Gangway vs aisle - English Spanish Translator Org: Translation Forum � Translators Forums

sabrina · 01-31-2008, 06:30 AM

Does anyone know which of the 2 terms mentioned above is for British English and which for American English? Thanks for your help!

ScottJ · 01-31-2008, 11:17 AM

"Aisle" is definitely a word that Americans use while "gangway" is just a weird word that Americans laugh at.

Frank van den Eeden · 03-07-2008, 04:24 AM

Hi Sabrina and ScottJ,

I think "gangway" is still used for the board or the set of stairs leading on to a ship.
There is also the exclamation "gangway!" meaning "out of the way!"

Well, maybe not in America, I'm not sure about that.

sarab · 03-07-2008, 09:42 AM

Hi Sabrina! Both words are used in US English but have different contexts. For me gangway is more related to navigation and aisle is much more general. I am not sure what the UK usage would be. Hope it helps!

El Detective · 03-07-2008, 12:02 PM

In England they use gangway for any space designated for walking such as in a theatre or a supermarket. In America we use aisle.

The phrase Gang way! (sometimes spelled as one word) means get out of the way and is very common in my part of the United States.

Joel

Alan.es · 03-09-2008, 08:58 AM

In BrE 'gangway' would be used to refer to the passageway from shore to ship but also to the walkways on scaffolding on any sort of building work. It would also be used for the walkways on the scaffolding used on theatre or film sets for the lighting or scene changes. These could also be called 'gantries( gantry)' as would the walkways on the exterior rooves of large buildings such as churches and also walkways in warships or the large engine-rooms of cruise-liners.

In supermarkets, churches, cinemas, theatres, fashion shows, the walkways are always referred to as 'aisles', similar to AmE.

01-31-2008, 06:30 AM	#1
sabrina Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 366 Rep Power: 318	Gangway vs aisle Does anyone know which of the 2 terms mentioned above is for British English and which for American English? Thanks for your help!

03-07-2008, 04:24 AM	#3
Frank van den Eeden Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Antwerp/Belgium Age: 63 Posts: 334 Rep Power: 433	Hi Sabrina and ScottJ, I think "gangway" is still used for the board or the set of stairs leading on to a ship. There is also the exclamation "gangway!" meaning "out of the way!" Well, maybe not in America, I'm not sure about that. __________________ beste groeten - sinc�res salutations - kindest regards - atentamente - mit freundlichen Gr��en Last edited by Frank van den Eeden : 03-07-2008 at 04:32 AM.

03-09-2008, 08:58 AM	#6
Alan.es New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 68	In BrE 'gangway' would be used to refer to the passageway from shore to ship but also to the walkways on scaffolding on any sort of building work. It would also be used for the walkways on the scaffolding used on theatre or film sets for the lighting or scene changes. These could also be called 'gantries( gantry)' as would the walkways on the exterior rooves of large buildings such as churches and also walkways in warships or the large engine-rooms of cruise-liners. In supermarkets, churches, cinemas, theatres, fashion shows, the walkways are always referred to as 'aisles', similar to AmE. Last edited by Alan.es : 03-09-2008 at 02:04 PM.

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01-31-2008, 11:17 AM	#2
ScottJ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 327 Rep Power: 510	"Aisle" is definitely a word that Americans use while "gangway" is just a weird word that Americans laugh at.

03-07-2008, 09:42 AM	#4
sarab Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 306 Rep Power: 290	Hi Sabrina! Both words are used in US English but have different contexts. For me gangway is more related to navigation and aisle is much more general. I am not sure what the UK usage would be. Hope it helps!

03-07-2008, 12:02 PM	#5
El Detective Contributing User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 55 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 458	In England they use gangway for any space designated for walking such as in a theatre or a supermarket. In America we use aisle. The phrase Gang way! (sometimes spelled as one word) means get out of the way and is very common in my part of the United States. Joel

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