By Thea Jaffe
British English is music to my ears, but I proudly represent my homeland when it comes to the way I talk. Here are 5 words I love but don’t say in allegiance to my American roots:
A UK business negotiations must-have… but an American-English “can’t-have”! Unless, of course, you’re trying to sound British. I admire how the word “keen” conveys a high level of interest with a low level of commitment. The American alternatives – “excited,” “eager” or even “interested” – can seem charged with emotional investment which might not be intended.
Using this light, casual word in place of “thanks” is a great way to conserve emotional energy and save that deep heartfelt gratitude for the big stuff. But in the US, “cheers” is only used when proposing a toast or when – yep you guessed it – trying to sound British. This is why, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I usually respond with a full blown “thanks” if anyone so much as holds the door for me.
The sentence above shows how “reckon” is commonly used in offices in the UK. But until I came to London I had only heard this word used in historical novels and films set in the Deep South or the American Frontier. For this reason, whenever I hear how long someone reckons this project will take, I just feel like I’m floating down the Mississippi on a makeshift raft, without a care in the world.
Without going into the full range of uses for “fancy”, I wish I could bring myself to use this beautifully subtle way of saying what you want – or don’t want. Like keen, it suggests interest or enthusiasm without committing to outright desire. When used negatively it can be very helpful for making expressions of dislike less harsh. For example, “That’s looks like a nice restaurant, I just don’t fancy their menu”.
Rarely used in American dialogue, this auxiliary verb has connotations of nobility, Victorian novels, and the Bible. Why do I like it? Because the American English equivalent – “should” – implies an ethical obligation, whereas “shall” merely suggests a possibility without introducing any moral pressure into a situation. In a business context, “shall” comes across as less personal and less domineering.
Using or learning Business English on both sides of the Atlantic will give you firsthand understanding of how important cultural context is to language learning. One common stereotype suggests that Americans are more effusive in the workplace while Britons are more reserved, and it’s interesting that the Brenglish words listed above tend to diffuse intensity whereas the American alternatives are more emotionally charged. It happens that my personality does align with this stereotype, which may be why I wrote this blog. However, as language, culture and personality evolve together, I still have hope that one day, I’ll be able to speak Brenglish without feeling like I’m trying too hard.
Thea works on the corporate account-management team, overseeing language training programmes for a wide range of clients. Before joining Language Services Direct, she completed an MA in English Literature as well as a CELTA (language teaching qualification), and went on to teach Business, Academic, and General English at various institutions in London and New York. During this time, she also gained valuable work experience in other sectors including retail and publishing.
As a Corporate Account Manager, Thea draws on her experience as a language trainer, her passion for customer service, and her understanding of the corporate environment to ensure the best possible experience for clients, learners and trainers.
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