Britishisms in Stories About Americans, and Vice-Versa

[SimonDoom]

I know there have been previous threads that have touched on this topic, but I thought it might be useful to start a new thread where authors from both sides of the pond (or Down Under) can contribute their thoughts or experiences regarding differences in usage they have noticed. This can be particularly useful where an author from one country writes a story with characters from another country, and cares about establishing authenticity.

For example, I recently read a story by a very good and experienced British Lit author who wrote a story set in California, with Americans. And he had one say "whilst" in dialogue. To my knowledge, no American ever says "whilst." We say "while."

He also had the character say "bleeding" as in "bleeding fool." I wouldn't go so far as to say that NO American talks this way, but using the phrase "bleeding" or "bloody" in this way is a good way to make your character sound more English than American.

This is a very big generalization (and therefore only partly right), but to my ear and eye the Brits are a bit more creative and take more liberties with the way they express things like criticisms and insults, and there's a little more variety in the words used. Brits are more apt to use metaphors. If you are a British author and you want your character to talk like an American, tone down some of the more creative word usage in dialogue and keep it simple.

Anybody else have thoughts or recommendations on the subject, going either way?

 

[oggbashan]

I have had a couple of American characters in my stories, but have not written a story SET in America.

I have had no comments about Americans talking British.

On the other hand, I have had many about my stories being TOO British.

 

[TadOverdon]

I don't hear Americans saying "bleeding," but I do hear the occasional "bloody." I use it myself.

I blame PBS.

 

[AlinaX]

And he had one say "whilst" in dialogue. To my knowledge, no American ever says "whilst." We say "while."

'Whilst' is a funny one since it's so variable even within the UK. I use it occasionally, but it still strikes me as odd when some people use it when I would more naturally use 'while'.

ETA: 'Bleeding' to my Scottish ears is comical, and should only be used in the form bleedin'.

 

[yowser]

An interesting question. I think it is not so easy, there are lots of ways to get it wrong, and fewer means to get it right. Successful execution demands a good ear, attention to detail, and an ability to not get carried away.

Details of course matter, and one wrong usage can spoil the soup. I am American born but once lived in England for an extended period. I became aware of what linguists call 'accommodation' when in a conversation between two different dialects, there is a tendency to 'move towards' or imitate the other, perhaps one of those universal signs of respect or friendliness. I think for many Americans, some dialects prompt more accommodation than others, posh Brit-English being one, the deep south american dialect (New Orleans) another. But it can certainly backfire and make one sound ridiculous.

But it is quite easy to 'think' you have it right, and yet don't. Besides idioms there are things like cadence, and American English tends to be more clipped than British English.

I have studied many languages but am only (halfway) fluent in one, the American monolingual curse. I was flattered when one commenter on one of my stories assumed I was from the UK (making me think I had achieved something) but have also had commentary on another story telling me I made my (upper class New Englander) characters sound way too British.

It is not just language, but cultural shadings, that make it work.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Anybody else have thoughts or recommendations on the subject, going either way?

All of my stories are set in Australia or Britain, so for me it's not been an issue. The one story where I have American characters was a collaborative thing, so it was Loqui's job to get the Americanisms right.

 

[KeithD]

Though an American, I've lived extensively abroad, often among British expatriates. I'm sure I've also been heavily influenced by Masterpiece Theater (Theatre?) on PBS, as has already been mentioned. I don't sweat it. I just write whatever I write. I try to have the terms relevant to the time period of the story, though.

 

[Haulover]

As a Brit who's lived in the USA for 25 years, I feel comfortable switching back and forth.

I've been to 42 of the 50 states and have spent a ton of time in several regions of the US, due to extensive business travels - so I also have a bit of familiarity with regional accents and slang usage.

I'll be happy to try to answer questions from or about the Brits or the Americans.

On the "bleeding" or "bloody" thing - I feel it's safe to say that "bleeding" would confuse Americans, and "bloody" it's almost never used. The only time I've heard Americans say "bloody" was when they were imitating or teasing a Brit (usually me ). I.e. it is not commonly used for Americans.

 

[SimonDoom]

On the "bleeding" or "bloody" thing - I feel it's safe to say that "bleeding" would confuse Americans, and "bloody" it's almost never used. The only time I've heard Americans say "bloody" was when they were imitating or teasing a Brit (usually me ). I.e. it is not commonly used for Americans.

If you just write your American character to say "fucking" rather than "bleeding," you'll always be on solid ground.

 

[LAHomedog]

<=== American born and raised. I am always amused how we misuse British slang or don't understand it like "The Spy Who Shagged Me," and "bugger." Where would a Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant romcom movie be without "bugger" and "bloody?"

