[PRCo] OT: Re: Two great nations, separated by a common language, Was: English

[Donald Galt]

On 14 Dec 2002 at 22:44, Bob Rathke wrote:

> 
> You should have been ("ben", not "bean") there.
> 

I get confused trying to remember how the Queen says it, but it's almost 
universally "ben" or "bin" in the UK. Likewise in Oz and NZ. "Bean" is 
predominant in Ireland and in Canada and not uncommon in some Black communities 
in the US. The idea that this word a shibboleth between the US and the UK is a 
Yankee myth.  

Interesting coincidence: in another thread in a related group somebody just 
wrote, 

You say tomaytoe and I say tomahto,
You say potayto and I say potahto.
 ....
Let's call the whole thing off.
Really cool song, but nobody, nohow, nowhere says "potahto" in English.