not a period.
Has anyone else noticed that loads of British people now say 'movie' and not film? Please say I'm not the only one who gets annoyed about it.
>>63 I meant used instead of biscuit. It just really irks me.
I only say 'movie' if its in the title-i.e."are you actually going to watch that crappy film Epic Movie?!"
I didn't know that about the North East. I just say good old fashioned 'cinema' and 'film.'
However, I often spell 'mum' as 'mom'. The reason why?(Prepare yourselves for a silly yarn...)
When I was eight or nine, a friend told me that everyone laughed at the Birmingham accent (true) and that we should all say 'mom' not 'mum' as the former was correct. And for years, I actually thought this was true...
Truth is, I'm the worst at doing a 'Scottish' (Glaswegien) accent...--facepalm-- I always say plain 'cinema' or on occasion 'pictures', but when I write it's 'movies' which confuses even me.
Funny thing happened to me; I got completely stuck in writing a character from the UK, though I could do the Americans just fine...rather intriguing
I never really say 'movies'. I say pictures, although if I'm talking to my american friends I say cineman, or they'd get confused. I also like chocolate chip cookie. yum. Biscuits are brilliant especially, chocolate digestives! You can't really blame Americans for writing a Harry Potter fic and trying to be authentic by writing it set in England. They don't know what we have, and its the same when a British person tries to write in Anerican style. Oh, did you know they don't have Galzy bars or Twirls in America? So sad...
But yah, the chances of an American showing up at Hogwarts are slim to none. Is everyone whose wrote on this thread british? 'Cause I am. :)
Yah, I'm Scottish! I try to be authentic when writing for a different country, but in some cases like Yu-Gi-Oh I get mixed up so don't really emphasise the accent or dialogue that much, cause then I fear that the grammar freaks will be after me :P (Really it's just the -san and -kun etc. I always get them mixed up) I have a couple of friends who are American so they help :P
@ Moonphase - I made a point of saying "enjoy your film" to people when I worked at a cinema. Though personally I switch between movie and film, it is always film when written and in more formal situations. I studies Film Studies, not movie studies. :P
As for Americans in British fandoms... well, if the person is a good writer and does their research I don't have a problem with it, though in the case of Harry Potter I doubt an American would ever be accepted so the author would have to be pretty convincing as to how and why they were allowed to become a student.
Also there is nothing worse than authors who don't even try and research the country they are setting their fic in. I don't so much care than the writer chooses to use American spelling so long as they don't have British characters using American words (ie sidewalk instead of path, candy instead of sweets) or that they have their characters shop at Hot Topic. As far as I am aware, there is no Hot Topic in the UK, right? <--- reference to the famous troll-fic My Immortal and the amazing non-uniform, Hot Topic for all Hogwarts students.
@Hex3618 - How about not using Japanese honorifics in your fics then if you get them mixed up? You are writing in English afterall, and there is no need for them. I know sometimes it is easier to show relationships and how characters feel about one another by which honorific they use (or don't use) but they aren't really needed. I mean, in English we can still convey when someone looks down on someone without labelling them "-kun" or "-chan", and using "mr" or "ms" before a sirname is respectful enough. In most cases just calling characters byt their names will be acceptable. No need for mixing the languages like that, especially if it makes you doubt your writing.
>>74 apart from the preps of course.
I occasionaly call sweets 'candy' ^_^ sometimes I call them 'tee tees' 'sweeties' 'nomnoms' O_o... Wow I have quite a few names for them XD
>>74, YAY! xD Go 'film!'
I agree with all the people who say that they do not mind American spellings, but do mind American terms. If I was writing an American character I would try pretty hard to get the terms and words right, but I wouldn't be able to spell everything the way the Americans do. You'd slip up at some point.
America has no Galaxy chocolate? :,( Poor souls...
I think the most annoying thing is when Anerican writers don't try and get the facts right when writing a british character, like a story I recently read had Hermione driving at the age of 15. I think if you are writing a character based in an country, writers should research the things like that.
American slang spoken british character in a story and read by someone who is British can be confusing, as some of things have totally I different meaning in America than in Britian. ie rubbers (erasers). Made that mistake in America in a stationery shop, my Aunt told me after what I was asking for (after all I was only 12 at the time) totally embarrassing.