When I was in London for the first time in the '70s I didn't understand and took a while to learn what "Stand in the queue" meant. We "stood on line." Now everyone uses queue on a regular basis.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I'm legally an American but never lived there, mainly lived in the UK. I'm pretty good nowadays at avoiding jarring Americanisms in British-based stories, but both in person and in writing I keep getting caught using phrases that have my American cousins staring in confusion.

I managed to write an American in a recent story by making his dialogue fairly bland, but one error slipped through (I had something 'got on his wick' thinking 'got on his tits' was too English, but apparently the other way round would have worked).
Some nice Americans have proof-read for me - it's the only way to be sure.

Getting someone to Brit-pick or Yank-pick is crucial to avoid jarring errors - I've read multiple otherwise-decent stories where a US author is under the impression that 'shite' is British for 'shit' or characters look for an 'electric kettle' then listen for it whistling...

 

[KeithD]

Can't "shite" be an individual habitual expression of an individual character no matter what nationality they are? I'm sensing a bit too much worry about these distinctions.

 

[MiddleAgedMan]

Not sure if it's exactly relevant, but does this also relate to English versus American spelling? i.e. Honour/honor, colour/color and so on.

I'm not native to either country, but I find I usually write the English versions by instinct, but sometimes I change them to American just because the spell check insists I write American. (Which is bloody annyoing I might add)

And what about idioms? I've always been fond of the phrase 'Pull the other one!', ever since I first heard it. To me, that is as British as it gets, but I might be wrong.

 

[KeithD]

I'm not native to either country, but I find I usually write the English versions by instinct, but sometimes I change them to American just because the spell check insists I write American. (Which is bloody annyoing I might add)

In Word, you can reset your spell check to UK. Review/Language buttons.

 

[holliday1960]

The one thing I can say I've noticed is that the Aussies speak both, interchangeably. I often have seen EB explain American colloquialisms to Brits and repeatedly has had to correct me when I questioned something I read as a beta reader. Our Australian brothers and sisters are well versed and have even developed a language all their own. Sounds like speaking Chinese to me... Chloe speaks it as a second language though. Yep, gotta love them Aussies.

 

[KeithD]

Several times I've been on stage when the rest of the cast was British. That was . . . fun.

We had an overseas tour once where our children went to a British school. When we returned to the States everyone remarked on their accents. Until then we hadn't realized they'd acquired one.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Our Australian brothers and sisters are well versed and have even developed a language all their own. Sounds like speaking Chinese to me... Chloe speaks it as a second language though. Yep, gotta love them Aussies.

Yep. My proudest moment was when Chloe wrote a chick who got shagged in the back of a panel van, listening to Oz Crawl. She's an honorary Australian, is Chloe .

 

[MiddleAgedMan]

In Word, you can reset your spell check to UK. Review/Language buttons.

I know. Problem is I write on two different computers, and one is set to default American by my employer, so as I write a little here and there, keeping the file on a USB stick, I run into the problem over and over again...

 

[holliday1960]

Yep. My proudest moment was when Chloe wrote a chick who got shagged in the back of a panel van, listening to Oz Crawl. She's an honorary Australian, is Chloe .

 

[KeithD]

I know. Problem is I write on two different computers, and one is set to default American by my employer, so as I write a little here and there, keeping the file on a USB stick, I run into the problem over and over again...

I wouldn't recommend writing smut in an office computer.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Can't "shite" be an individual habitual expression of an individual character no matter what nationality they are? I'm sensing a bit too much worry about these distinctions.

Possibly, if the character is from certain places. "That's a pile of shite" or "he's a wee shite" could be said occasionally by many Brits and routinely by people from Ireland/Liverpool/ Glasgow, and various individuals, but what you don't get is people dropping something and going "oh shite" unless they are trying hard not to swear in front of small children/their boss.

It's easier to suggest not using it than to explain the subtleties, given that a nice simple 'shit' can be used by anyone. "Bloody hell" is easier - people use it in the right context, but sometimes overdo it (not just Americans).

I find myself enjoying various Australian authors on Lit - I think the rhythms and language play seem more familiar to me, but also many of my followers seem to be Brits or Australians. My dear friend Anon who complains I can't write is definitely American (though usually other Americans apologise for him).

 

[jaF0]

I've never been to the UK, but I've watched a lot of BritTV, even on Canadian channels.

I've adopted a few terms like 'gone round the bend'.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I’m careful to use “mom” for Americans and Indians (believe it or not…)

 

[MelissaBaby]

We "stood on line."

In line

https://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/is-it-on-line-or-in-line/

 

[LAHomedog]

In line

https://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/is-it-on-line-or-in-line/

Yes. I'm going to suggest both depending upon the action and part of the country.