divided by a common language (links)

[baratron]

Earlier today I was wondering, almost completely at random, "Hmm, rapeseed oil. That's a bit of a dodgy name. I wonder if there's anyone who's offended by it?". (Rapeseed oil is the main component of the really excellent dairy-free spread that I buy). Then on irc someone linked to a really awful guide to British English, and I looked around the site. What did I find, but the answer to my question. Turns out it's named from the Latin rapere.

I also found a competent guide to British English, a list of differences between the US and UK versions of Harry Potter, and tons of other stuff. It kept me amused for a few minutes, anyway.

Although there's nothing quite like taking a break from my thesis to do some chemistry research. Someone was confused by a new age site talking about cyanide as a component of vitamins, so I had to take a look. Amazingly, the science turned out to be absolutely correct, and quoted from a well-known chemist who I've heard of. Now that's a first :)

Comments

[djm4]

Turns out it's named from the Latin rapere.

'Rape' the act comes from the latin rapere. 'Rape' as in rapeseed comes from rapum, the Latin for turnip, although oil-seed rape isn't actually in the turnip family, it's a brassica.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I find those changes in Harry Potter irritating if I assume that American English and Standard English are two dialects of the same language (like Scottish English and Standard English), but acceptable if I assume that American English and Standard English are now two separate languages (like Scots and Standard English).

I think it's because the list seems to go beyond just replacing words that have a different meaning in American English (sweater/jumper/dress) - it also replaces words and phrases that are probably comprehensible to most educated Americans, but are distinctively English rather than American (mum/mom, have a place/have been accepted), and it adjusts grammar and content as well. Those are things that I would expect in a translation from one language to another, but not in a regional edition for users unfamiliar with a particular dialect.

[hiddenpaw.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with you about finding it irritating.
We get american forced down our throtes and really just have to except it. You could just look on it as Americans being to lazy to find out what is being said, but this really means that american children will grow up unable to understand UK english. eventualy you may get to a situation where americans won't watch brittish TV programs because they claim they can't understand them a bit like some english people did with Rab C Nesbit (Which I found condicending in the extream). If they are allowed to read the orrigonal not only will they have an entertaining read but they will learn skills that will save them from being mocked when they visit the UK.
You may think I'm over blowing this but yeasterday I had to sit and watch a news report where Ken livingstone anounced that as a marketing exsersise to make london more atractive to (Tourists) The Eastend of London would now be "Rebranded" the East-Side. And to think he was calling tony Blair an American lap dog. I was always of the oppinion that tourists that come to London in coming her make a decision not to spend thier time going to NewYork. They come her to partake of British culture as Opposed to American culture; that's the whole point of a holiday in London if your coming from abroard. I won't work of course as no brit who isn't being paid to do so will ever call it anything other than The Eastend.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

In Canada, people who grow that plant and people who market cooking oils made from it call it canola. (Canola comes from Canadian oil low acid, and is actually the same thing as rapeseed - the fields of yellow stuff.)

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with you about finding it irritating.

Me too. Part of getting the flavour of a different place in a book or movie is the spellings and cultural references. Taking those out of Harry Potter takes out some of the magic of the book.

The Canadian editions of Harry Potter (Raincoast Press) have no or very few changes from the UK editions. (The Weasleys' mum knits jumpers.) After public disgust, they made the name of the Canadian film version of the first story HP and the Philosopher's Stone, like the book, rather than Sorcerer's Stone, like the US movie.

Occasionally, though, one stumps me. What is Irn-Bru, and who drinks it under what circumstances

Irn-Bru

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

A fizzy drink. It's orange (looks like urine). Tastes purely of chemicals, so I understand.

Drunk by Scots, especially ones who fancy themselves as being well 'ard. (think they're tough, in AmE!)

As the slogan goes: "Irn-Bru. Made in Scotland from girders."
A reference to allegedly having iron in it.

Don't bother with it. Ask any friend going to Scotland to bring back some whisky instead.

[hiddenpaw.livejournal.com]

Toxic fizzy orange stuff. but orange only in colour. as for who drinks it my girlfriend is partial to it. Personaly I am assuming it is an aquiered taste.
I'm told it's brewed from gurders. For scots to brew from anything that's not grain based is kind of unuseral though.

[36.livejournal.com]

Here, when it's growing in the fields we refer to the crop as 'rape' or 'oil seed rape', usually we'd say 'oil seed rape' in the first occurance and then refer to it as 'rape' from then on. In products it's called 'vegetable oil' or occasionally 'rapeseed oil' (Tesco vegetable oil has a picture of rape flowers on the label).

[36.livejournal.com]

How much are American children's books rewritten into UK English when published here? I've seen American books here which seem to mix up English and American, changing sidewalk to pavement but keeping the sneakers and all money in dollars.

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

I don't recall ever seeing it done, although growing up as a hybrid Brit/Yank I often don't notice which idiom is being used.

It could be the word pavement was used in the US meaning of tarmac/roadway?