http://www.englishforums.com/English/LinguisticsDiscussionForum/Forum35.htmGet into the nitty-gritty of the language.enXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/4/vkxcr/Post.htm#683434Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:41:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:683434Anonymous0http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/4/vkxcr/Post.htm#683434http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-683434.xmlI agree, there are other countries in AMERICA that speak English, so there's a good point, but I would just like to clear out that America is a continent which includes many countries from Agentina to Canada and many nearby islands, so I don't undertand why to refer to USA as only America. My simple thought. Cheers!!http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/4/vkxcr/Post.htm#388886Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388886Buddhaheart1http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/4/vkxcr/Post.htm#388886http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388886.xmlContrary to Hxcboatcaptain’s "The audience were rising to their feet," I’ve found an example treating ‘audience’ as singular in an Oxford ESL dictionary: "There was a large audience at the pop concert." ‘Audience’ like ‘crowd’, ‘committee’ & jury’ is considered a collective (group) noun and is singular. As Yoong Liat pointed out, "some grammarians do consider the second sentence to be wrong as 'were' should be used with 'their' (both plural)." I would rework the subject in that sentence to agree with the verb thus "The audiences were rising to their feet." Now you might have a question on the plural of ‘audience’. This revised sentence can only be correct if we refer ‘audiences’ to different groups of audience at different...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388646Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388646Forbes2http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388646http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388646.xmlIt is important to realise that for the British "Europe" means three different things: 1. "The Continent" - that is the land mass the other side of the English Channel. "The Continent" represents both a physical and psychological entity. It is a fact that the way of thinking, expressed particularly in the legal system, is different in the UK. 2. The continent of Europe. Any schoolboy (or girl) when asked what continent Britain is in will tell you "Europe". 3. The EC. This is what people mean when they talk about going into or leaving Europe. Geographically, there is no justification for considering Europe to be a separate continent from Asia - there is more justification for considering North and South America to be separate...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388406Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388406Cool Breeze3http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388406http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388406.xmlNona The Brit wrote: It's getting harder to define Europe with the expansion of the EU. There are countries that are now politically Europe but possibly pushing it a bit to say they are geographically Europe. Likewise, not all geographically European countries are members of the EU, so they don't form part of the modern political entity. Some of the territories of some members of the EU are not members of the EU (for example Greenland). Hi Nona and everybody else I have talked to enough Brits in my lifetime to know that what Nona says is very common thinking among the British, and I certainly have no objections to anybody's opinions on anything. Geography, however, is very seldom a matter of opinion. Geographers agree that the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388397Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388397Clive4http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388397http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388397.xmlHi both of you, I was interested in your comments. Fair enough. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388375Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388375nona the brit5http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388375http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388375.xmlI'd say we were separate from Europe until we joined the 'common market' in 1973, which involved some economic/trade connection. I was born before that...I remember it causing some kerfuffle at the time and it wasn't a popular decision. Even that wasn't a membership in the same way as EU membership. Of course, before we were really a cohesive nation we were owned (or bits of us) by lots of other countries at times. It's getting harder to define Europe with the expansion of the EU. There are countries that are now politically Europe but possibly pushing it a bit to say they are geographically Europe. Likewise, not all geographically European countries are members of the EU, so they don't form part of the modern political entity....http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388348Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388348Bokeh6http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388348http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388348.xmlClive wrote: Bokeh, what kind of questions, if any, would you consider usually inappropriate? Clive, here's the thing: I asked Nona how old she was because she mentioned " her generation " and I was wondering in what era someone with her philosophy on Europe might have been born. I wasn't looking for a integer answer; more something like " old enough to remember the moon landings " or " I grow up listening to Madness ". As for conventions, I'd rather get the feel for every situation on a case by case basis. I'm normally very direct but I know when to be tackful too. For example , " How much is your house worth? " -> " What sort of money would a prospective buyer expect to pay for a three bedroom house in this street/area? "....http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388157Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388157Clive7http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388157http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388157.xmlHi, Well, I admit that I've been away for a long time. But I notice that Nona has not answered your question. Nona, do you have anything to add on this topic? Bokeh, what kind of questions, if any, would you consider usually inappropriate? How about questions about money? eg How much do you make? eg That's a nice ring, how much did you pay for it? Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388147Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388147Bokeh8http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388147http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388147.xmlClive wrote: What country are you from? I'm British from London.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388145Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388145Clive9http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388145http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388145.xmlHi, Plenty of my students from a variety of countries tell me the same thing, that it's not a taboo with them. What country are you from? Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388135Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388135Bokeh10http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/3/vkxcr/Post.htm#388135http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388135.xmlWell I haven't heard anyone say that since I was about 5 years old and I asked my Granny how old she was.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388123Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388123Clive11http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388123http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388123.xmlHi again, I'm from N. Ireland, which the British have claimed for many years. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388116Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388116Bokeh12http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388116http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388116.xmlClive wrote: Hi Bokeh, In British culture, it's not usually considered polite to ask a lady her age Hi Clive, Are you a Brit?http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388007Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388007Clive13http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#388007http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-388007.xmlHi Bokeh, In British culture, it's not usually considered polite to ask a lady her age (or even to ask anyone their age, generally speaking.) I know that in some other cultures, such questions are fine. Bst wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387995Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387995Bokeh14http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387995http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387995.xmlNona The Brit wrote: Perhaps it's generational. see http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_lang How old are you, Nona? By the way your link doesn't work for me. Here's the Wikipedia link .http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387925Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387925Kooyeen15http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387925http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387925.xmlHi, I'd really like to know what kind of English is taught in each country in the world. I think in Europe only British English is taught (considering most of the schools, most of the courses, etc.), but I'm not sure. I think it's something required by the European Union or something. In Italy, British English is what is (tried to be) taught. As far as I know, most of those who are taught British English here don't even know that American English exists. But I don't know about other countries.