View My Stats

Welcome to the world of the Vincent D'Onofrio obsessed - and a bit of real life thrown in.


Thursday, August 04, 2011

Sorry to Pry

The more I watch American TV programmes and read books by American authors, the more baffled I become at the apparent separation of meaning of two similar words: pry and prise.

In UK English (sorry, US Vixens, but I think of it as "proper" English!) the word prise means, for example, to lever off a lid; pry is to be nosey.

Yet time after time, on TV and in print, I find that US speakers of English use pry to mean the same as prise means in the UK.

If that's so, what on earth do you use for being nosey? (And don't say, "to be nosey"!)

As for "proper English", I remember a story I heard a British broadcaster tell about an experience he had talking to a woman from the American South. I can't remember where whe was from, but let's say Kentucky. It began with an expression of surprise from her:

"Oh, you speak English! I didn't know y'all spoke English in England." He assured her it was so. She then asked:

"How long y'all spoke English in England?"

The man thought for a moment, considering the history of the language, right back to Chaucer in the 14th century, and replied:

"For about 600 years."

"Oh," said the wise southern woman, "we've always spoke English in Kentucky."

He decided he couldn't argue with that!

9 comments:

Ruby said...

Hilarious story, Val! I can honestly say I've never even heard the word "prise" to "pry" open a lid (though I'm sure my professor husband has). We use "pry" for that meaning as well as for "to be nosey."

mauigirl said...

Now this IS weird, I checked the American dictionary, and it's as Val says. So...is the entire nation (USA I mean) speaking some 'slang' word without even realizing we're doing this? :/

Anonymous said...

The Brits and our American cousins, two Nations separated by the same language - LOL!

Then again, I remember being at my friend's house in Berkshire (southern England). Her mum was amazed when I announced I'd go and 'mash the tea'. 'Did you hear that Vera?' she said to her friend who was also present. 'You mash potatoes, not tea' the friend advised. Well, yes, you do, but in MY part of England, we also 'mash' (brew) tea ;0)

vikeau said...

Is prise pronounced the same way as pry? I see "prise" and my inclination is to pronoun the word as "prize".

val said...

"Prise" is pronounced the same as "prize", Vikeau.

bobbybegood1 said...

I had a similar conversation with a school teacher about a month ago, Val. She doesn't believe in "proper" English. She thinks all languages are appropriate for whichever situation you are in. For example, I said to her what did she think about ebonics. She said that ebonics IS a language and is fitting in the right setting.

Pry is used for both being nosey "prying into my business" and lifting something, opening something up. I have never heard of the word prise either. So when you open a door ajar or lift the top off a container you use the word prise - which sounds like prize? Hummmmm. That's different. Cheers Val!! Great story.

bobbybegood1 said...

What she said Val was that she didn't believe in "proper" English but that she believes in "Standard" English.

JoJo said...

I know of prise to get a lid open, from reading it in English lit stories. But Americans have never used it, at least none I've talked to. And there are regional terms that I've often never heard of, but 'pry open the lid' is universally American.

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of that word. I remember in the one episode of CI where the girl lines up the peas, Bobby references speech of Western Pennsylvanians. We use the phrase he spoke of, "redd up", which means to straighten or tidy up for company. It originates from the farmers who would paint their barns red after the end of the harvest and then invite neighbors over to share in the bounty.

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
Starsign - Aries Chinese Year - Snake