Americanisms

[shabbaranks]

heres a general question for those who feel strongly about language; what are people attitudes to american english entering british english and culture in general? do people think it's dumbing down english or adding to our ever increasing vocabulary?

[ugly_bob]

I have no problem with new terms (unlike the French who don't like the word sandwich)
what bugs me is the spelling
It's spelt colour, not color etc etc

[nocturnal1]

My attitude is that if you ask a question - at least phrase is correctly. My "chick" who is an interpreter for the EU speaks better English and it is her third language.

hasta la pasta baby,

Si

[shabbaranks]

thanks ugly bob!, as for the nocturnal dude im glad u have a 'chick' ,really! but that doesn't even come close to a responsible attempt at what i was looking for. how about u get her to rephrase and answer the question for me huh? that my friend would be more productive...

adios

[goldenboy]

i hate the way that americans feel the need to mispronounce herbs as erbs, and nukiller and yuman instead of human.

[SaxyJag]

I tend to think of American and British English as two seperate languages and then let them get on with it, although I sometimes like to wind them up about it.

However, I have real problems with:

"He would of done ... " and "Have you got it? ... No, I didn't."

And I wouldn't mind them using their own version of the language, but half of them (online, at least) don't even take the trouble to use that correctly. They write things like, "alota people ..." and "heluva thing ..." It's ironic when you look at the emphasis they place on formal education and academic achievement (which, in my opinion, theirs is worth diddly-squat, to be honest).

[Drusilla1S]

http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/bgnotes.html

This is a very interesting site.

After reading the attached, may I suggest you find the home page for this article and check some of the other categories relating to the influences and differences between World English, British English and American English. I found it fascinating and hope you all enjoy it, too.

[Drusilla1S]

Rather than going to the home page of the article above, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on;

US-1 References Index

This will take you directly to the articles comparing American and British English usage.

[jake-the-peg]

Many uses of American English are closer to the English that we used to speak - We are often the ones that have moved!

However I do feel that people using "business speak" need a good slap!

If I hear one more "leveraged paradigm" I really will not be responsible for my actions!

Lazer rather than Laser used to get my goat too!

A) It's an acronym so it just plain wrong!

B) It was invented in the US in the first damn place!

Thankfully it's been a few years now since I've seen that one and I'm hoping that the lesson has now been learnt and nobody else needs to die!

I'm going for a lie down now. Innit?