By the way you can buy Hersheys chocolate here. My Tesco's certainly does. I crave Hersheys cookies'n'creme sometimes. When in America it's the only chocolate I like. All other chocolate taste's like it's made more choco powder, bad stuff.
>>64 RayRay
As Thephoenixsong said, you can get Hersheys in the UK. I bought some at Fenwicks in Newcastle (the ground floor food area) along with some almond MnMs and some Reeces peanut butter cups. And Jelly Belly jelly beans. They are more expensive than normal UK chocolate bars, after all they are imported.
Personally I hated Hersheys chocolate. Tasted crap compared to Galaxy and Cadburys. I have seen lots of Hersheys chocolate in the import stores in Japan too, but the only Cadburys they have is the Australian version which tastes different - since the chocolate would melt in the heat over there.
@ The Phoenixsong
Yes, the rubber / eraser thing got me too when talking to American friends here in Japan.
Another one is the difference of the word fag.
America = homosexual British = cigarette
So to combine the American phrase "to bum a smoke" and the British word "fag" is a no-no unless your intention is to actually be a male having anal sex with another male. And even if it was, in many states you probably should not say it aloud anyway...
Also, not only the driving thing, but drinking as well. I wonder how many Americans have written Harry Potter fics where the characters are 18 and yet still need fake id to buy their booze?
Ahhh, the good old fag thing. I once wrote it in an original fiction, and then I got flamed by two people for it. It took a lot of explaining. I've also got in trouble for asking for a fag in front American who had moved to the UK... :/
About the whole to-day thing. It's just the way that I was taught it by my mother, and teachers don't mind too much. If I tried to write today like that it would be quite hard to change the habit.
I will watch a film, by a film and go to the cinema. Also when people say period, it makes me laugh, because I think of an actual period. Still, I really do find it annoying when they shop at Hot Topic and I'm not sure if anyone else has seen it, but some Americans spell through as as thru. I told them that in a review but they promptly told me it was actually spelt that way. I just think that some of their spelling is just lazy.
I applaude American authors who use British terminology especially when they are talking about the schooling system. Although people do sometimes say that phrases are British slang, and you are sitting there really confused because it isn't.
When people pronounce Zebra, as in ZEE-bra I want to kill them... Haha.
And the whole drinking thing...
@ Iaculus I remember that we were reading a poem in English and it said faggot and so many people thought it meant cigarette, I despair for my generation...
@ RayRay
I know, I know. I suppose it was better than them thinking it meant gay.
I say fag all the time, and I mean ciggarette (I don't smoke, by the way). Slang words are changed all of the time, and in ten years time 'fag' will probably be a nickname for a cat or something. I was reading a poem, and it was written in the way a Barnsley (England btw) accent sounds like, and there were a lot of words that were insults in our accent, but meant totally normal words to them. The language differences aren't just differnt in countries, but countys as well! Or states, as the Americans would say. I mean, an American would never call someone a 'mate' whereas in the Uk and Australia, its a normal occurence. I can't help but think that whenever someone calls a homosexual a 'fag', I keep imagining them as a giant cigarrette smoking. Is that just my weird imagination?
I use 'fag' for a ciggarette, and it's common where I live to hear the words "Coming for a fag?" or occasionally, a 'tab', 'cigg' or a few other more obtuse ones that not many people use.
You are right in thinking that slang does change over time, years ago, some of the words we use nowadays would have been considored really bad, the same as cussing has become less and less taboo over the years for a lot of people, outside of a professional context of course.
Moving on to a new word, I was once accosted in the street by an American woman who wanted to know where she could buy a 'fanny-bag'. Not realising that to Americans, this term means 'bum', I pretended to be German, and walked off.
In my opinion (lets take Harry Potter for an example) all of the stories in which an American is transfered to Hogwarts are all the same! The characters all have this 'American Sass' about them and when they're arguing with people they come out with these one liners;
"OMG Draco Malfoy you are such a fugly jerk! Why don't you go back to your fugly girlfriend that beeatch Pansy Parkinson!"
I know a few Americans, and none of them have every come out with any of those words... my friend said 'barfed' once and I nearly wet myself with glee, because I love that word, it just sounds so funny.. but that was about it.
