U.S.A / U.K. English 2 spellings

[jon.hayworth]

I guess most of us are aware, that although English is the common language of both the U.S.A. and the U.K., we spell some words differently.

My question as a U.K. writer is does our spelling of words bug readers based in the U.S.A. Should we, when writing for Literotica make the effort to accomodate our American readers by changing our Spellcheck setting to American English?

 

[Ray Dario]

Well Jon since I read just today how the British media believe that Americans are the most conceited and egotistical bunch of talking gorrilla's on the planet (which I suppose has the French up in arms since they used to hold this title) I think you should definently change everything about your speech to suit us Americans.

We are, after all, the only ones who really matter. Right?

Okay, enough sarcasm.

Honestly, I am certainly not bothered at all by your spelling. I was amused at our media's total lack of culture when they harased Dan Quail for using the alternate spelling for the word potato because when you read ANY American newpaper you will find real misspellings in plenty all through the paper and usually on the first page.

My opinion. Don't change your style or spelling, or word usage to placate Americans. We are not the only ones here on this site and the site is richer for that. My favorite author here is English Bob. He uses words like arse and knickers and if anything it adds to the story because I know where he is coming from.

Okay enough redneck rantings for now.

Ray

 

[Weird Harold]

My question as a U.K. writer is does our spelling of words bug readers based in the U.S.A. Should we, when writing for Literotica make the effort to accomodate our American readers by changing our Spellcheck setting to American English?

As long as you're consistent in your usage, use whichever feels more comfortble to you.

I think whether the American or English spelling stands out will depend on where the story is set.

If you write about Americans in an American setting, then English spelling and idiom seems out of place. Likewise, writing about Englishmen doing things to English ladies in England looks a bit strange when they speak American slang and spell things to the American standard.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Just a word of thanks to Ray Dario and Wierd Harold for your responces to my question.

As I have never lived in the States, I would feel I was committing the cardinal sin of writing about things I did not know about if I tried setting a story in the U.S.A. - unless it was as a Brit on holiday. Seriously I would be afraid my dialogue would come across as a carricture of American gleamed from the screen and not taking account of regional variation.

Once again thank you for the replies - unless a subsequent respondent convinces me otherwise, I shall leave my Spell Checker on "English UK"

jon

 

[poohlive]

I have a question, is it really that much of a problem?
Besides the word Colour, how much differences are there?
I know there are times when I'm getting into a story, and it's only until then end when they mention pounds instead of dollars do I even realize it's not American made.
I honestly don't think there's that much of a difference, besides a few words and phrases. If anything, it adds to the uniqueness of the piece.
I would like to see more diverse erotica. Perhaps from South America or Asia, Africa, all over Europe, Australia. It seems that most erotica is made in America, and sometimes you just want to get away from it all, know what I mean?
It would definitely be a nice challenge as well, make you learn a new culture to add another degree to your story. What do Australians call a vagina? How do Asian women flirt with men?
I was in an antrhopology class, and the teacher studied for some time in Papua/New Guinea. You know men hold each others hands all the time over there, but married couples are too embarassed to even walk on the same side of the street?
(the street being the length of worn dirt path between huts)
Bringing other cultures into this site, even from the U.K. is a great idea, and to be honest, I would be offended if you DID change your stories.
BE proud of where you are from, I know I am.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Poohive,

Thankyou for your very interesting exposition.

I tend to agree with you on the subject Vive la Difference!!

One little point - different spelling (USA) REALIZE (UK) REALISE
that is common to all those IZE words.

Likewise the COLOUR difference carries on LABOR - LABOUR etc.

I think most of the time we read the words know what they mean, and do not take a lot of notice about the different spelling.

Incidentally - a knew one on me. English saying "I've had my two pence worth." means I've had my say. I recently saw it modernised into "I've had my two euro's worth" - Inflation at work!!!

Thanks again

If this is disjointed I've had a frink or two and am a bit pissed (drunk not angry)

jon

 

[Weird Harold]

... unless it was as a Brit on holiday. Seriously I would be afraid my dialogue would come across as a carricture of American gleamed from the screen and not taking account of regional variation.