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387795Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387795nona the brit16http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387795http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387795.xmlI think it's just an odd mind-set we have. I have an odd dual attitude - I'm very pro-Europe (and think we should switch to the Euro, join Schengen etc) yet I still think of Britain as geographically separate from mainland Europe. Although logically I can see that in effect we are an offshore island of Europe. I don't think I'm that unusual in that... Perhaps it's generational. 'when I were a lass' we definitely were NOT part of Europe and we tend to retain impressions that we grow up with, even though the world changes. In any case all this is not very relevant to the fact that the accepted names for the two main variants of English are American English and British English. According to the BBC Education site It is...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387648Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387648Bokeh17http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387648http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387648.xmlNona The Brit wrote: slum prudery? Interesting turn of phrase. It's from "My Fair Lady". Nona The Brit wrote: I think it is pretty true that a lot of British people don't consider us as part of Europe in quite the same way as other Europeans. Politically, yes. I think the British people scared to embrace being Europeans are those who believe the imperialistic conservative nonsense that to be British is to be better. Nona The Brit wrote: But geographically, no. Geographically, yes! The UK and Eire sit on the European conthttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387642Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387642Yankee18http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387642http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387642.xmlI remember seeing this headline in a British newspaper once: British Man Missing in Europe And I remember finding that headline quite humorous.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387604Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387604nona the brit19http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/2/vkxcr/Post.htm#387604http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387604.xmlslum prudery? Interesting turn of phrase. I think it is pretty true that a lot of British people don't consider us as part of Europe in quite the same way as other Europeans. Politically, yes. But geographically, no. We are happy to talk about 'going to Europe'. I'm sure it seems peverse to outsiders but it's a common attitude in all sectors of our society. No other European countries have English as their native mother-tongue language. It's true there are many speakers of British English - but you can also say that about the American version. Do you think we should stop calling it American English and start calling it something else? Also, I think there are European countries which teach American English rather than the British...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387580Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387580Bokeh20http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387580http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387580.xmlClive wrote: many British people don't even think of themselves as part of Europe That's just slum prudery. The fact is they are part of Europe geographically and after several referenda, all with positive outcomes, the UK is a key player in Europe, both politically and ecomomically. Clive wrote: Well, there's Ireland, of course, which is yet another 'island off the coast of Europe', and which is partly an English possession. Do you have any other countries in mind? There are 457 million citizens in the European Union. Some 50% have reasonable communication in English, more than 30% have advanced English literacy skills (often greater than native speakers), and 89% of non-native English school children learn English as a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387483Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387483Arzamas1821http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387483http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387483.xmlHxcboatcaptain wrote: I wanted to include all of Europe since there are more English-speaking countries outside of Great Britain. What are these countries in Europe besides Ireland?http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387474Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387474nona the brit22http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387474http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387474.xmlI'd stick to calling it British English. On your logic, you'd have to call American English something else as well, as loads of other countries speak that version of English. There are more speakers of American English than there are in America, the same as there are more speakers of British English than there are in Britain. But they are still called British English and American English.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387327Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387327Clive23http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387327http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387327.xmlHi, I wanted to include all of Europe since there are more English-speaking countries outside of Great Britain. Well, there's Ireland, of course, which is yet another 'island off the coast of Europe', and which is partly an English possession. Do you have any other countries in mind? Best wishes again, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387325Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387325Yoong Liat24http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387325http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387325.xmlThe audience were rising to their feet. The audience was rising to their feet. Some grammarians consider the second sentence to be wrong as 'were' should be used with 'their' (both plural).http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387316Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387316Hxcboatcaptain25http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387316http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387316.xmlI wanted to include all of Europe since there are more English-speaking countries outside of Great Britain.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387310Mon, 25 May 2009 00:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387310Clive26http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387310http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387310.xmlHi, I guess I must live a sheltered life, because I've never heard the expression European English before. In my experience, many British people don't even think of themselves as part of Europe (ie the British Isles are just 'near Europe'. ) Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387299Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387299CalifJim27http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htm#387299http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387299.xmlVery observant! Yes, there is a tendency for AmE and BrE to differ in this way. Either way is fine. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htmSun, 25 Jan 2009 01:27:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:387294Hxcboatcaptain28http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenEuropeanEnglish-English/vkxcr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments35-387294.xmlI've noticed, mostly from British television programs, some discrepancies between the two "versions" of the English language. American English speakers consider groups of people to be a singular noun. IE, in America, you would say, "The audience was rising to their feet." European English consider groups, such as an audience, to be a plural noun. Across the pond, you would say, "The audience were rising to their feet." Which of these is correct? Or is neither more correct than the other?