Ameripicking
May. 9th, 2012 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
transemacabreI 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-10 04:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-10 04:26 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-10 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-10 06:16 am (UTC)I swear to God, if I hear another person say “Bloody ‘Ell” when they are from the United States…I will probably flip out.
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Date: 2012-05-10 08:13 am (UTC)Because I love it all very, very much. ♥
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Date: 2012-05-10 12:22 pm (UTC)As Always, I Blame Harry Potter.
Date: 2012-05-10 08:47 pm (UTC)"Bollocks, Mr. Hulk," said Captain Colonies, "'Tis Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, and I simply shan't be able to focus upon anything for all the festivities."
Re: As Always, I Blame Harry Potter.
Date: 2012-05-11 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-12 10:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-14 04:33 am (UTC)Although napkin is standard in America, that doesn't necessarily mean its an Americanism. Due to our history, American English has preserved some terms that were once Grande Olde Englishe words, but since have been superseded or joined by other terms in Britain + Ireland. "Gotten" is another oft-decried Americanism which isn't an Americanism at all. It was once very standard, very good English.
"Napkin" is actually a combination of the Middle French mappe with the English diminutive "-kin", which serves to make things sort of cutesy. It's attested from the 15th century in Britain and was carried to the colonies by settlers. "Serviette" first appeared in British English in the early 19th century, a borrowing from French.