2/17/10

Americanisation complete?

Something dawned on me today and made me chuckle to myself. Although as a Brit maybe I should hang my head in shame, because it's something many non-Americans take the mickey out of.....

I now say "Have a nice day" that quintessential Americanism, about a dozen times a day!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ha ha - love it! I liked hearing "Have a nice day" etc when I lived over the pond. I changed it to "Have a fab(ulous) day" - bit more English. People are always so cheery and courteous in the USA. A few didn't get my slightly ironic British mock-grumpiness and so, for fear of being thought a miserable wotsit, I adapted very quickly! Funny post :o)

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

When you quit drinking tea and stop writing about colours then maybe you will be Americanized.

Do you say "Fixing to" and "Yall" yet, that's the beginning stages of being Okieized.

imac said...

Its strange how many Countries differ in their word meanings.

If everyone says "Have a nice day" do they always mean it, even if you upset the waiter and not leave a tip?lol.

imac said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Flea said...

Mickey?

Unknown said...

Flea- mickey = poke fun/take the pee

Yogi - I only say Y'all deliberately for fun and no I have yet to say 'fixing to'!

Lynn said...

"If everyone says "Have a nice day" do they always mean it...?"

Probably not. I think we do it without really thinking about it. It just feels strange to part without saying anything.

I'm an American who's never been out of the country but I've always been an anglophile and I'm sometimes tempted to use some of those charming British spellings.

Anonymous said...

Here in Hawaii, I don't hear local people saying "Have a nice day" so much. But we do tend to say "Okay, thank youuuu!" a lot even for the littlest thing.

Bloodhound said...

Its good to see folk poking fun and it being taken as its meant....
Light hearted and friendly.
Take Care.

Gaelyn said...

LOL! This is kind of scary Sarah.
;-)

Jill of All Trades said...

Unfortunately I am totally Okie...Ya'll, Dawg, 'rastle. It comes out heavy sometimes and sometimes I can control it. I now embrace it, it's who I am...

Anonymous said...

I say it but dont mean it if I was honest. I dont say y'all or fix it yet.... 3 and half years here though maybe when I have been here longer I will xx

Daryl said...

What Yogi♪♪♪ said AND it was funny to see you spell Americanisation the Brit way ..

Mom Mayhem says: said...

Ha! -But I don't think you're fully americanized cause I didn't know what mickey meant either =D

Flea said...

Take the pee? Okay, not I'm thoroughly confused. So you're saying that Americans say Have a nice day in jest and non-Americans don't? Or vice versa? Dang. Maybe I need to try harder to be more American.

Unknown said...

Flea no!

What I am saying is that Brits tend to take the pee in a gentle manner, out of Americans wishing everyone 'have a nice day'. We certainly don't do it, well unless you're me apparently.

I guess we see it as a little OTT and sacchariney!

Unknown said...

and take the pee = mock

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Ha Sarah----IF you were here in Tennessee, it would take about 10 minutes and 100 syllables to get it out: "Have a Niiiiiiiiiiiice Daaaaaaaay!!! ha ha

Hugs,
Betsy

Sherri said...

Sarah you make me giggle :)!

Pat said...

I take it a step farther and say, "Have a great day!"

I've heard British college students mocking Americans for saying "You're welcome" in response to "Thank you."

I've lived in CA virtually my whole life, but SOMETIMES I say, "y'all" or "all y'all" when I'm feeling goofy.

Plastic Mancunian said...

Hi there,

I think I would put a British slant on American sayings if I lived over there.

Like CambridgeLady I would say something like "Have a fab day". In fact, I might even say (for a laugh, you understand) "have a spiffing day" even though I have never heard anybody use the word "spiffing".

Also I would say "Cheerio" - again for a laugh.

:0)

Cheers

PM

Almost American said...

You know, we wouldn't question it if we were living in a country where they don't speak English and we adopted the polite exchanges there - "Grüß Gott" for example. Northern Germans make fun of Southern Germans who say it, but if I lived in Bavaria I would probably find myself saying it because it's what people who live there say when they greet each other. Nice as it is to be recognised as being from elsewhere, sometimes we just want to fit in and not be noticed as different!

FranE said...

I am fascinated by this post. I was born in Oklahoma and lived in Pawnee or Edmond until I was 21. Now I am in Texas. I never associated 'Have a nice day' with a country. I have always thought of it as being considerate and friendly to others. Okies have always been a friendly group. Frankly, I love the South with their open hearts and kindly spoken words. Glad to have you in America. :)

Louise | Italy said...

Hee-hee. Oh dear you have gone over to the other side, haven't you! Try Have a good day! It's the same sentiment, less American.

Ronnica said...

Never thought about that being American. Though it can't quite be complete, or you'd spell it with a Z instead of an S!

Brenda said...

If you lived in California you would probably be saying it more times than that! Its funny how fast we pick up those things.

Visitng from BPOTW

Vicki Hollett said...

Ha! Might it be a slippery slide so you'll find yourself saying I dropping that 'u' in colour and 's' in apologise?
Great blog and look forwrad to returning.