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#17 (permalink) Wed Mar 26, 2008 22:44 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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My mother's mother was born in England. It wasn't until many years after she'd passed away that I realized why she'd always referred to the stove as a 'cooker'.
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#18 (permalink) Wed Mar 26, 2008 23:09 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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Did she refer to cookies as "biscuits" and to fries as "chips"? _________________ Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee. |
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Prezbucky I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2528 Location: Nashville, TN (USA)
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Ched133 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 107
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#20 (permalink) Wed Mar 26, 2008 23:55 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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A similar article can be found at American vs. British English or at Wikipedia. I think quite a lot of people are aware of the few little differences between American and British English. What I would be interested in are the differences between Australian and Irish English as well as the differences between Scottish and New Zealand English. Any links? _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10060 Location: EU
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#21 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:19 am A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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Hi,
Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs! Now I understand why Yankee is such a vociferous champion of American English since her maternal grandmother was English:
| Quote: |
| My mother's mother was born in England |
Now as for me, well I don't wish to blow my own trumpet but I did have a look at the old family tree and discovered I can trace my family back to a guy who flourished in 1620 in the north of England. Just think he might have had a beer with Shakespeare or even a cup of tea with Milton. Why come to think of it, I'm even more English than the Queen of England.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Subjunctive |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9209 Location: UK
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#22 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:27 am A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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| Quote: |
| Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs! |
What does this mean? Sounds funny though  _________________ Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good. |
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Daemon99 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 684
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#23 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:30 am A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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Hi Daemon,
It is an expression of great surprise and suggests: I just don't believe it. Here's another comic expression: You could knock me down with a feather!
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Guy Fawkes Night for You |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9209 Location: UK
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#24 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:58 am A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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| Torsten wrote: |
| A similar article can be found at American vs. British English or at Wikipedia. I think quite a lot of people are aware of the few little differences between American and British English. What I would be interested in are the differences between Australian and Irish English as well as the differences between Scottish and New Zealand English. Any links? |
So, are you saying that it is your assumption that the people taking the tests here are already fully aware of any differences that exist between BE and AmE? To be honest, such an assumption would strike me as absurd. . |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#25 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 15:50 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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I think most of the people who use our materials and the forum are fully aware of the fact that English is the native language in a number of countries. Most learners probably also understand that every region of every English speaking country might have its own 'local brand' of English in addition to the standard version. For example, in some parts of the United States some people say "quarter of twelve" while in other parts of the same country there are people who have never heard that phrase. So you can create an American English test with that phrase and an American might claim that this is not American English.
When it comes to discussing differences between British and American English it is important to point out that those differences are rather insignificant. Whether you say 'mobile phone' or 'cell phone' doesn't make that much of a difference. Most teenagers in the UK watch American TV shows and movies and I'm sure that they understand every single word of what is said. If an American reads a book written by a Brit they won't have any problems understanding it. CNN employs American, British, Irish, Australian, etc. anchors and I don't think that there any communication problems between them because of the different "Englishes" they speak. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10060 Location: EU
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#26 (permalink) Thu Mar 27, 2008 17:59 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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TD, have you checked out the "Ireland vs. New Zealand" thread?
hehe _________________ Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee. |
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Prezbucky I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2528 Location: Nashville, TN (USA)
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#27 (permalink) Fri Mar 28, 2008 14:52 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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| Alan wrote: |
| Now I understand why Yankee is such a vociferous champion of American English since her maternal grandmother was English |
I have no idea whatsoever what you are trying to say or what it is that you think you understand, Alan. Would you care to clarify that comment? . |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#28 (permalink) Fri Mar 28, 2008 14:59 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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| Torsten wrote: |
| I think most of the people who use our materials and the forum are fully aware of the fact that English is the native language in a number of countries. |
From what I can see, Torsten, you seem to be interested mainly in presenting British English as the only correct and natural-sounding version of English. As far as I'm concerned, you have begun to actively and intentionally misinform ESLers. You seem to be bent on hiding rather than providing information.
Sorry, but that's how I see things. . |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#29 (permalink) Fri Mar 28, 2008 15:33 pm A doubt regarding the usage of in/at |
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As a result, new English speakers everywhere are including unnecessary vowels in some words.
hehe _________________ Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee. |
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Prezbucky I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2528 Location: Nashville, TN (USA)
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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| Use of 'coy' | There seem v.s. There seems |