-
fwiw, i could confidently define... 30%? of the American words. and almost all of the UK ones (I had to be reminded as to what a "pelmet" is)
-
also this explains some confusing conversations where i failed to give an evocative description of performance issues ("judder")
-
ah, I dug up the source: link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13428-018-1077-9#Tab1
-
i opened their excel sheet!! i can't be bothered to replicate their method of scoring words, but by doing a quick sort, i have obtained more words on either end of the spectrum...
-
British words: biro grotty whinge tombola tippex yob kerbside squidgy boffin conker dodgem chipolata stroppy gazump courgette brolly candyfloss natter korma gormless greenfly judder naff chiropody paracetamol skiving budgie binman plaice perspex childminder abseil splodge
-
more British words: blackcurrant quango profiterole teletext shambolic bolshy plimsoll sellotape escalope invigilator pelmet aubergine tiddler niggling bedsit bodge butty chaffinch wholemeal busker sultana podgy chinwag pitta skive soya lorry fiver pram gymslip miaow quiff gunge
-
more American words: cilantro provolone garbanzo sandlot goober kwanza layaway saltine underclassman spackle crawdad hibachi acetaminophen lollygag valproate tamale charbroil boondocks canola spumoni busywork blacktop heartworm declarative bocce kielbasa decal liter sassafras
-
& yet more American words: albuterol zinger flub luau ornery preemie behooves cornhusker breezeway grandbaby kickball scrimmage spelunker potpie doodad rutabaga chili upperclassman arugula slowpoke cookout mom tidbit mesquite lasso scads blintz manzanita catawampus doohickey
-
the other interesting thing from the data (if I'm reading it right) is that British people are generally more familiar with American words than vice versa.
-
for fun, some words no-one recognizes: adyta genipap futhorc eighteenmo stotinka lamellicorn td alsike dittander iwis arseniuret gomuti grosz didapper haphtarah kahikatea witenagemot dasyure bauhinia fylfot smaragd nifle eyrir yataghan gerenuk chon cacomistle guayule autarkist