Otherwise she pretty much talks like me... no sass.
@90
lol, 'American sass'...I imagined much finger-clicking and head wagging at that also...
"uh-uh giiirrrrl friiiend!!"
Fag for me is just a word, some people at my school are so Americanised that they go, "OMG WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"
My God the American girls who come to Hogwarts are so funny.
"I walked down the stairs to have breakfast, and everyone admired my amazing sense of fashion.
'Where did you get that from?' Asked my new best friend Hermione.
'Oh, from American Eagle' I replied.
'Wow, you're so cool because you're American, I want to be JUST LIKE YOU." She shouted at me, suddenly Draco Malfoy came up to me and asked me out, he said it was because I was American"
Also the whole Harry was raised in America, the summaries are like this:
"Harry was taken to America when his parents were killed, now he's going to Hogwarts and is bringing an American sense of justice (because English people don't have it at all) and also is going to shake up Hogwarts!" Harry then goes on to make friends with everyone and he defeats Voldemort in the first year because Americans are so much more cleverer... :/
Wait one sec, I meant more clever, not cleverer. Just incase you thought I was a retard.
I just thought you were immitating an American fanbrat who actually believes that...
I wish I was... No, it was a typo XD
>>96 You should never have brought it up! It sounded better as it was. A beautiful piece of mockery. Now, though...well, I'm disappointed :P
Oh, I'm sorry. I suppose could have been because I was talking in an American voice in my head.
Haha, I find this thread so funny beacuse I agree with what most people are saying. When I started writting my Naruto fic 'Clash of the Worlds' I had one thing in mind, I was going to make it as Britsh as I possibly could. My fav OC character dialog has to be the school caretakers. Have a read of it and see what you think.
In the story I'm writing now, I'm including a character named Lou Kinsler. He is African in heritage but was born in London, so he has a more proper accent but I tried to include some colloquialisms to make him 'sound' realistically British. His AI, Sean, on the other hand has a full blown Cockney accent, wears a football jersey and loves to watch cricket, somewhat a stereotypical British image. Of course, the other characters aren't necessarily American. One is Chinese, Chen, one guy, Borden was born on another planet. my main character, Matt Granger, is an anthro.
Bit of a subversion, huh?
I'm writing a story right now where I am trying to portray an accurate London-born character named Kinsler, who is also of African heritage. His AI on the other hand is full-blown stereotypical.
>>100 A football jersey? Are these things given different names down south? Where I come from, they're shirts. In fact, I don't think I've ever worn a jersey.
That could just be me though :)
Sorry, I am not British, so forgive me if my terminology is wrong. As I said, it is an attempt. Also, sorry for the doublepost. Yup, just checked, they are shirts, not jerseys.
I would also like to point out the whole cell phone and mobile thing! Its a darn mobile!!!
Also I got told off once for writing 'ring' instead of 'call' I didnt know Americans dont say ring!
I crack up everytime I read 'pants', always imagine them walking around in old mens undies such as the classic white Y-fronts.
Owww! and theres another.. Shrink! we have counselling!
Owww! and theres another.. Shrink! we have counselling!
Hello.
Simply importing into already established universes' where it would be unlikely annoys me a little bit. i.e. putting americans into Pride and Prejudice, or more importantly warhammer 40000! However modern adaptations of some stories are now sent in the modern day world where it's perfectly acceptable for anyone to be here. Britain is now a multi-national nation, people come here to learn, work and live from all over the world.
In that light, I not really to fussed.
True. But the Revolutionary War ended in 1783. So for the remainder of the 1700s I would think there was a bit of animosity between us then, so a romantically inclined American citizen in Britian seems unlikely in my opinion. Then there's the War of 1812. Horrific pressganging of American commercial sailors and blockadeing of American ships to prevent them getting to france, then there's the raiding of Washington in that war.
Realistically, I don't think an American would appear in a British romantic universe until 1845-1850 at the earliest. From what I can tell that's when relations became more amicable.
I don't argue that Americans don't exist, and I said unlikely, not impossible. However I will maintain that the example of Pride and Prejudice stated before is acceptable. Set in a time, location, and situation where it's unlikely.
