Commonwealth English

From Homestar Runner Wiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(Examples)
(Appearances: more context + linkin')
 
(includes 44 intermediate revisions)
Line 1: Line 1:
-
Commonwealth English is English as it is spoken and spelled in the Commonwealth countries, a collection of former British territories. This spelling is different from that which exists in the United States, and the two have been compared for many years. Throughout the [[Homestar Runner body of work]], this form of English has been mocked or parodied in at least some form.
+
{{rename}}
 +
[[File:Sb email22 - British English.PNG|thumb|"Shouldn't you have some kinda unnecessary vowel at the end of your name?"]]
 +
'''Commonwealth English''' is English as it is spoken and spelled in the Commonwealth countries, a collection of former British territories. This form of English dialect is noticeably different from that which exists in the United States, and the two are commonly the subject of comparison for linguists, grammarians, and comedians the world over. Throughout the [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] body of work, this form of English has been mocked or parodied in several forms.
-
==Examples==
+
==Appearances==
-
*[[Fan Stuff]] asks if a new character is the viewer's "flavourite", a [[portmanteau]] of the Commonwealth spellings of "flavor" and "favorite".
+
*[[Fan Stuff]] {{--}} The caption of one image asks if a new character is the viewer's "flavourite", a [[portmanteau]] of the Commonwealth spellings of "flavor" and "favorite".
-
*[[The Lost Email]] mentions that the sender, Mark, should "have an unnecessary vowel at the end" (with Strong Bad changing the name to "Marke"). This reflects spelling differences between American and British spellings of such words as "annex/annexe" and "ax/axe".
+
*Email [[sb_email 22]] {{--}} [[Strong Bad]] remarks that the sender, Mark, should "have an unnecessary vowel at the end" (he changes the name to "Marke"). This reflects spelling differences between American and British spellings of such words as "annex/annexe" and "ax/axe". Also mentioned is the substance "treacle", which is a Commonwealth English name for sugar syrups such as molasses.
-
*The [[1936]] era mocks Commonwealth English to some extent by using old fashioned words and phrases. Such vocabulary often includes Commonwealth spellings and is typically viewed by Americans as "archaic".
+
*[[3 Times Halloween Funjob]] {{--}} [[Homestar Runner]] scolds [[the Poopsmith]] for giving him "bum candy". "Bum" as a synonym for "buttocks" is primarily Commonwealth.
-
*[[Thy Dungeonman]] and its sequels use a mock form of Elizabethan English in an attempt to sound medieval, also relying upon the American view of such English vocabulary as "archaic".
+
*Email [[do over]] {{--}} [[Coach Zed]] uses the Commonwealth name for the letter Z, pronounced Zee in the US.
 +
*[[Teen Girl Squad Issue 10]] {{--}} [[Cheerleader]] is caber tossed, with the thrower upset that it was thrown "only 23 metres", using the Commonwealth spelling for "meter" (as caber tossing is a Scottish sport).
 +
**[[Disk 4 of 12 - World Games]] {{--}} The "only 23 metres" line is reused, retaining its spelling.
 +
*Email [[environment]] {{--}} "Bum" is one of the mother-approved synonyms of "butt".
 +
*[[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 15.2]] {{--}} Marzipan's "questionable surgeon" pronounces "advertisement" as "ad-VER-tiss-ment", and then calls attention to the fact that he had done so.
 +
*[[SBCG4AP Advertisement]] {{--}} The [[Generic Announcers|announcer]] pronounces "advertisement" as "ad-VER-tiss-ment".
 +
*[[Hooked on Decemberween]] {{--}} The [[Toons|description on the Flash version of]] the [[TV Time Toons Menu]] description read "ALL your holiday flavourites".
 +
*[[Stinkoman 20X6]] ([[Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough|Level 10]]) {{--}} The main villain is [[Z Sabre]] whose name is spelled with Commonwealth spelling as opposed to "Z Saber".  
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Word running gags]]

Current revision as of 22:59, 25 July 2024

"Shouldn't you have some kinda unnecessary vowel at the end of your name?"

Commonwealth English is English as it is spoken and spelled in the Commonwealth countries, a collection of former British territories. This form of English dialect is noticeably different from that which exists in the United States, and the two are commonly the subject of comparison for linguists, grammarians, and comedians the world over. Throughout the Homestar Runner body of work, this form of English has been mocked or parodied in several forms.

[edit] Appearances

Personal tools