Ameripicking

[transemacabre]

I read a fic recently where Bruce Banner thought of a napkin as a 'serviette', and this came to mind. There's been a backlash over Americanisms in British fandoms, notably Harry Potter; there's websites and lj comms devoted to helping Americans British better in their fics. But there's sadly little on the reverse.

The thing is, Bruce Banner is astoundingly unlikely to use such a distinctively un-American word for something as everyday as a napkin. Even I only know what a serviette is because I read a Britpicking website, and I can wax lyrical on the history of huscarls for fuck's sake. Bobby Drake is even less like to use the word 'Bloody' in the typical British manner. But I'm American and I spell everything with extra 'u's and go 'Pip pip, guvnah!', you cry. Listen up, fanpoodle. Just because you're such a Britophile that when you sneeze The Doctor feels a light breeze caress his left testicle, does not mean that Bruce Banner and Bobby Drake are the same way.

Comments

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

Okay, this made me laugh a lot and also agree like hell. One of my huuuuuge, irrationally enraging pet peeves is when an American refers to their "mum" in a blog post. Do you really call your mom Mum? No? You're just pretentious? Ha ha awesome, STFU forever.

[transemacabre.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY. 1776, people. It ain't just a number. Unless your 'Mum' is British herself and brought you up calling her Mum, she's your damn Mama or Mom.

Bobby Drake, who is so American he bleeds Coca-Cola, is not going to use the phrase 'Bloody hell' in an unironic manner. Maaaaybe you could get me to believe Kitty Pryde using that terminology, during her Excalibur days. But not Bobby!

As for the Avengers, Tony *might* know what a serviette is, but would never use such a term. Bruce, Clint, Nick Fury, Coulson, and Steve wouldn't know or say it. Natasha and Thor aren't American OR British.

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

I think it's especially important for Avengers fic, though, because it's military-related and soooo AMERICA FUCK YEAH. If you want Britspeak, cameo Dum Dum Dugan (British version, natch) or someone.