Unlikely happenings make the best stories.
@DuxAtrum
The question is though, why would an American go to an obscure place in the middle of the English countryside in the 18th century? It just didn't happen, a few Americans might have gone to London, but when people had to travel for weeks across the Atlantic ocean I don't think they would have just gone for a holiday, and then mysteriously ended up in the middle of the English countryside. And before you say it, it's unlikely that Darcy had an American pen pal... :s
what does annoy me is when I read a harry potter fanfic when harry talks about his friend in fifth grade or whatever, people don't even bother to research, all you have to do is type it into Google even I know the American schooling system and I have never left Europe and yet some people can't even be bothered to look up that fifth grade is year 6.
I have even seen this in fanfics where an American person moves to England for whatever reason and are still in Sophomore year or whatever year they were in back in America.
And it irritates me that Harry Potter was Americanized for whatever reason and yet they don't put any American literature in proper English, it's like the book companies don't care about our language and stuff. I'm sorry to say it but if someone can't understand what this means, 'Shaking his sodden fringe out of his eyes', they are an idiot.
Also when people use worlds like, yard and trash it irritates me.
I also get annoyed when people write a story in an English fandom with stereotyped British people either acting arrogant and stuck up are a middle-aged alcoholic; people assume we love afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches and crumpets. There’s other stereotypes that were all overweight and have bad teeth. It seems we either drink tea all the time or are out getting pissed.
Although I live in Yorkshire I must admit at home I use a lot of cockney rhyming slang but I don't tend to hear people outside my family use it and yet we do seem to either always use cockney rhyming slang or talk in a very proper way. It always seems to be one or the other though.
The stupidest thing is though that after this little rant the thing I will always find most annoying is when people use the word bullocks instead of bollocks, when in fact a bullock is a castrated cow.
@Bobby
I completely agree with you. However, and I do hope this was satire, you did spell Americanised with a z. That is an American spelling. But, yeah, I find it really annoying seeing American spellings in books when you buy them in Britain.
A bullock is a castrated BULL. Cows are female. Sorry, just thought I'd point that out.
:D
Americanisms annoy me no end as well, I'll admit I'm guilty of the occasional one slipping out, but to be honest, that's just because of them always cropping up in books that I read. They 'translated' Harry Potter into American... so are we going to get an English version of Twilight?
Might make it better, you never know.
@ RayRay
Nope. I don't think anything could make the car-crash which is Twilight better...
@ RayRay
Nope. I don't think anything could make the car-crash which is Twilight better...
Well, if you're going to compare it to a car-crash, at least maybe we could have some survivors, instead of everyone dying horrible grammatical deaths...
I'm sorry, that was bad. I'm running on no sleep and a lot of caffeine at the minute.
But at least if they wrote an English version of Twilight, they might be able to make the grammar correct, and get rid of the horrible adjectives that pop up repeatedly.
Hate, hate, hate all these American Mary-Sue's in Harry Potter fanfiction. It just annoys me no end
@ RayRay
Maybe, but it's never going to happen.
personally, I think if you are going to have a character from any country move to a different country for the fandom, it should be for a very good, and documented reason, and the laws, customs and colloquialisms ought to be researched first.
I also get annoyed at the americans coming to hogwarts and it just becomes HSM-with-magic. please stay as true to the feel of the books as you can, even if you take the plot and characters to a different outcome. the teens I can understand,youth is impressionable and there is a lot of american media about. But Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall speaking in american slang? makesme scrub my eyes with a Brillo pad. :@
I mean,it's not as if a Beta reader or Britpicker is hard to find. there afe forums for that kind of thing. I personally Brit/Beta for a few German girls.
DOCTOR WHO SUCKS, BITCHES
Firstly, whoever this Anonymous person is, is obviously mistaken but I'll forgive you this once. The new doctor is still getting settled.
Harry Potter seems to be a recurring theme in this thread, please note that the books are set in 1991 to 1998, Americans are very likely to be in the UK, and if Hogwarts is the only wizard school in the world its just not right to limit attendees to Brittons since the odds of wizards being limited to only Brittons is very unlikely.
