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.

[harlot-ohara.livejournal.com]

So much agreeing on this end! I want my English characters to be English, but I don’t want my American characters to be English too. Seriously, just because it’s from England does NOT make it more intellectual or “classy.”

I swear to God, if I hear another person say “Bloody ‘Ell” when they are from the United States…I will probably flip out.

[toggy.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately how much I love you and your linguistic tirades?

Because I love it all very, very much. ♥

[curtana.livejournal.com]

Serviette is way more likely to make it sound like it was written by a Canadian, to me - people here use that word about equally as often as napkin :)

As Always, I Blame Harry Potter.

[mike-smith.livejournal.com]

"Hulk say, old boy, after tea we ought to proceed with smashing, shall we?"

"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."

[blackcatsboon]

Well, I'm actually British and in the vast majority of situations I'd say "napkin" anyway. I didn't even realise it was an Americanism.