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I suppose the increasing `Americanisation` of English is inevitable given the dominance of American culture, but it`s not something I look forward to.
I can just about cope with `color` and `theater` but I refuse to take the elevator when a perfectly good lift is available!

@dandy: I'm also in an amdram group and have heard 'chaise lonje' too. Fortunately, it's only been part of the set in two shows.

Tyke51, I'm quite ambivalent about Americanisms. I used to think, 'why should I use - or even have to hear - their word when English has a perfectly good one of its own?' I then reminded myself that language evolves over time, and also that the dominance of American culture certainly has had an influence on vocabulary. As Spoffy said on another thread, we've accepted words such as 'duvet', 'kaput' and 'junta' from other languages. If Americanisms are accepted by, and used by, many of us, are they really so wrong?


Having said all that, there are, of course, Americanisms that we all particularly dislike. I don't mind your 'elevator', but I'm not a fan of 'sidewalks'.

I did maths at school, not math.

Malone

I agree with you about accepting cul-de-sacs and so on. The problem is with the plural of certain words e.g. Grand Prix. The only plural that makes sense is Grands Prix. I have heard Grand Prixzes which is ridiculous. Although I was a Latin scholar, I prefer stadiums to stadia and forums to fora, as I regard the words as English not Latin.

If people insist on using the foreign plurals for words that have since become part of everyday English then they should use all the other declensions as well. So if they visit a place where old artefacts are kept, they should say they are in a museo. You see how silly it can get.

Grunger, I'm relieved that I've never had to refer to more than one Grand Prix! Maybe I could just use 'Grand Prix races'?

Orson, maybe I'll just stick to the Latin words and terminology that I know and am totally sure of!

Sports reporters are guilty of many misuses of language. The three which always make me groan are:
'For those you who are just joining us here is a reminder.' It is not going to be a reminder for those who are just turning on or tuning in.
'If results stay as they are.' The result is the final score.
'Team X lost their first match of the season' instead of 'lost for the first time this season'.

Football produces an endless flow of inane comments from `experts/managers` ...
... `The boy`s done really well since he came on`...
... `there`s no reason why we can`t get a result at their place`

I've enjoyed reading the sports-related posts, but that's only for the novelty value! I'm not very interested in most sports, so don't have to suffer the way you, the other posters, do.