The Bennington Banner

TWO KINDS OF ENGLISH.

There is quite a difference between the English and American speech, though we are not aware of it to any extent until our attention is called to it. The nomenclature of business is apt to mix an American up, and in some instances is quite annoying. I have prepared the following table, giving some of the more important words and their uses in both countries:

ENGLISH. AMERICAN.
Wire Telegram.
Booking office, Ticket office,
Booking Buying a ticket.
Ra'lway Railroad
Pernauent way, Railroad track,
Metals, Ralls,
Station, Depot,
Points. Switch,
Tram car. Street car.
Goods train Freight train
Carriages. Cars,
Guard, Conductor,
Driver. Engineer,
Stoker. Fireman,
Enzine, Locomotive,
Luggage. Baggage,
Seats, please, All aboard,
Light, Matches,
Ale. Beer,
Drilling cars. Switching cars,
Trains crossing, Trains meeting,
Goods van, Freight cars,
Pit, Parquet.

There are hundreds of other words which at first are confusing. In money we have the sovereign, which is also a quid, and in Yorkshire sometimes called a "thick 'un." A shilling is a bob; a sixpence, a tanner; a ten-shilling gold piece is half a quid and a "thin 'un"; The half-crown is known as two-and-six, sometimes two and a tanner. The values of English money are very deluding to Americans. Two shillings for an article doesn't sound expensive, but it is four shillings of American money, and the article looked at from that point may be expensive.