[Botox]

Ooh, suits you sir!

[bert]

Yeh it still annoys me aswell how the Americans just decide to change the English language to their liking. Fine, different words come and go, but to change the spelling and meaning of words in the english language is wrong.

[bigenglish]

On 8 May 1945, a few hours after announcing to the world the surrender of Hitler's Third Reich to the combined allied armies, Winston Churchill appeared on the balcony of the Buckingham Palace with the King and the Queen to acknowledge the cheers of the British people. Among the millions who witnessed the scene was the distinguished American radio commentator Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the event for his audience back home. This was a symbolic moment of transition. After 1945 the dominant voice in the English-speaking-world was no longer British but American.

Hence, Americans have not 'butchered' the language by adopting a new spelling for the word 'color.' Language is alive and evolving daily.

Who is to decide how 'color' should correctly be spelt? Some ignorant anonymous fellows posting messages on a website forum, or an entire country of people of the strongest nation of the world? What are the origins and why is 'color' recognized? Who was Noah Webster? Some schmuck who published three elementary books -a speller, a grammar, and a reader - in English (while still in his twenties) and sold over 80 million copies in his lifetime!

The language of English is no longer wholly dependant on its British and American parents and is now everyone's second language, and has a life of its own in totally non-English situations. A Japanese businessman might learn English to do deals in Brazil. A Russian national might learn English to do research in Berlin. An Arab doctor might learn English to practice in Amsterdam, while an Italian pilot learns English to talk to ground control in Spain or Kuwait.

All over the world, 'coke' is recognized at McDonalds as 'Coca-Cola', while 'fries' is recognized as 'french fries' and not 'chips'. Americans use 'gotten' in the place of 'got', a usage that was common in England until the late 18th century. They use 'mad' in the sense of 'angry', as Shakespeare did. 'Sick' in England tends to refer to nausea; in America it retains its older sense of illness in general.

'Boss' is a typically American word, with enormous cultural overtones. In Cantonese the Hong Kong people have adopted the chinese sound 'Boss-ee' which translates to 'boss.'

"A good articulation consists in giving every letter in a syllable its due proportion of sound, according to the most approved custom of pronouncing it; and in making such a distinction, between syllables, of which words are composed, that the ear shall without difficulty acknowledge their number."
bigenglish.com

[KnowItAll]

Bert, And it probably annoys you that the Queen is German, the national food of England is Indian and most of London is owned by Arabs and Japanese?

English like most languages has evolved over the past few centuries. New words have been added, some are spelt differently in different parts of the world... live with it. Until there is an ISO standard or a WTO specified version of English there isnt much you'd be able to do other than whinge about the Americans having corrupted the lingo.

[bert]

The Queen is not German. The national dish of Britain is Curry, and Curry is a British invention I doubt most of London is owned by Arabs and the Japanese, but that doesn't particularly bother me as I've never lived in London before or England even for that matter (except when I attended university).

Corrupted. That is a better word. The Americans have corrupted the English language. I don't see why I can't whinge about that

[KnowItAll]

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page139.asp

Has a brief history about the House of Windsor and its German heritage.

[HKFella]

Well if the Brits can bastardize others's culture, the Yanks can do the same to their language. About Curry being a British invention, have to agree.

Well, I'd rather leave this thread to discuss the finer points of natives speaking English or whatever, but on aforementioned subject, see a new thread "Curry, a British Invention" in forum on Food & Drinks - Curry, a British Invention

[FrauZ]

I am so sick of this British English vs. American English debate! People can choose whether they want to spell colour or color, which is our right based on where we come from!

[Lammarite]

Originally Posted by Andy_HK

.......In fact, the popularity of "an American accent" is due in part to North America's strong economic and academic position in the world.....

That's just bilgewater.

It is fact, however, that English is a Germanic language which has taken strong influences form India, France, Scandinavia and Celtic.

'American' English is closer to 'Original English' as Webster merely turned back the clock on many spellings.

The original 'English' accent was nearer that of Edinburgh than that of the Queen.

Curry's a British food. Yes, and Shish Kebab originated in Reykjavik.

And all that from a Dutchman (whose language is also germanic).

[claireabella]

This is all very well and good - but WHY does my MS WORD insist on spell checking in American English when we are writing in UK English! Perhaps it is a plan by the yanks to make everyone spell badly. ;-)