British -> American "Translation"

[Dai Evans]

No: HPFGUIDX 10172

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Jim Flanagan" <jamesf at a...> wrote:

> OT Digression #1:
> One thing that is noticeable on certain BBC programs that are
> rebroadcast over here is the omission of the article adjective
> in phrases such as "at table" and "to hospital." Americans would
> say "at the table" and "to the hospital." The BBC usage sounds
> posh and pedantic to my ears, so I'd like to ask any Brits or
> Aussies who've read down this far: are "at table" etc. in
> everyday use?  Does this usage vary by dialect area?  
> I haven't seen any examples in the HP books, so if anyone sees 
> one please let me know and I'll add it to the list, which may 
> become part of the International Editions FAQ.

"At table", is generally a northern English (Yorkshire/Lancashire) 
term. The rest of us Brits would say "at the table." Conversely; most 
people (Northern and everyone else alike) would say "to Hospital" 
when referring to a random hospital, like if I injured myself I would 
ask someone to take me "to Hospital" any hospital, just make it there 
fast. However if I had reason to refer to a particular hospital, 
(like one I had been to before, if I was an out-patient for example) 
then I would most likely say "I have to go to the Hospital." 


Make sense? I think not. You have to experience it (not recommended).



Dai