However, the main issues here appear to be with spelling and research into British culture rather than the likely hood of Americans actually turning up. Although disheartening, (i always try to get my story as accurate to the universe as possible) we have to remember that these are FAN FICTION stories. American culture will have a more prominent role in a story written by an American, just as a Britain would draw on British culture.
Personally, facts relevant to the universe are more important to me than spelling colour correctly and research into real life current culture.
>>126 Hogwarts is not the only wizarding school in the world, as is fairly obvious when teams from two other wizarding schools come to Hogwarts in order to compete in the Tri-wizard Tournament.
>>126 Also, doesn't Hermione mention the Salem Witches Institute at one point? Last time I checked that was in the US.
And Bill or Charlie Weasley had a Brazilian penfriend at one point, so there are Wizarding cultures worldwide.
In fact, the short book "Quidditch through the Ages" practically confirms the variety of other Wizarding cultures that exist. A whole host of European teams, Australian teams, Japanese, a few American (although they play their own variant, for the most part)...
But if an American family moved to Britain, their children would go to one of our schools. Same would apply in HP world, I imagine.
However, that doesn't mean that they automatically become the most popular person in school, and everybody starts using American slang etc...
Also, it's fairly stupid to assume that Wizards only exist in Britain, and a little arrogant as well. Obviously it's something that JK never felt the need to dive into though.
And I agree with Lupa: if anything the American person would become more familiar with British slang, not everyone else bending to their will. People from other countries tend to be something of a novelty at first, so they probably could be popular at first, it's not entirely implausible - but I doubt it would last, as with most things, they find friends and settle into a normal routine, not remain the best thing ever to happen to the place.
@RayRay and Lupa Dracolis
Yeah, that's what really annoys me about the stories. That firstly they are always the most popular person in the school, and everyone is in love with them. And then everyone starts using American slang in the school. It is Britain and also, in my experience, whenever an American has come to my school, most people don't really like them. Just because they are generally quite arrogant and always saying "well in America we don't divide like that, we divide like this"... After they get over the whole, our way is better than your way, they're just normal pupils. If anything, if an American person came to Hogwarts the response to them would be hardly... welcoming. Also, one would assume that like the other Wizarding schools the Salem Institute would be a boarding school, which would mean there would be no problem with them staying there and then travelling to Britain where their family lives. That's what happens in the real world, why wouldn't it happen it the Wizarding?
Oh and before I get a millions replies saying 'ZOMG YOU HATE AMERICA' or 'UR soooooo mean y do u not like Americans?//???/?' I don't I'm just saying that they generally become more British than turning everyone else into little American clones.
@RayRay and Lupa Dracolis
Yeah, that's what really annoys me about the stories. That firstly they are always the most popular person in the school, and everyone is in love with them. And then everyone starts using American slang in the school. It is Britain and also, in my experience, whenever an American has come to my school, most people don't really like them. Just because they are generally quite arrogant and always saying "well in America we don't divide like that, we divide like this"... After they get over the whole, our way is better than your way, they're just normal pupils. If anything, if an American person came to Hogwarts the response to them would be hardly... welcoming. Also, one would assume that like the other Wizarding schools the Salem Institute would be a boarding school, which would mean there would be no problem with them staying there and then travelling to Britain where their family lives. That's what happens in the real world, why wouldn't it happen it the Wizarding?
Oh and before I get a millions replies saying 'ZOMG YOU HATE AMERICA' or 'UR soooooo mean y do u not like Americans?//???/?' I don't I'm just saying that they generally become more British than turning everyone else into little American clones.
@RayRay and Lupa Dracolis
Yeah, that's what really annoys me about the stories. That firstly they are always the most popular person in the school, and everyone is in love with them. And then everyone starts using American slang in the school. It is Britain and also, in my experience, whenever an American has come to my school, most people don't really like them. Just because they are generally quite arrogant and always saying "well in America we don't divide like that, we divide like this"... After they get over the whole, our way is better than your way, they're just normal pupils. If anything, if an American person came to Hogwarts the response to them would be hardly... welcoming. Also, one would assume that like the other Wizarding schools the Salem Institute would be a boarding school, which would mean there would be no problem with them staying there and then travelling to Britain where their family lives. That's what happens in the real world, why wouldn't it happen it the Wizarding?
