Homework Help

[Rose_Greenthumb]

I posted this on the Community Board and they suggested I try over here too.

For part of my English Language course, we're looking at Americanisms and my homework is to translate some words from British English to American English and vice versa. Trouble is, I'm totally stuck on several of them so I was hoping some of you might be able to help.

These ones are American English and I need the British English version so even a description of what it actually is may well help in several instances.

1. Administration
2. Bureau
3. Dry Goods

These next ones are in British English and I need an American equivalent so I've included some dictionary definitions.

1. Hire purchase - Purchase of a commodity on an installment plan.
2. Mince - Ok I'm not even sure which context this one's supposed to be! But it's probably a finely chopped food, particularly mincemeat.
3. Fender - I've never heard this word but it could be

A) A guard over each wheel of a motor vehicle, for example, that is shaped and positioned so as to block the splashing of water or mud.
B) A device at the front end of a locomotive or streetcar designed to push aside obstructions.
C) A cushioning device, such as a bundle of rope or a piece of timber, used on the side of a vessel or dock to absorb impact or friction.
D) A screen or metal framework placed in front of a fireplace to keep hot coals and debris from falling out.

4. Removal Van
5. Shop assistant - an employee in a shop (but I imagine that's obvious)
6. Spring onion - an onion taken from the ground before the bulb has formed; eaten in salads (not that it's a helpful definition)
7. Subway - An underground tunnel or passage, as for a water main or for pedestrians.
8. Third party insurance
9. Terraced house - one of a section of row houses.
10. Vest - An undershirt.

Thanks!

 

[wilma-bride]

I'll try and help as much as I can but some of the words you say are British English, I've always thought of as American English so maybe I'm not the best person to help

Firstly, the American English ones:

1. Administration - it may help a bit to know what the American meaning of this word is as I've always thought of it as meaning 'government office' in America. If that is the case then I would say Parliament or Cabinet is probably the nearest equivalent.

2. Again, this has several different meanings as far as I know. It can, again, mean government department. It can also be a word for a desk.

3. Dry goods in British English are known as Ambient goods.

As far as the British English ones go, it's not quite as easy to come up with an American alternative being English. Hopefully, someone far brighter than me will come along and help

 

[diberry]

I'm fairly sure a fender is what we call the bumper on a car.
I think "administration" is what we call the Government and I think a bureau is a writing desk. A dry goods store may be what used to be called haberdashery or draper's in this country ie: a shop selling fabric, thread etc.
This may help if you are patient enough to wade through them all!!!http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/american.html

 

[FizzyPop]

I'm fairly sure a fender is what we call the bumper on a car.

Thats what I think it is

 

[wilma-bride]

I'm fairly sure a fender is what we call the bumper on a car.

That's what I thought as well - in fact, quite a lot of those words seem American to me already. But Rose said they were British English words which is why I struggled to put them into American English

 

[acr4bbe]

Can't help much I'm afraid but I do know that Fender is the Wing.

I only know this because I work for a company that makes Plastic Fenders for cars.

 

[Floridadreamlel]

I agree with all that have posted replies so far but hope this helps on some of the others:

1. Hire purchase - Installment plan.
2. Mince - Ground beef
3. Fender - All the definitions below can be called a fender although B) can also be called a Pilot or Cowcatcher.
A) A guard over each wheel of a motor vehicle, for example, that is shaped and positioned so as to block the splashing of water or mud.
B) A device at the front end of a locomotive or streetcar designed to push aside obstructions.
C) A cushioning device, such as a bundle of rope or a piece of timber, used on the side of a vessel or dock to absorb impact or friction.
D) A screen or metal framework placed in front of a fireplace to keep hot coals and debris from falling out.

4. Removal Van don't know this one
5. Shop assistant - don't know this one
6. Spring onion - don't know this one
7. Subway - is called a subway
8. Third party insurance - ?
9. Terraced house - Town house
10. Vest - Undershirt.

Hope this is helpful

 

[acr4bbe]

Just been doing a little surfing on google....as you do, especially for the monthly quiz and I found the following ENGLISH - AMERICAN dictionaries. Think you should find most of the stuff you need in there.

http://english2american.com/

http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/

Worth a try anyway

 

[catherine]

It's seems like you have most of them.

Spring onion = Green onion
Removal van = Moving van
Subway = Subway/ Some places it's called an underpass
Shop assistant = Store clerk

Bureau = Chest of drawers

If I can think of anymore I'll post them.

Good luck!

 

[Merylj]

Mince - walk speak with affected delicacy.
That`s according to the Oxford dictionary.

 

[AlanUK]

Mince - walk speak with affected delicacy.
That`s according to the Oxford dictionary.

I assumed she was looking at it as a noun rather than a verb, but this has made me chuckle

 

[LeCras]

Spring onion is the British word(s) for scallion.

Charlotte

 

[catherine]

DH says that a fender is A) A guard over each wheel of a motor vehicle, for example, that is shaped and positioned so as to block the splashing of water or mud.

 

[catherine]

Spring onion is the British word(s) for scallion.

Charlotte

I think this must depend on which state that you are in. The western states OR, CA and UT call our spring onions, green onions. Does that make sense?!

 

[LeCras]

I think this must depend on which state that you are in. The western states OR, CA and UT call our spring onions, green onions. Does that make sense?!

Catherine, I've never been to the western US so it never occurred to me that scallion could be a regional American word! You learn something new every day!

Charlotte

 

[Claire L]

A) A guard over each wheel of a motor vehicle, for example, that is shaped and positioned so as to block the splashing of water or mud

Would this be a mud guard or otherwise known as mud flap?

Claire

 

[catherine]

Im don't know whether you've finished with this or not, But DH remebered that 3rd party insurance is called accident insurance!

Good luck!