Well, this topic is obviously irritating for some. For me I am indifferent….maybe I’m a little irritated by it. Some of the more stuffy British English speakers wish to protect their sacred use of “lift” instead of “elevator,” or “flat” instead of “apartment,” or “fish” instead of “chips”…..???…..(I might be mistaken on the last one … maybe its the other way around). Anyway, these types of things don’t really matter to me. It’s not that I don’t care about language, I think there are some very inspired expressions from the many different regions in the English speaking world. And, I understand the repulsion of some Brits against the invading tide of “Americanisms.”
I, myself, sometimes feel a certain rejection of some British expression. They are usually things I just can’t say with a straight face. “I can’t be bothered to….” sounds like your too good to bring yourself down off the pedestal. “I haven’t the time” sounds like you are missing a tooth, may I suggest “I haven’t got the time” or “I don’t have the time” instead. The number of times I have had to explain to my students that the negative goes with the auxiliary verb and is followed by the main verb. They get “have” the auxiliary verb and “have” the main verb confused for the obvious similarities but also the fact that some Brits have used the auxiliary verb without the main verb. “I haven’t any idea” is simply not correct….I mean, I understand what you are saying, but I have to teach this to my students.
But I am not a hater of British English. And my British, Scottish, and Irish friends all know I like “taking the piss.” As you can see, I have exchanged a few of my American words for British ones. I do say “flat” instead of “apartment” and “lift” instead of “elevator” but that is because it cuts down on syllables. The practical American in me says those are efficient words. But the “I have done” makes me think you should have said “I have” or “I did” because you only need to use one auxiliary verb in the short answer form. But, I will never get used to “chips” and “crisps” instead of “fries” and “chips.” It’s too late for me with those and I have a automatic reaction to say one when I mean the other and vice versa. We just need to go back to cave drawings for that one. That way you just show me a picture and I know exactly what you are trying to say.
Are there any expression you find annoying that characterize a group of speakers? Maybe you have adopted a few expressions from others that you think are better than the ones your regional group uses.