A "Brit on Holiday" would narrate his adventures in British Idiom and Spelling. Only the American characters' idiomatic dialogue would present a problem, and that's what a well chosen editor is for.

I edited a piece that was written by a Brit that featured a "New York Rock Star" who spoke like a screen cowboy -- A change of origin for that character made a world of difference in the story.

Using movie stereotypes as a basis for your characters isn't really a bad way of developing a character.

Stereotypes often exist because there is an element of truth to the characterization -- you use them without thinking when you write characters of the opposite sex, if only to make sure your character stands out as being unusual by defying the stereotypes. Writing that a character is blonde, and putting some "dumb blonde" dialogue in her mouth right from the start defines a character in a few words because people recognise that you're using a "standard character" that the reader already has a preconceived notion about.

Most of us only know the rest of the world in the way movies and novels stereotype different nationalities -- it's the way we recognise what nationality a character is. Writing from a more realistic perspective helps the rest of us understand your country better and that's definitely a good thing.

Poohlive,
There are a good many Indian/East Asian stories here at Lit -- mostly in the incest category -- and some of it is pretty good. There are stories here from and about many different lands. Hecate's Red Dust gives a pretty good image of Australia from a tourist's perspective. (The aussies will have to tell you if it's an accurate image, 'cause I've never been there.)

The one thing I've noticed about stories set in exotic placs, is that people seem to act like people no matter where they come from or how they spell "Color."

 

[peterpan]

The one thing I've noticed about stories set in exotic placs, is that people seem to act like people no matter where they come from or how they spell "Color."

'less they just act like wind-up rabbits

..Do you mean people are the same everywhere, or english speaking authors make them so? I have often wished I could understand for a moment the mindset of an upstanding mafia man or the patriotisim of a hitler youth, or any member of a mob scene, or anyone at all that can use the term 'ethnic clensing' without hiccups. These are just the confusingly violent examples.

I might not even identify other differences if they are right in front of me. People, I guess, just see other people within the subset they understand; so other people seem shallow to them. It would be nice to meet a skilled author who could give me a hand seeing other peoples point of view because most of the time I just don't get it

 

[Weird Harold]

..Do you mean people are the same everywhere, or english speaking authors make them so?
...
I might not even identify other differences if they are right in front of me. People, I guess, just see other people within the subset they understand;

A bit of both, I guess. I only speak English and American, with just a smattering of Aussie and Spanish, so I can't really say how others depict people.

I have read translations of Polish, Russian, and Chinese Science fiction. If the translations are accurate, then people are pretty much the same everywhere.

Mob mentality and Fanaticism are very hard to understand unless you can experience them.

There are some very well written "villians" in modern fiction that might let you get a glimpse of how some people see the world -- David Weber and Elizabeth Moon both have some truly despicable villians that let you just deep enough into that kind of psyche to turn your stomach. (The Honor Harrington Series, by Weber, and the Familias Regnant series, by Moon.) Those are just two that I can think of just off-hand, but there are many other authors that do "insanity" very well.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Hey this is getting heavy. Speaking from a historian's point of view, we can not interogate dead people about intangibles like motivation. I guess one way of understanding is to draw parralells.

OK take the misguided patriot - it does not matter whether they are Hitler Youth, a Soccer (team) Supporter - that is a European problem - back to the original question. Someone who supports something (which is not religious) to the point of violence. We can ask what do they get out of it. We start to find answers - like a sense of identity, comradeship, self worth. Governments use these factors on their soldiers, especially on the so-called elite forces. Who are basically expendable - to train a platoon of Green Berets or UK SAS is cheaper than buying a tank and training the crew. But the first group are conned into laying their lives on the line by assertions that they are part of an elite.

The Hitler Youth and SS were also assured that they were at the forefront of an Aryan elite.

The religious fanatics are different - in that there is the added dimension of eternal life, a reward after death.

