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agonyaunt2022-04-19 09:13 am
ermingarden) wrote in agonyaunt2022-04-19 09:13 am
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Miss Manners: The English Boyfriend
Dear Miss Manners: I spent a year in England as a transfer college student. I met a nice guy, and I’m planning to move there to be with him.
The only thing is, he has requested more than once that I start using their lingo instead of the typical American phrasing, such as saying “loo” instead of “bathroom” or “lift” instead of “elevator.” That kind of thing.
He said some English people he knows have an unfavorable view of Americans and it makes me stick out in a negative way. What do you think?
That it would be helpful to know what the English gentleman thinks before committing yourself to him. Is it pride in his nationality? Or shame at yours?
Miss Manners would consider it reasonable of him to expect you to use the language of the country you are visiting. But if he is embarrassed of you being American and is choosing to cater to the prejudices of others, you should reconsider.
The only thing is, he has requested more than once that I start using their lingo instead of the typical American phrasing, such as saying “loo” instead of “bathroom” or “lift” instead of “elevator.” That kind of thing.
He said some English people he knows have an unfavorable view of Americans and it makes me stick out in a negative way. What do you think?
That it would be helpful to know what the English gentleman thinks before committing yourself to him. Is it pride in his nationality? Or shame at yours?
Miss Manners would consider it reasonable of him to expect you to use the language of the country you are visiting. But if he is embarrassed of you being American and is choosing to cater to the prejudices of others, you should reconsider.
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Yeah, definitely it's the reason.
I can see a few places where it might be awkward, if there are people who feel uncomfortable when she says "pants" or "fanny pack", if she asks him not to say he needs a pack of fags or call people a twat (which is rude in the UK, but not as rude as it is in the US), or if she gets frustrated if she asks for chips and gets the wrong thing, or if they have sports wars over the meaning of football. But ffs sidewalk or elevator or "study for exams" or "third grade" or "soccer" are all words Brits understand.
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Meanwhile, my great-aunt was actually named Fanny...
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