Gaol, Jail & Prison

14 years ago

You pronounce Jail and Gaol as "Jayl"

Here in the UK we use prison mostly, and we consider jail to be an americanised version of the word. Occasionally we'll see gaol in the press, but it's not used much in common language to the best of my knowledge.

Kindest regards,
Karl.

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Don Schenk

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Ducksauce

Is Americana English using Gaol for prison where with British English one would use Jail?

How do you pronounced this Gaol ?

American English uses the word "jail." Actually, I have never heard "gaol."

"Hoosegow" is another word for "jail" used in American English.

:-Don

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Michael D Forbes

14 years ago

I've been subjected to, and participated in, the abominations of American English since birth and I have never once heard or read the term "Gaol".

It's either very new slang and I've become even more unhip than I know I am, or I am less educated than I wish I were. Both could be true.

"Gaol" reminds me of Gulag, but may have no relation whatsoever.

"Hoosegow" is not used in everyday language, by the way. Mostly just old Cowboy movies.

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Michael Oksa

14 years ago

Jail and prison are not the same thing, though they both are a form of imprisonment. Jail is where a person may go for lesser crimes, be held for questioning, or be held for contempt of court.

Jail sentences are almost always under 12 months. In most cases, you will go to prison if your sentence is over 12 months, and the type of prison you go to (minimum, medium, or maximum security) will be based on the severity of the crime.

This applies only to the US system of things.

On a side note, I believe 'gaol' (a word I learned in high school) is just the older version of the word 'jail'. I normally associate 'gaol' with British usage, though I'm sure it was used here in the US a long time ago.

So, 'gaol' and 'jail' are the same basic thing, but 'jail' is the more widely-used term. Prison is much more serious.

If someone tells you that they just got out of jail, you may ask, in a friendly tone, "what were you in for?"

If someone tells you that they just got out of prison, you may ask, in a concerned tone, "why did they let you out?"

Hope that helps, and...

All the best,
Michael

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Michael D Forbes

14 years ago

A little further digging seems to indicate that "Gaol" is old english and is still in use in academia and law in Australia, more so than most places.

Why I am bothering with this, I have no idea, but I think I may start spelling it that way to see if I can change America's ways.

I'm off to modify my Monopoly game so I have a "Get out of gaol free" card.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael D Forbes

A little further digging seems to indicate that "Gaol" is old english

This is correct.

A few very elderly, highly educated, perhaps slightly pedantic English people still consider the word "jail" to be an incorrect, modern, American spelling of the "proper" word, "gaol".

Similarly "gaoler" is the original English spelling for "jailer".

The more recent spellings, "jail" and "jailer" are almost universally accepted as correct, though, nowadays. I remember the first time I saw the word "gaol" in a very old book, I had no idea what it meant, and didn't even realise that the pronunciation is the same as "jail".

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

This is correct.

A few very elderly, highly educated, perhaps slightly pedantic English people still consider the word "jail" to be an incorrect, modern, American spelling of the "proper" word, "gaol".

Similarly "gaoler" is the original English spelling for "jailer".

The more recent spellings, "jail" and "jailer" are almost universally accepted as correct, though, nowadays. I remember the first time I saw the word "gaol" in a very old book, I had no idea what it meant, and didn't even realise that the pronunciation is the same as "jail".

ANOTHER interesting thing! I think English pretty much ALWAYS has a HARD G. The J sound apparently comes from FRENCH. There IS a french word for prison that is spelled "geôle"! It is roughly pronounced as jail!

Steve

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whateverpedia

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael D Forbes

A little further digging seems to indicate that "Gaol" is old english and is still in use in academia and law in Australia, more so than most places.

Why I am bothering with this, I have no idea, but I think I may start spelling it that way to see if I can change America's ways.

I'm off to modify my Monopoly game so I have a "Get out of gaol free" card.

Don't forget the "Go to gaol, go directly to gaol, do not pass GO, do not collect $200 cards" as well.

As stated by others above, in Australia gaol is the technically correct spelling, however jail is acceptable. Personally I always use jail, but that's mainly due to a bad habit of misspelling gaol as goal.

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Michael D Forbes 14 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

Don't forget the "Go to gaol, go directly to gaol, do not pass GO, do not collect $200 cards" as well.

Now I shall forever read that card... "Do not pass Joe"
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HeySal

14 years ago

Even those highly educated in English don't always understand that language evolves. Gaol hasn't been the common term for hundreds of years now. I am thinking I remember reading a few writings from early Americans around the late 1600's and believe I saw the word in the Old English form there (well, Middle English, to be more accurate). Seems like the split in geography started morphing American English by the 1700's.

It is to be remembered that English was at the mercy of mostly a speaking population until education became the norm and printing presses became standard equipment. Until then, people mostly relied on phonics to write. The change from a word such as Gaol into Jail, gives us just a little hint of how the word was originally pronounced because spelling mistakes were most likely the reason for the morph in the word.

Glad to see I get to use those damned classes for something. LMAO.

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Sal
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jimbo13 14 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

Gaol hasn't been the common term for hundreds of years now.

Ballad of Reading Gaol - Oscar Wilde 1898

Quite common in Victorian England.

Dan
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wizzard74

14 years ago

Gaol was commonly used in the victorian times. You will see lots of street names near a prison that start with "Gaol".

Jail and prison are interchangeable, I use both terms.

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seasoned

14 years ago

"Hoosegow" is actually SLANG. Think of it as an informal way of saying a place of punishment. It could be anything. Jail is a kind of prison like holding area and usually in a small area. So a police station may have a jail. You may stay there for days or months. Prison is a long term deal, often measured in years. The state may actually move a convict from a jail to a prison, if they get a long sentence.

Steve

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Michael D Forbes

14 years ago

/me wonders why this is in a marketing forum anyway?

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Alexa Smith Banned 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael D Forbes

/me wonders why this is in a marketing forum anyway?

I thought it was just a little scene-setting for the few still determined to make income-claims in product promotions?
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HeySal 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael D Forbes

/me wonders why this is in a marketing forum anyway?

This isn't a marketing forum - this is the Off the Topic forum. You want to talk marketing...don't do it in here. It's bad form to be on topic in the off the topic bar.

Originally Posted by jimbo13

Ballad of Reading Gaol - Oscar Wilde 1898

Quite common in Victorian England.

Dan

LOL - I meant in America it was on it's way out a long, long time ago. Can't say what the English do. I've never been to England. My whole exposure to England is Benny Hill and Monty Python. I'm not sure if that is a well rounded view of you folk. If it is, you are an extraordinarily entertaining bunch. Cherio.
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Sal
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- Michael D Forbes 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by HeySal
  
  This isn't a marketing forum - this is the Off the Topic forum.
  
  Ah, but it were ages ago in the main forum whenst I did found it.
  
  I miss the picture of you, btw... The dog freaks me out a bit, looks like he's talking to me.
  
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