1) A Britishism, Adj. The correct, though often counter-intuitive, spelling of a word in English that is widely misspelt in the United State’s version of the English language.
2) A Britishism, Adj. The correct, though again admittedly counter-intuitive, pronunciation of certain words that are expressed differently in the States: due to the deviation of evolution in our separate linguistic developments (or lack thereof). Some scholars believe that certain American dialects are closer to the original forms of English than those currently spoken in England, largely due to the xenophobic nature of a nation afraid of change. Other scholars disagree. Others simply do not care.
3)Briticism, noun. The view taken of Britain by America, through the distorting lens of U.S. pop-media in film and television, designed to demonise British people and make them appear more threatening than they probably are.
It is similar to Said’s theory of Orientalism, except America has yet to declare war on Britain, so it doesn’t bother the British nearly as much as Orientalism probably bothers people in the Middle East.
To be fair, the Brits are responsible for an incalculable number of atrocities; we did have the largest Empire the world has ever seen after all; now all we have is a testimony to that fact in the Guinness Book of Records, an incompetent government, and a healthy dose of national cynicism.
2) A Britishism, Adj. The correct, though again admittedly counter-intuitive, pronunciation of certain words that are expressed differently in the States: due to the deviation of evolution in our separate linguistic developments (or lack thereof). Some scholars believe that certain American dialects are closer to the original forms of English than those currently spoken in England, largely due to the xenophobic nature of a nation afraid of change. Other scholars disagree. Others simply do not care.
3)Briticism, noun. The view taken of Britain by America, through the distorting lens of U.S. pop-media in film and television, designed to demonise British people and make them appear more threatening than they probably are.
It is similar to Said’s theory of Orientalism, except America has yet to declare war on Britain, so it doesn’t bother the British nearly as much as Orientalism probably bothers people in the Middle East.
To be fair, the Brits are responsible for an incalculable number of atrocities; we did have the largest Empire the world has ever seen after all; now all we have is a testimony to that fact in the Guinness Book of Records, an incompetent government, and a healthy dose of national cynicism.
1) Britishism, Briticism: Americans insist on replacing "s" with "z" at every available opportunity. There are many other examples, this is just the most annoying.
2) Britishism, Briticism: Lieutenant I believe is spelt correctly in the U.S. but it’s pronounced “Left-tenant”: L-E-F-T, get it?
3) Briticism: The Patriot was an awful film, also pretty inaccurate; it cast us Brits in a pretty demonic light, when really both sides did some pretty unpleasant things. You did destroy our tea, and that is simply not done.
Too many others to list, but we're always the bad guys, it's probably our own fault for being so horrible.
I don't get the paradoxical nature of your notions that we are "limeys" and the aspersions you cast on our dental health. The sailors used to suck limes to avoid scurvy which is essentially a horrible gum disease, is it not? Plus in modern terms, our free dental care system on the NHS beats the hell out of your sinister Insurance system. American prejudice is surely harming America as much as it harms the world at large.
2) Britishism, Briticism: Lieutenant I believe is spelt correctly in the U.S. but it’s pronounced “Left-tenant”: L-E-F-T, get it?
3) Briticism: The Patriot was an awful film, also pretty inaccurate; it cast us Brits in a pretty demonic light, when really both sides did some pretty unpleasant things. You did destroy our tea, and that is simply not done.
Too many others to list, but we're always the bad guys, it's probably our own fault for being so horrible.
I don't get the paradoxical nature of your notions that we are "limeys" and the aspersions you cast on our dental health. The sailors used to suck limes to avoid scurvy which is essentially a horrible gum disease, is it not? Plus in modern terms, our free dental care system on the NHS beats the hell out of your sinister Insurance system. American prejudice is surely harming America as much as it harms the world at large.
by JerichoGeronimo May 15, 2009
Get the Britishism, Briticism mug.Kind pleasant people you have to gain respect from.
Anybody who is a British citizen whether new citizens or not will have Britishness in them.
Britishness is having a dark sense of humour yet understanding it is a joke and not taking things very seriously.Britishness is being cool calm and collected when you have to be and Britishness is also be very respectful to all kinds of people no matter who they are. Britishness is about accepting people even if you don’t fully understand who they are or why they are.
Britishness is being able to make sounds and them have meanings for example ‘gobbldygoop’ which means someone’s talking absolute rubbish.
Britishness is considering ourselves better than the Americans as we are much much more accepting and have a lot less extremists. We would all like to meet an Aussie Canadian or a New Zealander as they seem very pleasant and very similar and very kind yet still not on par with Britishness.
There are lots of different types of Britishness throughout the 4 nations as Britishness is very regional unlike the USA where everything is much bigger and most slang is the same everywhere.
Anybody who is a British citizen whether new citizens or not will have Britishness in them.
Britishness is having a dark sense of humour yet understanding it is a joke and not taking things very seriously.Britishness is being cool calm and collected when you have to be and Britishness is also be very respectful to all kinds of people no matter who they are. Britishness is about accepting people even if you don’t fully understand who they are or why they are.
Britishness is being able to make sounds and them have meanings for example ‘gobbldygoop’ which means someone’s talking absolute rubbish.
Britishness is considering ourselves better than the Americans as we are much much more accepting and have a lot less extremists. We would all like to meet an Aussie Canadian or a New Zealander as they seem very pleasant and very similar and very kind yet still not on par with Britishness.
There are lots of different types of Britishness throughout the 4 nations as Britishness is very regional unlike the USA where everything is much bigger and most slang is the same everywhere.
‘Britishness is great’
by Britannia Rules the waves! October 28, 2020
Get the Britishness mug.Related Words
by Lilliepad August 18, 2022
Get the britishian mug.As stated before, a good example of English Selective Britishness is the use of country names in wins/losses in sport (England won, Britain lost/Britain won, Scotland lost)... Yet it works both ways!
For example, in a recent Televised poll, many (NOT all, I'm not generalising!) Scots said they want all ties to be cut from England, to preserve Scottish heritage etc... Yet these same people expect Scottish TV presenters etc. to remain presenting English TV!?
For example, in a recent Televised poll, many (NOT all, I'm not generalising!) Scots said they want all ties to be cut from England, to preserve Scottish heritage etc... Yet these same people expect Scottish TV presenters etc. to remain presenting English TV!?
Scotland is currently still part of Britain, hence their own ability to display traits of Selective Britishness... That's not to say England isn't guilty!
Let's keep Britain firmly in place... it means more public holidays for both countries! :D
Let's keep Britain firmly in place... it means more public holidays for both countries! :D
by gratedraindrop February 21, 2007
Get the selective britishness mug.by WannabeMeMeMe November 11, 2019
Get the Britishan mug.1) Uselessly adding silent letters to words to make them look more classier, despite that it's been out of style since the 18th century. Also, a British equivalent of an American made word.
2) A British invention that required American integrity to become effective.
2) A British invention that required American integrity to become effective.
by Anonymous September 6, 2003
Get the britishism mug.An amatuer artist in the fantasy realm, has very interesting digital painting skills, but it is quite disturbing....
by Moojoo March 23, 2005
Get the briteshine mug.