Oh and before I get a millions replies saying 'ZOMG YOU HATE AMERICA' or 'UR soooooo mean y do u not like Americans?//???/?' I don't I'm just saying that they generally become more British than turning everyone else into little American clones.
Sorry. Not really sure what happened with the three posts... :/
@I/S
I completely agree with you - we have an American in our class and she's lovely, but she hasn't made the whole class start talking in American accents, or saying pants instead of trousers. Surely if an American went to Hogwarts they would quickly become Anglicized, rather than the other way round?
@ ...
It's true. I swear. You should have seen a girl in my class, every single day for at least a month she would lecture the teachers about how much better the schooling was in America and how they did Maths/ English/ Geography etc in America.
So... you're generalising about a nation based on your experiences with one person from it. How sensible.
oh dear...
I wouldn't generalise them. Americans by nature can be far more ballsy and loud than we Britons, but honestly - I know a lot of American people, I live in the world of IRC - and most of them are perfectly sensible people. In fact, the loudest person in the entire chat is Australian.
But that said, I know of a few examples. The taxi drivers in the rank across from my accommodation know me very well, I chat to all of them, know them by name, etc etc - so they tell me things. And one of them told me a while ago about a young Canadian guy, who was so rude that he chucked him out of the taxi. Listening to the story, it isn't that the kid was rude, it's more that we do things a lot differently to them, and to be honest, I'd defend the English system of learning, maybe I wouldn't argue - but nonetheless, I've met British people who are worse.
You know those people at school that have to have the last word, always making comments loudly, and over-doing everything. Yup, worse than any American I've ever met.
(Don't lump Canadians together with Americans; it irks them...)
Oh I know that. I forgot to mention the fact that I was saying it's not just the Americans. My bad.
@139
Well, they come across as arrogant to the British at least. Of course I'm not saying that every single American is like that, but quite a few are. What really pisses me off is when you meet them in American and they say:
Them: "You live in England? Where?"
You: "Er, London"
Them: "Oh, I know someone call John who lives in Bristol, have you ever met them?"
You: "No... I live in London."
It's like they automatically assume that there are only two people living in the whole of Britain. That being said, I have a best friend who is American, and she is one of the sweetest people alive. Britain isn't much better when they're in other countries, if you've ever seen them in Spain or Greece, you'd understand. There are different people in the US, but quite a few of them come across as arrogant.
I especially hate when people don't bother to learn the basic geography. People from Northern Ireland aren't technically Irish, they're British. The Scottish people have quite a few customs different from English people and the language is definately different.
(On a lighter note, has anyone seen the website Overheard in London? It's quite funny, but there was one that I remembered that went something like:
American tourist: Oh, you're Irish, right?
Irish person: Yes...
American tourist: Have you been to Northern Ireland? I heard it's really bad in that side of the country.
Irish person: .......Never been.
American tourist: But you're Irish, right?)
@145
Goes off to look at that website
I find this one quite amusing:
'American tourist to friend in Camden Market:
"Yeah, this is the bit that Amy Winehouse burnt down."'
:)
hides. I'm an American who rights Alex Rider, I've been to Europe twice and have pen pals. I've read and seen so much of Alex rider that I know say cheers, mate, trainers, football and so forth. I used to write American voice but know I just do my best British voice. It still bugs me that they insert a Blonde teenage bombshell assasin from here in the states! URGH!!!! ummmm yeah... people please I'm flattered there almost all blonde (Power to the blonde nation!) but please come on!!!!!!!!!!!!
Generally, if you intend to have an OC from another country turn up, at least have them act and behave in a believable manner. (Sadly there are far too many Mary-Sue's out there, especially (No offence Ambrele) American Mary-Sue's.)
All of this talk about American slang and British slang makes me think of this one thing from the Clerks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjaDG2G-_go
"You're a cigarette!"
That said, I think it goes both ways. If you're going to write about a character in any other country than your own, you should probably research things, regardless.
For example, I recently had to help a British author with her American geography for a fic. Because, no offense, but I don't think you guys realize how immensely /big/ the US is, which has come up in certain Supernatural fanfiction. Indiana is not a 30 minute drive from Canada by any stretch of the imagination. Just for a little scaling tip, the US state of Florida is bigger than England.
