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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Are BrE Phone Terms Turning AmE?
I just phoned a hospital in England and was told by a recorded voice that the extension I was trying to reach was "busy" which surprised me because I thought the usual BrE term was "engaged."
The voice had a pleasant classless, regionless BrE accent. As far as I could tell, it was not computer-generated, but belonged to real person, so I don't think this was a case of a British version of American software.
Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed? Is it changing? Does anyone care?
The voice had a pleasant classless, regionless BrE accent. As far as I could tell, it was not computer-generated, but belonged to real person, so I don't think this was a case of a British version of American software.
Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed? Is it changing? Does anyone care?
Top answer
[nq:1]I just phoned a hospital in England and was told by a recorded voice that the extension I was trying ... American software. Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed?
- [nq:1]I just phoned a hospital in England and was told by a recorded voice that the extension I was trying ...
- American software.
- Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed?
- Is it changing?
- [/nq] Technology often uses terms from US English.
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187 Answers
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[nq:1]I just phoned a hospital in England and was told by a recorded voice that the extension I was trying ... American software. Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed? Is it changing? Does anyone care?[/nq]
Technology often uses terms from US English. "busy" is perfectly well understood. I wouldn't be surprised if the formal term for the beep-beep which used to be
Technology often uses terms from US English. "busy" is perfectly well understood. I wouldn't be surprised if the formal term for the beep-beep which used to be
00
[nq:1]Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed? Is it changing? Does anyone care?[/nq]
Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Robert
Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Robert
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[nq:2]Was this an unusual usage or has the BrE phone terminology changed? Is it changing? Does anyone care?[/nq]
[nq:1]Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.[/nq]
The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.
[nq:1]Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.[/nq]
The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.
00
[nq:2]Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.[/nq]
[nq:1]The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.[/nq]
I'm hoping they'll speak Indian English, and we'll all switch to that.
("I am pleased to be telling you in response to your doubt that the correct number you wish to dial is..")
[nq:1]The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.[/nq]
I'm hoping they'll speak Indian English, and we'll all switch to that.
("I am pleased to be telling you in response to your doubt that the correct number you wish to dial is..")
00
[nq:2]Prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.[/nq]
[nq:1]The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.[/nq]
What miffs me is the number of texts I see produced in English in EU countries for EU consumption yet with American spelling.
Ross Howard
[nq:1]The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.[/nq]
What miffs me is the number of texts I see produced in English in EU countries for EU consumption yet with American spelling.
Ross Howard
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[nq:2]The twist of the knife is that all phones will eventually be answered in India, and they will speak AmE because of the larger market.[/nq]
[nq:1]What miffs me is the number of texts I see produced in English in EU countries for EU consumption yet with American spelling.[/nq]
I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...
[nq:1]What miffs me is the number of texts I see produced in English in EU countries for EU consumption yet with American spelling.[/nq]
I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...
00
[nq:2]What miffs me is the number of texts I see produced in English in EU countries for EU consumption yet with American spelling.[/nq]
[nq:1]I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...[/nq]
Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business c
[nq:1]I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...[/nq]
Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business c
00
[nq:2]I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...[/nq]
[nq:1]Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business centers" and "inner-city neighborhoods".[/nq]
Yeah, well. Anyone who offers English education in a foreign country has to decide whe
[nq:1]Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business centers" and "inner-city neighborhoods".[/nq]
Yeah, well. Anyone who offers English education in a foreign country has to decide whe
00
[nq:2]I guess that could be because the EU wants to trade with the rest of the world and not just with itself...[/nq]
[nq:1]Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business centers" and "inner-city neighborhoods".[/nq]
Are you suggesting that they should produce two sets of documents, one with BrE spelli
[nq:1]Read the words between "countries" and "yet" again. I'm talking about reams of reports addressed to Eurocrats that talk about "business centers" and "inner-city neighborhoods".[/nq]
Are you suggesting that they should produce two sets of documents, one with BrE spelli
00
[nq:1]Yeah, well. Anyone who offers English education in a foreign country has to decide whether to offer British style, American ... to buy German and Japanese cars. But that one at least has some rational economic justification, besides just wounded pride.[/nq]
Are reports to NAFTA submitted in BrE?
Mike
M.J.Powell
Are reports to NAFTA submitted in BrE?
Mike
M.J.Powell
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