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Some people think that the British and the Americans • talk • speak the same language.
If • you tell • you're telling an Englishman that, he'll laugh.
He'll • tell • say you that the British •are speaking •speak English and the American • speak • are speaking American.
Everyone knows • that • what the Americans speak English with an accent.
They don't • say • speak little; they • speak • say lil .
This is difficult • for • of the British: Lil is
a •woman's • women name!
But there are also words that •means • mean one thing in British English and • other • another in American English.
If an Englishman • asks for • asks 'pants'in a shop
in New York , he'll • found • find that the shop assistant shows • him • to him trousers.
• An American's calling • An American calls a tap 'a faucet'; • he calls • he's calling a lift 'an elevator'.
He always likes to say longer words • as • than the British.
In British English the man • who empties • who's emptying your dustbin is • calling • called a dustman; .
In American English, he's • called • calling a garbage disposal operative!
And Americans • don't • aren't like to say words • as • like 'toilet' (for 'toilet', • they're saying • they say 'John', because the name of the • man • man's who • made • did the first modern toilet was John! )
To show you •what • how difficult it sometimes is • by • for the British and Americans • to understand • understand each other, there's a famous story about a phone conversation.
An
Englishman • had • was tried •since • for half-an-hourto phone a friend in New York .
Then he • heard • listened to his friend pick up the phone.
"Hallo? " said the American operator in New York .
"Are you through? " "Yes", said the Englishman — and the operator cut off his phone!
'Are you through?' in British English • mean: • means: 'Are you • speaking • spoken to the person you wanted • phone? ' • to phone? ' ; but in American English it means: • 'Have • 'Did you finished? '
Sometimes Americans can accidentally • to be • be very rude to the British.
If an American • asks •is asking an English hotel porter: "Do you have baths? ",he means: 'Have you • get • got baths in this hotel? '; but the Englishman • will •is going to think that the
American's telling • him • to him that he's dirty!
The Americans usually • tell • talk to people • less • least politely • than• as the British, and they sometimes make barmen and waiters in Britain • angry • angrily.
They say: "Give • me • to me a glass of beer," when the British say:"A glass of beer, please."
One well-known barman in the West End of London always • gave • was giving the customer his beer and then • was saying: • said: "Give • to me • me your money! "
Perhaps one day the British will • must • have to buy a dictionary before • they • they'll go to America !