I'm an American who might as well be British XP I've spelled in the British way for years now, and it annoys my family so much ^?^ I also use British terms and such, all the time. That and the fact that almost all of my favourite book are written by Brits and Aussies, makes me feel okay about writing for a story that's not American. But really guys, why be biased? I mean, just because it's British doesn't mean that an American, Mexican, Chinaman, Scottsman, or whatever coulture you like can't be in it. Rolls eyes seriously, it's fanfiction.
@ 152 It's fine for there to be an American in it, as long as they are there for a legitimate reason and don't convert the whole of say Hogwarts into saying 'pants' instead of trousers or saying 'ladies/men's room' instead of loo, or- dare I say it- toilet. Also most of the Americans which are inserted into an English or Australian novels are usually Mary-Sues. This doesn't mean that from time to time, when I'm reading an American book, that I never think of inserting an English person in there. But I don't because I know that they'll turn out like a Mary-Sue.
I'm an American who has never traveled out of her country and has barely traveled out of her state. I love American literature and I love BBC1 and I have British friends. I know some British terms, but that doesn't make me an expert on your culture.
My point here is to say... why is it bugging you all so much? It's a fan work. I write stories to have fun and get my ideas out there, not to be perfect. I've had some help from some very nice reviewers on my newest Merlin story on how to 'sound more British' - but I still slip up and put Cell phone instead of Mobile sometimes, and I may say 'pants' instead of 'trousers'. I don't think it's hurting my story too much, and none of my reviewers seem to care all that much.
And Americans hate being stereotyped as well. Not all of us are bad writers. Not all of us are mary-sue writers or have bad grammar, horrible punctuation, or no sense of sentence structure. Some of us are really trying. It's not as though we're trying to insult you on purpose.
It just seems as though this thread is based on bad fanfiction or bad writing and stereotypes - even from those of you who say you know some very nice Americans. There are snobs, jerks, prats, and asses in every culture. There are definitely at least some Brits who are the 'tea and cake' proper kind just like there are Americans. I'd like to believe I may fit in very well when I finally am able to travel to the United Kingdom, but maybe I should think less highly of my chances based on this thread.
@154- 'Pants' instead of 'trousers' can be problematic, for the same reason that 'chips' instead of 'crisps' is. Britain's famed for its superiority complex and xenophobia; if you visit, you'll get one set of people assuming you're a 'dumb American', and another set trying desperately to prove their open-mindedness by constantly talking about America's merits. Just be glad you're not French; then we'd ALL hate you.
@154
I personally don't hate Americans, just that I don't like it when they assume that everyone will know what they mean if they put 'pants' instead of 'trousers'- I didn't even know what 'closed captioning' (if that's what it is called) meant until a few months ago... It's just like if I was writing a fic for an American novel I would try and use American terminology, I'd probably slip up too. And I agree with 155, just be glad you aren't French!
Also the proper types of Brits are okay, unless you're talking about sloanes who just piss me off, and I go to a school with lots of them.
(For more reference on what a sloane is, go here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFjWR7X5dU or here: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sloane%20ranger or here:http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sloane)
It just bugs me because you sometimes dont really understand some stuff, and some fics are so Americanised that they should really just be set in America. But as long as people make the effort to at least make it British or Australian or whatever then I'm good with it! :)
You know what I really hate? People from other countries who have never met or only met one American and group them all together or sterotype us all as these horrible, bland, Sueish writers who show no respect for other countries and want everyone Americanized.
And why is it okay for a British person to write an American fanfic and use their slang and their words? Why are Americans scrutinized for not knowing and reserching every single slang term and languauge difference, yet they have American characters going 'bloody' and 'crisps' and 'colour' and 'fag'...
And British people write Sue's and Stu's as well, it's not like it's an 'American thing'. Granted, as an HP reader and writer, the 'American student who comes to Hogwarts and gets her own house and has all the boys falling for her,' is beyond annoying, but wouldn't it be just as bad if that same person was written, just from Britin? Sue's and Stu's are pitiful no wonder what language they use.
@156 - Scarry
As an American, does anyone have a dictionary of British Slag words, to add a little more snap to ones work. Though, I think that not allways being correct in the slag terms, when there are so many, and they are always changing, isn't always a bad thing, unless you are writing original fiction, or for a specific time era.
