American / British English

[oldbadger]

It can be either????? so it is a problem.

It was once a problem, 'cos the sciencitists and astronomers used a million-million, which was what a billion originally meant.

But then we all followed the financial folks and now see a billion as a thousand million.

 

[oldbadger]

Regarding Austin Powers, British people from around the country can find it difficult to follow speech due to dialects.

Yes....... I like films with Tommy Lee Jones in, but sometimes need to use subtitles to catch everything he says!

Equally, you might have trouble with West Country, Scottish or some Irish?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It was once a problem, 'cos the sciencitists and astronomers used a million-million, which was what a billion originally meant.

But then we all followed the financial folks and now see a billion as a thousand million.

The problem comes with older reference books and looking up old data. they never state which Billion. no one acknowledged the other.

 

[Father Heathen]

OK...... what do you call the manoeuvre where you turn a car right round to face the other way (in a street)? We call it a 'three point turn'. You call it something funny!

We call the maneuver () A "U" turn. Note the shape. And when we do it we turn left.

And who ever heard of a gear-shift? It's a stick!

It's often called a stick or stick-shift here, too, but also a gear-shift, since it does in fact shift gears.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

OK...... what do you call the manoeuvre where you turn a car right round to face the other way (in a street)? We call it a 'three point turn'. You call it something funny!

That's called a three point turn here as well. A U-turn is something that is done usually on a 4-lane road (Two in each direction) when you need to go the opposite direction and find a break in the median.

And who ever heard of a gear-shift? It's a stick!

There is a distinction here. Gear shift is something you refer to when you are refering to the actual gear shifter. Stick shift is used when refering to the type of transmission a vehicle has. We also call them Standard Transmission, as in "Is it an automatic or standard."

 

[Nerthus]

I need to spend a penny..

 

[Secret Chief]

Well just go and come back to post after you've been!