When I write my Roman Stories ("Juliana's Last Stand") I have no idea what it would be like to face another man in a staged mortal combat. I think back to my school days playing Rugby or meeting the class bully. Other situations like that and I use my imagination - how would I have felt. Walk out there - people cheering - my opponent or my hero is going to die - they know it - how do they feel?

jon sorry if I rambled but I've been drinking wine.

 

[peterpan]

I spent ages trying to get out a tale where in the beginning a daring hero is instrumental in overthrowing a sinister conspiracy, but as more of the worlds politics are laid out to the reader it becomes obvious that they were in fact the hitler-youth to someone elses' Jew.. and the hero at last understands that everything they have done since has been to escape this knowledge. It seemed straightforward to fool the reader, because SF/Fantasy is littered with aryan perfection defeating hoards of fast-breeding mud people and/or conspiracies that worship some strange unnatural god.

Anyway, got stuck.

Anyone here read the book "Random Acts Of Senseless Violence"?

 

[KillerMuffin]

On the original topic, it depends entirely on your native vernacular. If you use universal english, the kind that seems native no matter where you're reading it, then you can interchange. However, every author has "voice." Even if you set something in America and all the characters were American, your "voice" would still be from England. It would still look funny to Americans, though no one else would pick up on it.

Keep your native spelling and your native voice. Literotica is based in America, but has no submission guidelines regarding English usage. However, your very presence proves that Literotica is an international site.

 

[Hitchhiker]

spelling gosh wish I could!

Apart from colour there is one miss use that really, gets up ones nose, and that's the Americanism, pants meaning trousers.

I wear pants under my trousers.Apart from superman that is! But then they are called my our American cousins Boxers or Y-Fronts. Damd wierd if you ask me.

But then there is more honor in honour. So what the heck?

I have just sent a story for editing (cheers from all) and did ask my wonderful editor to use UK English on the spell check.

And just for Ray instead of knickers try draws or bloomers or even Panta loons.

English wether USA or UK is an evolving language so lets agree to disagree.

God bless Shakespear and he couldn't spell to save his life

 

[Tawny T]

Whilst trying to write some colour in my manuscript, I gave up!

I'm American, and this is an American site - <- note spelling! I write and speak English (?). So they look through the 'windscreen' and I look through the 'windshield'. We can't please everyone can we? I see 'colour' in a story and immediately think that author is from England and go on reading the story!

I did write a very long story called "My Very Personal Maid". It was set in Merry Old England in the 1800s - exact date not specified (on purpose). I did not make any attempt to write in the exact language and idiom of the time - I had no idea in the world how to do that.

I did call a pussy a cunny, bloomers instead of panties, but did not refer to the bathroom as the WC or water closet. I did try not to let any modern phrases or words creep in, and tried to write the way people in that era spoke - more or less! My language of that time came from books I had read. Now if those authors screwed up, then I did too!

Would you believe I did not have one single complaint on that very long 6 chapter story? I even asked some very nice English and French people to tell me if I made any errors in the story as to content - technical errors, etc. I had no takers.

If a story is well written I don't think anyone cares if the colour/color of miladies nipples are pink or otherwise. Turn out a well written story and let the words fall where they may!

 

[KillerMuffin]

My favorite idiomatic difference:

I'm going to knock you up this weekend.

 

[Hitchhiker]

This is going to be a very COLOURFUL board and will show that this site is not "American" but a site for all those who wish to express their inner most desires and feelings. To a audience that is like minded.

What ever local idiums we use this only makes for a richer and more varied language making English keep growing and evolving. Making it the richest language spoken on this planet. Bringing all the people closer together and showing us all that there very little real differences between us as people. This in time will hopefully stop us from going around shooting each other.

To Tawny Thanks for reminding me of the word "Cunny" which is also a country name for Rabbit, so for all the rest here are a couple more old words:- Twat, Minge, Girl-Girl (Chinese) Snatch, and of course the oldest of them all (1500 years) "Cunt"

And now for a laugh.
Little boy to Father. "Dad what does a pussy look like?"
Father "Well, son imagine a beautiful pink rose, lying on a Mink coat"
Little boy "What does a pussy look like after sex?"
Father "Weeeelll, son imagine an Old English Sheep Dog, after he's been eating Mayonnaise"

 

[anneski]

What ever local idiums we use this only makes for a richer and more varied language making English keep growing and evolving. Making it the richest language spoken on this planet. Bringing all the people closer together and showing us all that there very little real differences between us as people. This in time will hopefully stop us from going around shooting each other.

