Is it acceptable to use British English in United States??

[Melrose]

In that case, I wish the French influenced United States more and United States spoke French. American/Canadian French to European French would be as Australian English to British English. No big difference. Besides, French is the 2nd universal language after English.

Everyone knows Canadian French is way hotter than if you're actually French.

I had to go back and read the first few posts to see why this has gone on for almost 8 pages. Life would be so much simpler if we were all mimes!

 

[xUKHCx]

Then how come there is hardly, if any difference between Australian English and British English besides slang? Those two countries are on the opposite sides of the world and are in different hemispheres as well.

There are differences in the words used and sentace structures, in pure terms of spelling differences I don't know what the numbers are but this is still a side track from the issue which you seem to be stumbling around and ignoring when responding

Why do you want the US and England to have different languages.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

This is such a confusing thread. First we're talking about whether or not it's acceptable to use British spellings in the US (unless you're British it is not.); then we were talking about Esperanto (a failed attempt at a universal language, that, according to wikipedia, only caught on in dictatorships; and now we're talking about converting to another language?

Kabunaru, just get it over with and make this thread about Egypt.

Anyway I think English is fine, and if we switch to French Mexicans would get jealous that we didn't switch to Spanish, and if we switched to Spanish.... well I already speak Spanish so I wouldn't mind too much if we switched to Spanish. Especially since Spanish is more widespread in American (Canada, The US, and Mexico).

 

[kabunaru]

Why do you want the US and England to have different languages.

I just do not want some British to think that Americans butchered their language and that some Americans think their English is the only correct one. Either way, why not Esperanto for United States and English for UK?

Kabunaru, just get it over with and make this thread about Egypt.

The Ancient Egyptians did not build the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Those both existed long before the Ancient Egyptian time (before 3000B.C.).
Watch this video fully if you have time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nNZOjDi_dQ

 

[xUKHCx]

I just do not want some British to think that Americans butchered their language and that some Americans think their English is the only correct one. Either way, why not Esperanto for United States and English for UK?
have ti]

Why pander to the few?
And if this plan is put into action then surely you are confirming the exact point you don't want.

 

[macrem]

Should Academia separate itself from the real world? If you work in the U.S. for a U.S. firm of any size that company will have "standards" for any of its published works and in-house documents. The company would require the use of American spellings and require employees to adhere to the company's "house style". If you refuse to follow the company's rules in your writings you'll likely soon be looking for new job.

That's just how thing work in the real world (of business). And some would argue that one of the primary objectives of education is to prepare students for the real world...

Otherwise, in personal writing, few are overly concerned (about minor spelling variations)...

This is the way, unlike many other posters, I took the OP's survey and is why I voted "no". A British company exporting products to the US, for ex., I'd say would be better off blending in rather than standing out unless the product happens to be a Brit specialty and you want to underline that fact.

Otherwise, of course it's acceptable to speak British English in America, unless it's an American speaking it. That'd be weird.

 

[Melrose]

I just do not want some British to think that Americans butchered their language and that some Americans think their English is the only correct one. Either way, why not Esperanto for United States and English for UK?

Meh, I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'll continue to do spell things the way I've always spelled them, just for my own posterity.

While the US is a melting pot of different cultures (not in it's own right genealogically distinct) it is a separate, distinct nation and as such has the right to spell the way it wants.

They speak different forms of French, of Spanish, of etc etc wherever you go - that's the just the way culture (and human nature) works. The only reason it would be an issue between the UK and US is simply because the US is formerly a British colony and hence the way we talk/spell/scratch and itch is assumed to be derived directly from the parent nation. Thus, if American's misspell a word it's not because they have their own way of doing it - as a distinct nation - it's because they are assumed to be bastardizing the parent method.

Which, of course, foolish. How someone wants to spell is up to them.

 

[kabunaru]

Which, of course, foolish. How someone wants to spell is up to them.

MacBooc
MacBooc Pro
Sinema Display
Turc
Turcs
Turcey
Mersenaries
Greese
Greecs
Ceep
Ceeper
Celvin
Selsius
Cenya
Centucy
Cepler
Cey
Cansas
Arcansa
New Yorc
etc...

 

[r.j.s]

I don't believe this thread has one of these yet ...

 

[NC MacGuy]

Having owned three British motorcycles and selling many British products, it's not a big deal. Not like translating from German or anything.

You learn about aluminium, spanners, zed and whilst amongst other cute across the pond language anomalies. It's fairly easy and not anything worth troubling over.

 

[kabunaru]

MacBooc
MacBooc Pro
Sinema Display
Turc
Turcs
Turcey
Mersenaries
Greese
Greecs
Ceep
Ceeper
Celvin
Selsius
Cenya
Centucy
Cepler
Cey
Cansas
Arcansa
New Yorc
etc...

If I think about it, the only word looks right right now and "normal" is Mersenaries.
Maybe they should should change (in both British and American English) from Mercenaries to Mersenaries. Some people might pronounce the c as a k.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

If I think about it, the only word looks right right now and normal is Mersenaries.
Maybe they should should change (in both British and American English) from Mercenaries to Mersenaries. Some people might pronounce the c as a k.

So you're saying mercy, should be spelled mersy? Nope. I read that as Merzee

 

[kabunaru]

So you're saying mercy, should be spelled mersy? Nope. I read that as Merzee

Thanks= the s is pronounced. Mercenaries = some people might say "Merkenaries" instead. Stop pronouncing the s as a z.

Also, defence vs defense.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Thanks= the s is pronounced. Mercenaries = some people might say "Merkenaries" instead. Stop pronouncing the s as a z.

Also, defence--->defense change anyone?

defense is already spelled that way. Who told you it was defence?

 

[r.j.s]

Also, defence--->defense change anyone?

Both are already acceptable. U.S. Department of Defense, not Defence.

 

[kabunaru]

defense is already spelled that way. Who told you it was defence?

Defence is the British version.
I can see some people pronouncing this as "Defenke".

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Defence is the British version.

alright, but just remember you're not British. You're a US citizen and it's just pretentious of you to use the British versions of words.

EDIT: especially when you then turn around and complain about the British spelling of a word.

 

[kabunaru]

EDIT: especially when you then turn around and complain about the British spelling of a word.

I am just pointing out on how some people might pronounce it. I have nothing against the British spelling.

 

[r.j.s]

I am just pointing out on how some people might pronounce it. I have nothing against the British spelling.

Yet, you suggested changing it to the American spelling.

 

[kabunaru]

Yet, you suggested changing it to the American spelling.

No, I suggested changing Mercenaries to Mersenaries. That is all.

 

[dubhe]

Just remember who it is that spells/pronounces things correctly, those that created the language...

Actually my wife is from NY and even now after three years living in the UK every now and then a new way of writing/saying a word will appear that she didn't know about! I naturally make the most of these situations

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I am just pointing out on how some people might pronounce it. I have nothing against the British spelling.

Perhaps it would be best for all if you switch to Esperanto, as you suggested.

 

[NC MacGuy]

The absolutely most asinine thread I've ever seen. A month and a half, eight pages of ridiculousness.

 

[kabunaru]

Just remember who it is that spells/pronounces things correctly, those that created the language...

So the British pronounce and spell correctly then?

 

[dubhe]

And of course there are so many different dialects within the UK you would be hard pushed to define British English.

Jock, Geordie, Scouse, Manc, Brum, Taff, Janner etc all have different words/accents