Ok. I think a lot of people (the ones who aren't British) have got this thread a bit mixed up! It was us British people just having a good ol chin wag at the anoyance of well everything above. I don't think it was intended for you to take offence too, and yes we are all aware that it should work both ways.
Humm! Maybe I should just stay out of it!
As you were...
>>158 I have a good word you can use, ok so it's not slang, but it should be in every Brits vocabulary especially when insulting people or yourself.
Twat
@158- Well, if there was one same group of slags throughout the centuries, it would definitely be cause for concern and scientific investigation.
Also, I like that you capitalised 'British Slag', like an official title... 'You, ma'am, are a British Slag!'
I'll stop being so childish now.
I have found some for you...
http://www.essortment.com/all/britishslangw_rcnt.htm
That is some British slag words, but was it cockney ryming slang that you wanted? I have to point out that for the majority of the slang words unless your fic is set in the East end of london you shouldn't be using the cockney. I have friends that live in london who didn't even know what 'apple and pears' or 'ruby murray' meant. Also if you do use cockney it should flow with the sentance and shouldn't sound forced. I found a good site (at the bottom of the web page it has a very large table with the slang and definition in.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cockney-rhyming-slang.html
Perhaps getting the writing as the character would say it (acsent) would be more effective. But this is very hard to do and most people get it compleatly wrong, dont forget people from different parts of the UK will speak differently. A Mancunian speaks very differnt from a Londoner.
That second link is very interesting; it's funny how CRS permeates speech across the country.
As for that first link... hmm. There's a mix of slang in frequent use and slang that's dated or obsolete. Also, some of those meanings are really off. 'Gutted', for example, does not mean 'choked up'; it means 'really disappointed'. You would not be gutted at a funeral; you would be gutted if your team lost the football. 'Ponce' doesn't mean 'slacker'; it's closer to 'wimpy, effeminate, useless and pretentious'.
>>162 I abandoned the first site when I reached knock up: to wake someone up. The author of this site obviously lives a very sheltered life.
You know I think the best way to do it, is to not think to much about it. And Only Fools and Horses is proberbly a more sound way to get knowledge, but again that only applies to that type of person and area of the UK. Harry potter - they chaged it for you guys? thats crazy! I dont understand all in american fiction, such as the word dang! I had never heard it before. Nevermind!
>>162 - Thanks! Both are added to my research folder.
One of the things NOT talked about in this fandom was how some writers think it is all right to Americanize characters. I mean, slang, products and school systems are what I think are logical issues.
I read a fanfic in particular recently, for Bleach, which takes place in Japan. It had American slang, and products, but there was also a joke about Obama. Not that I am pleased with him right now, but...
Basically what happened, was a character went and was asked what their name was, and they said Obama. The person on the other line, started complaining about medicare. Thing is, this joke was REALLY out of place. Espesully since it was doubtful the character bringing up Obama would have known who he was.
Of course, the writer of the fanfic responded to me, 'so what?'. I choose not to respond back to their reply at all, because they wrote everything off, as if it didn't matter, what mistakes they made, and that that I was wasting my time pointing them out. One of those...
I am against pedofilic relationships. The reason comes from the fact, I've had to many friends and aqantances be forced into a relationship. I do not believe that a child, or even most young adults, (or some of the special needs people, with child minds), can truelly desern what they are getting into. That being said.
1.) I don't mind reading about it, when the child has a one-sided crush. I concider that to be cute, funny sometimes, to even bizare.
2.) I don't mind it, when it truelly adresses the issues of a pedofilic relationship. However, MOST, don't have the psychological depth, and run along the lines of a rape fic where the victum falls in love with their purpertrator.
Truth be told, for some people, writing this type of fanfic, is also a means of healing for them. And I am not talking about relationships that fall outside of the two rules I put of either. I've read a few, with the hopes that the victum gets rescued, which I couldn't do for one of my friends.
REALLY SORRY EVERYONE! I WAS TRYING TO START A NEW THREAD! IGNORE POST #168! :C
Well I'm glad, I was getting very confused about the change in topic to pedofilic stuff! :/