Yeah, I hope so too... Until I started reading this thread, I must admit it had never occurred to me that Literotica was American based, and when I read that, I did wonder should I be posting my stories here then, being a Brit? But reading on, I'm glad I am here. There are brilliant stories out there, and like others have said, I just accept the spellings, regardless of what they are, because I know what the words mean. Although, I have to confess to a horrified giggle or 3 when I first read about someone getting a slap on the fanny... Made my eyes water...
But I enjoy seeing new words, well, new to me anyway, it's fun, and I like learning new stuff. Makes a pleasant change to broaden my mind instead of my backside, sat at this pc all day...lol!

Anyway, the number of really kind mails I got about my recently posted first story were very encouraging, and they were from from Americans and Canadians, who obviously didn't object to my English usage And as to my spell-checker, well it wants to default to American English most of the time anyway, damn thing!
Maybe it's trying to convert me? <G>

 

[Laurel]

Re: Re: U.S.A / U.K. English 2 spellings

As long as you're consistent in your usage, use whichever feels more comfortable to you.

Exactly. So long as you're consistent and there are no mispellings, no worries. I had a writer who wrote thinking I had rejected a story because she used Brit English, when the story in question had been rejected because of mispellings of various other words that were unrelated to the Yank/Continent difference.

 

[Catesby]

I'm English, and I like other UK people's stories to contain idiom and locales that I'm familiar with. However, the English being such notorious prudes there are some words that in American are sexy, but in English don't arouse any horny feelings whatsoever.

I always use "ass", instead of "arse" in my stories. To me it just seems sexier. An "ass" is a beautiful, shapely, wonderful womanly thing, but an "arse", hell, I've got one of those myself.

"Panties" is far sexier to read and say than "knickers", which in my mind brings up images of my mother's old wrinkled underwear (and I'm not one of those into incest, in any way, unlike so many here, judging by the amount of stories on the subject)

"Cunt" is mainly used in England as a favourite term of abuse, as in "You facking cuhnt!" but I still like to use it on the odd occasion, though I prefer pussy, which I think is more American.

I guess it may be that these words seem more foreign and therefore different and exotic, which makes me more aroused by them.

Now what's a good American word for penis?

 

[anneski]

Now what's a good American word for penis?

Osama Bin Laden? Oh no, that's asshole....

 

[deliciously_naughty]

don't bother to switch your idioms to american english if you don't want to.

as for an "american word for penis" feel free to use the following..
dick, cock, tool, shlong (just kidding), sausage, meat, (many other meat references have been used), prick, johnson, mr happy....

I'm not saying I use them...but I've heard them...a lot.

Personally I prefer cock. It's such a great word.

but that's just my 2 cents

 

[Axeltheswede]

U.S.A./U.K. English 2 spellings

I really enjoy stories from the U.K. by authors like English Bob and Quinn Rogan. As mentioned before, small differences in spelling are no big deal - we know what the words mean. What is interesting is that English sensibility about matters sexual.

I find a subtlety about sex in English origin stories. I think we Americans are more blatant and out there in our erotic fiction. That reserved aspect, we seem to lack, is a great device for building anticipation and sexual tension among characters. The reader is kept in suspense wondering just how far a character will go.

Both authors mentioned above write "watching the wife" stories. I have posted three in this category. With Bob and Quinn you are never quite sure the lady will go through with the plan. In my stories, ain't no doubt, she's gettin' hammered. I try for subtle, but there is still no doubt.

One other language quirk is the word 'horney'. The Brits use it to describe anything that will get you horney, like a horney story. We Americans only use it to describe the condition of a person in need of sexual relief. At least I have never seen it used any other way.