Pondering titles and different countries

[susans]

Ok this is a different type of sound off.  I talk to Admins and PAs, experts, speakers etc. worldwide.  Recently I was asked a question and didn't really have an answer.  The question was, “Why does the US not use the term PA when it is used worldwide.”  I figured I would bring it up and just see what people think.  In the US, a PA is a personal assistant, this usually means to a celebrity, doctor, writer, a PA has tasks that go beyond general administrative duties.  Then a PA could be a Physicians' Assistant as well but that is totally different as well.  The titles we generally use are Administrative or Executive Assistant.  (and ALL the variations in between).  In the UK, Australia, Asia and I believe most of the rest of the world, it is common to be a PA, which is equivalent to an EA (executive assistant).  

Why?  Any theories?  Should it be somewhat the same worldwide?  I would love to hear your comments.

[iqps210510]

I think things are changing in the UK now as well.  Certainly in the Higher Education area where I work, jobs are now advertised as EA rather than PA, although the job descriptions haven't really changed.  The Director of our Centre now has an EA, who replaced his PA.

We have just had a major re-organisation in the Division where I work and I was asked whether I wanted to be a PA or an EA.  I settled for EA, because though in theory I provide PA support to a Divisional Head, I also provide support to a lesser extent to the rest of the Divisional Management Team.

Amanda

[Judy Loux]

Some other differences in language useage:

Bloddy is the adjectival form of blood but may also be used as a swear word or expletive attributive (intensifier) in Britain, Ireland, Canada, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Nowadays it is considered (by most of the population of these countries) to be a very mild expletive, and unlikely to cause offence in most circles.


Buns. You know what these are. You're probably sitting on them now. In the UK buns are either bread or cake rolls. Asking for a couple of sticky buns in a bakery in the UK  will mean Mr Crusty the baker will give you two cake buns with icing (frosting) on the top....

Fag. A goody but an oldie. In the UK a 'fag' is a cigarette. So in the song 'It's a long way to Tipperary' the line 'As long as you have a Lucifer to light your fag' is not a fundementalist Christian's statement that all homosexuals will burn for eternity in hell, but saying that 'if you always have a match to light your cigarette...'

Faggots. Meat balls made from offal (chopped liver) in gravy. Also a small bundle of logs suitable to burn on a fire.

Pants. In the US we call them pants In the UK they are called trousers; pants are the things that go underneath.

Rubber. In the UK a pencil eraser. Don't be shocked if the mild mannered new Englishman in your office asks for a pencil with a rubber on the end. Especially when he says that he enjoys chewing it when he is thinking.

Waistcoat. The US calls them vests.

I'm not sure how this came to be but I prefer EA, etc.  In the US a PA can also be the Public Address system.  I don't wish to be known as a public address system because that could infer loose lips, gossip, etc.  and an EA in our office must be very aware of confidentiality all of the time.

Ddiva

[Atlanta Z3]

I think in the US personal assistant has connotations of gift shopping, picking up the dry cleaning and running the kids to school.  I perfer executive assistant, but have had many different titles.
It would be nice if universally titles could match to the position - particularly when job hunting.  I don't forsee this happening any time soon - too many entrepreneurs starting their own companies and belive they are creative in titles.