"Would you like me to tell you about the differences between the British and American positioning of the word 'already' in a sentence?"
you could anticipate the following two answers:
[from a Brit]
"No thanks - you already told me about them."
[from an American]
"No thanks - you told me about them already."
Actually, I think the Brit would say "you've already told me" rather than "you already told me", but that's another story.
In British English, we have more flexibility, because we don't have to put the word at the end of the sentence. So we could say
"No thanks - you've already told me about them" or "No thanks - you've told me already about them".
What we gain in flexibility however, we lose in extra meaning. American English can use the word to imply a judgement about the quality of something, as well as the timing of it. An example of this is the phrase 'Enough, already!' (which I think would probably always have an exclamation mark, so I've given it one). If I'm right, it's always used in the context of having had enough of something bad or annoying. This is what a mother says to her whining or arguing children. She wouldn't say it to someone scooping ice cream into a bowl for her - except perhaps with a wry laugh.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm coming to the conclusion that 'already' in American English usually has that sense of world-weariness or irritation about it.
Look at this book title.
You'd know that wasn't British English, wouldn't you?
Photo credit: Blobby Farm
Going back to our original question, I'm guessing that if an American responded to you "No thanks - you told me about those differences already", they would be politely implying "please don't think I want to hear about them again". If they really did just mean that you had imparted your views on the subject at a previous point in time, they would probably say "No thanks - you told me about them once before".
I think this is one of those Americanisms that's becoming increasingly common over this side of the Atlantic. If you listen out, you will hear our friend 'already' sliding away to the end of the sentence. It's happening now, (or "right now", to use another Americanism). It's happening right now already.
And now I think that's enough about 'already' already.
.
I'm feeling confused, already! Ha!
ReplyDeleteMaggie x
I may be secretly British, I would say it the first way. I only put "already" at the end when I use the phrase "Enough already." But I rarely say that.
ReplyDeleteI think you are wrong. There is no way a true Brit would say "No thanks - you've told me already about them" A true Brit would say "errrr, errrr, ok" let them go through the whole list again and then say "well it all sounds very lovely but ..." then come up with a slightly plausible excuse not to accept because we are incapable of saying a plain "no thanks" !!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. I like to have these things explained to me, as a foreigner living in English. The tiny subtleties often escape me.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to be rude but I cannot stand that use of already. It should be 'I've already eaten thanks.'
ReplyDeleteI spent a lot of time in LA about eight lifetimes ago which I loved but I used to recoil at the ever present second word use of 'like' ..OK enough I sound middle aged....
Hmmm.... I would expect my American friends here to put the "already" at the beginning, and only use it at the end if they were expressing annoyance, as you say.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean! There are so many examples of words like this (I'm forever coming a-cropper, since I work for an American publication). I don't think they would say a-cropper either.
ReplyDeleteIf we're talking subtleties here, I would probably use 'already' in the word order you identified as British (if I were forced to - I think I'd go with K Ville and likely just listen to it all over again because I wouldn't want to hurt someone's feelings). But here's my reasoning, and I had to repeat it to myself both ways several times: "You already told me" -for some reason I cannot explain - sounds kinder and gentler than "You told me already." No idea why. As far as the usage above- "Slide Already!" -that usage has come from Yiddish (____already!) and has sort of come into the mainstream of American English via TV and movies. While I think every American would 'get' its use, the only people I know who use it unselfconsciously are our Jewish friends, or people who live somewhere where Yiddish influence is (or has been) strong. Most of the people I know from the Southwest and West Coast, would say, "Go ahead and slide!" or "Go on, slide!" If you live in an area where this usage has worked its way into the mainstream (I'm thinking NYC, for example) it would be completely standard. However, if I were to say something like, "Go, already!" it would be very much done with the intention of using a phrase that is nonstandard to me and recognized by my listeners (those who know me) as nonstandard usage - for some kind of effect (probably humorous). In the same way, if MrL were trying to talk to me about something when I was trying to read a book, if I said, "Why you gettin up in my grill?" he would understand I was saying in a silly, nonstandard way "Why are you bothering me?" And we both would have understood that I was being facetious (although I probably want him to let me read my book and leave me alone nonetheless.) Disclaimer: Of course, I say all this as a person who has been away from 'home' for nearly 5 years at this point. Maybe the '....already!" construction has made the leap to the mainstream and I just don't know it anymore. Still - love the topic, and love thinking about this stuff. I'm always chewing on these things in my blog - seems like I run across them daily!
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled across this post & your comment, I know it's old already (ha).
DeleteAs a long-time NYC resident with Yiddish-speaking grandparents, totally agree with you. In NYC at least, if you're responding to someone and you put the "already" at the end of the sentence it's almost always sort of rude, impatient or sharp... even if your tone softens your point.
Wouldn't end with "already" in any sort of serious or professional context, although do it all the time at home and to be funny, just as you say.
Haha! There are subtle differences all over the place, but I can't always put my finger on just what it is. Often, as you noted, it's more about the implied tone or emotion than about the literal usage...that's exactly it.
ReplyDeleteHow funny...we truly are two cultures divided by a common language, haha!