English and British English

[hopejr]

then we agree!

I think itsmemuffins meant "never", not "ever".

Unfortunately, itsmemuffins, the first I came across the "Monday as the first day of the week" thing was in the early-'90s, when business diaries came out with the week starting on Monday to make it easier for them (for some reason). Then calendars started coming out with Monday as the first day (thankfully, to this day, that trend hasn't taken over, and there's still many calendars available at newsagents that have Sunday as the first day). In other countries, Sunday is still the first day of the week.

I like to think of it this way, Sunday and Saturday are the weekend because they are each end of the week.

What? Your last example completely contradicts the point you are trying to make. If anything, Americans pronounce "idea" like the way you have said.

Actually, Ryeno is correct. Americans only pronounce R's where they are written, yet many non-rhotic speakers put them in funny places like at the end of a word ending in an A. Australians are particularly bad at this, and it's more apparent when they're trying to put on an American accent, because they say things like, "I'm from Australiar, becors my family was there". Or, while doing a fake American accent, they say, "Parse the ketchup" instead of "Pass the sauce".

On occasion, I find myself doing that too, though having it pointed out to me while living overseas a while back, I do my best not to speak that way.

 

[dccorona]

I didn't know about this at all, but it's actually really great info. I can use it the next time in a debate. Do you know of any examples?

Source? That's an interesting tidbit.

I don't believe you at all. Some link would help, but if not I doubt many people thinking straight will accept what is being presented here.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/American_English_vs_British_English

from the webpage:

"Prior to the Revolutionary War and American independence from the British in 1776, American and British accents were similar. Both were rhotic i.e. speakers pronounced the letter R in hard. Since 1776, the accents diverged but English accent in America has changed less drastically than accents in Britain."

This comes from a historical text written on the evolution of the English language (link refers to it on Google books):
http://bit.ly/aFq8ju

 

[ct2k7]

http://www.diffen.com/difference/American_English_vs_British_English

from the webpage:

"Prior to the Revolutionary War and American independence from the British in 1776, American and British accents were similar. Both were rhotic i.e. speakers pronounced the letter R in hard. Since 1776, the accents diverged but English accent in America has changed less drastically than accents in Britain."

This comes from a historical text written on the evolution of the English language (link refers to it on Google books):
http://bit.ly/aFq8ju

Accent, not spelling.

Great Britain has many influences on the accent and lexis. Down in the south, I speak with Received Pronunciation, and accent is much akin to Queen's English, as she speaks. It is noted, however, that the area I am from, was considered an agricultural area, such that a long time ago, the area was zoned with farmers. It is thus true that my accent may have a slight hint of farmer (American[?]) in it, though unlikely.

I took elocution lessons.

 

[L I G H T I N G]

Americans speak English
British speak a modified version of our English.

American English > British English

 

[ct2k7]

Americans speak English
British speak a modified version of our English.

American English > British English

Except, the English language originated from England, or Angle Land, which thus, invalidates your statement.

[British] English is not modified. American English is simplified English.

The English language was first introduced to the Americas by British colonisation in 1607 in Virginia.

 

[gco212]

My favourite at the moment is that Americans call criossants "American Doughnuts".
Cracks me up!

I have literally never heard of anyone doing that.

 

[dccorona]

Accent, not spelling.

Great Britain has many influences on the accent and lexis. Down in the south, I speak with Received Pronunciation, and accent is much akin to Queen's English, as she speaks. It is noted, however, that the area I am from, was considered an agricultural area, such that a long time ago, the area was zoned with farmers. It is thus true that my accent may have a slight hint of farmer (American[?]) in it, though unlikely.

I took elocution lessons.

well the original comment I made was intended to be in refrence to the accent, not the spelling. Someone made the comment that it should be english and american english because people in britain spoke the true form of the language, so I was just pointing out that the way people in america speak it is closer to the original language than the way it is spoken in great britain today

Except, the English language originated from England, or Angle Land, which thus, invalidates your statement.

[British] English is not modified. American English is simplified English.

The English language was first introduced to the Americas by British colonisation in 1607 in Virginia.

read the links I provided...Americans today speak a form of english closer to the form that was introduced in 1607 than what is spoken in england today. The only reason American english is simplified is in the course of the language evolving to be an "internet language"

 

[JASApplications]

God this makes me mad. English is from England! American English is a variation of our language. So actually it should be 'English' and 'American English'. Afterall, here in the UK, we have been using it since well before the discovery of the US of A!!!!!

That Sir is completely correct!

 

[ct2k7]

well the original comment I made was intended to be in refrence to the accent, not the spelling. Someone made the comment that it should be english and american english because people in britain spoke the true form of the language, so I was just pointing out that the way people in america speak it is closer to the original language than the way it is spoken in great britain today

Oh lord. :/ I do apologise. I am not even sure on the accent. England hasn't diversified as much as America, could be a plausible rebuttal.

read the links I provided...Americans today speak a form of english closer to the form that was introduced in 1607 than what is spoken in england today. The only reason American english is simplified is in the course of the language evolving to be an "internet language"

-> the simplifications existed before the internet age.

 

[davehutch]

I have literally never heard of anyone doing that.

I literally have.
It was on f.r.i.e.n.d.s.

 

[sim667]

Just to set a few of you straight, english isnt actually the original language of britain, just like christianty isnt the original religion of britain either.

Before olde english developed we spoke lots of different dialects of gaelic, depending on what clan you were from, with the roman invasion we started incorporating latin into the language. After the vikings invaded in the 9th century we started speaking a germanic - anglo dialect, known as olde english. Following the invasion of the normans in 1066 we also started including many french words into the language, when the language became know as middle english.

So infact its a right blend of gaelic, german and french, we still use suffixes in the same way that the germans do, but instead of always sending the verb to the end of a sentence like they do we took the french way of constructing sentences. One thing that has never left from gaelic times is that most of our swear words are actually the original gaelic words.

Realistically all american english has done is develop to lose unnecessary characters that britain still uses, so american english is a dialect of english, in much the same way that norfolk english, or cornwall english is just different dialects of british english.

The development of the british language is really just a metaphor for the development of the british gene pool, its a mental mix of scandinavian, european, subsaharan and to a lesser extent asian genes. Hence why political parties like the BNP are flawed by their very own nature.

Anyway enough of me twitting on in answer to the OP you use $, we use £ and maybe one day we'll use €. Americans love z's, we love s's.

And lets be honest, patriotism's rubbish anyway, I dont believe I answer to any person or any nation, i just happen to be born and live within the confides of the UK.

Simples.

 

[Lemonade1975]

You've never lived in the US have you?

Actually, I have. I lived in PA and worked around NY a while back. It put the 'Great' back into Great Britain for me personally!!!!

 

[JRoDDz]

All this talk of British and American English has me thirsty. Barman.. I'll have six pints of bitter and quickly, the world's about to end.

 

[taran420]

While we are at it, I want an Canadian option so it doesn't correct colour to color all the time -.-

 

[infowarfare]

My favourite at the moment is that Americans call criossants "American Doughnuts".
Cracks me up!

That's complete bull. I know of not one single American who has ever called a croissant an American Doughnut (an American doughnut is traditionally the round thing with a hole in the middle which you can buy at Winchells or Dunkin' Doughnuts; which happened to be my first job when I was 16.)

And to answer the following which no one has yet correctly addressed...

God this makes me mad. English is from England! American English is a variation of our language. So actually it should be 'English' and 'American English'. Afterall, here in the UK, we have been using it since well before the discovery of the US of A!!!!!

The reason American English is considered the dominant "English" on the iPhone is because the manufacturer of the iPhone, Apple Inc., is an American company whose first primary (and largest) target customer base are it's own homeland people. How you people don't realize this is beyond me... (it's people like you who also always ask why Apple releases their products in America first. Really? Does this really need to be asked? That's like asking why does Land Rover [back when it was solely British owned] release their vehicles in the U.K. first... should be obvious.)

But as soon as your "Great Britian" manufacturers it's own phone, then it can designate British English as the primary language. Just sayin...

 

[elfy]

I was in a shop in the States once and the assistant, on discovering I was from Scotland, remarked that my English was very good. I didn't have the heart to tell her that English is actually what we speak.

 

[ckc]

an American Doughnut (an American doughnut is traditionally the round thing with a hole in the middle which you can buy at Winchells or Dunkin' Doughnuts; which happened to be my first job when I was 16.)

.

As a Brit I am at pains to point out that the correct spelling of the American company is 'Dunkin Donuts'

We of course are capable of not needing to mangle our language on this side of the Atlantic.

 

[dizzy130]

Actually, Ryeno is correct. Americans only pronounce R's where they are written, yet many non-rhotic speakers put them in funny places like at the end of a word ending in an A. Australians are particularly bad at this, and it's more apparent when they're trying to put on an American accent, because they say things like, "I'm from Australiar, becors my family was there". Or, while doing a fake American accent, they say, "Parse the ketchup" instead of "Pass the sauce".

On occasion, I find myself doing that too, though having it pointed out to me while living overseas a while back, I do my best not to speak that way.

It's uncommon, but some Americans do put a false R on the end of a word. My grandmother, for example, says "i-deer" instead of "i-deya." I've only heard a few Americans do it, though, and the ones who do don't eliminate Rs elsewhere in words - she definitely says "hard" and not "hahd."

 

[infowarfare]

As a Brit I am at pains to point out that the correct spelling of the American company is 'Dunkin Donuts'

We of course are capable of not needing to mangle our language on this side of the Atlantic.

I know. Since I was originally referencing the user who posted about the "American Doughnut" [sic] I just automatically kept spelling it that way... So sue me. Thanks for your great contribution.

 

[rovex]

My favourite at the moment is that Americans call criossants "American Doughnuts".
Cracks me up!

Haha, wouldn't surprise me one bit. I think it must be terribly difficult for Americans to pronounce "croissant".

That's complete bull. I know of not one single American who has ever called a croissant an American Doughnut (an American doughnut is traditionally the round thing with a hole in the middle which you can buy at Winchells or Dunkin' Doughnuts; which happened to be my first job when I was 16.)

And to answer the following which no one has yet correctly addressed...



The reason American English is considered the dominant "English" on the iPhone is because the manufacturer of the iPhone, Apple Inc., is an American company whose first primary (and largest) target customer base are it's own homeland people. How you people don't realize this is beyond me... (it's people like you who also always ask why Apple releases their products in America first. Really? Does this really need to be asked? That's like asking why does Land Rover [back when it was solely British owned] release their vehicles in the U.K. first... should be obvious.)

But as soon as your "Great Britian" manufacturers it's own phone, then it can designate British English as the primary language. Just sayin...

But British English is indeed the primary English, it's the principle that it should be the standard English on any product. The whole world doesn't revolve around the states you know.

 

[blevins321]

Haha, wouldn't surprise me one bit. I think it must be terribly difficult for Americans to pronounce "croissant".

Lol, I've never heard one of those called that before. Americans do usually pronounce it terribly wrong, though. Most say: Chris-Ont (like font)

 

[infowarfare]

Haha, wouldn't surprise me one bit. I think it must be terribly difficult for Americans to pronounce "croissant".

But British English is indeed the primary English, it's the principle that it should be the standard English on any product. The whole world doesn't revolve around the states you know.

You are missing the point; don't know why you Brits always get your panties in such a bunch over this stuff Every. Single. Time… you're going to try and sit here and tell me that the whole world doesn't revolve around the States when you are posting on an American owned and run site regarding an American product? Really? I don't want to come off as so pro-American since I'm more if a Global citizen, but it just shows your ignorance and/or your typical hurt imperialist British pride if you don't get why the American company (Apple) whose first and largest target customers (again, America) would set the default English as their own American English.

Lol, I've never heard one of those called that before. Americans do usually pronounce it terribly wrong, though. Most say: Chris-Ont (like font)

I wouldn't say "terribly" wrong, most that I've heard say it just like the French do except Americans pronounce the "T" at the end when it should be silent, but that's not wrong, it's just the way Americans pronounce it. I've heard Brits pronounce some of their own English words WAY terribly wrong when Americans pronounce the same word properly (even something as simple as the phrase "with it" that I've heard just about every Brit I've ever met pronounce "wif it". But again, it's just a regional thing I'm sure.)

 

[Eric374]

As an Anglophile and a firm believer that "The Sun Never Sets On the British Empire" I'll have to agree with the British side of the argument. For American English to be the "most original" form of English is just rubbish. Sure, the words have changed over 400+ years, but there's been a LOT more influence on American English from the multitudes of immigrants from countries all over the world in the US over the last 100 years than there ever was in the UK, even though England ruled quite a lot of the world up until the 1950's.

Out of personal preference, I prefer the British form of English, since that's the origin of the language to begin with. An intelligent American individual has absolutely no difficulty understanding a person from the UK or Australia or even India if they pay attention to the subtle differences in certain words. At least, I have no difficulty because I take the time to educate myself, hence the "Anglophilia". (God, that sounds like a sexual deviancy!)

 

[Reach9]

British English? That's fake english!

 

[cooldaddybeck]

British English? That's fake english!

Brits can't spell worth a damn. And there is evidently no "z" in their alphabet.