3 years running student organizations - no years learning how to spell

[ARTooD2]

Was there not something a few years ago to get American English recognised as a different language?

Quoting flarewearer from 11:55, 16th Mar 2006
There's no such thing as American English or British English or whatever. There's just English and there's Wronglish. If the native speakers decide to change some spellings or whatnot then the colonials should pay attention, get with the plan and follow suit.

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Facebook...ruining peoples lives since 2004...

[Gealle]

Isn't it actually called American in Pennsylvania?

[Arashi]

I quote you a famous linguist, who states that: 'A language is a dialect with borders and an army'. Thus, American English could be called it's own language, instead of a dialect.

Were you aware that when the colonies were founded, and wealthy British citizens came to America on holiday they preferred the colonists' English to their mothertongue, since months and months spent on ships in the crossing to America had demolished all local accents, and created a 'pure' form? I have quotes to this effect if anyone doesn't believe me.

Of course, it all began to change after the civil war, but when divided by an ocean and barraged on all sides by various foreign tongues it's only to be expected.


...Sometimes I'm tempted to do Honours Linguistics just so I can write a dissertation, 'Why American English Isn't Wrong, Just Different, So Please Be Quiet'.

[Gubbins]

I have no qualms with American myself, but I do wish they would keep it to themselves! Things like the 'color' tag in HTML, how every dictionary automatically reverts to Americanised spellings, how almost every multi-lingual website outside the UK sticks an American flag up and claims "English" next to it as if it were the only, original product. I'm not complaining about American - I'm complaining about the victimisation of English!

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...but then again, that is only my opinion.

[Legion]

I don't like the way software installation packages prompt you for a language, and then offer the choice of "English (US)".

Fair enough - if the software was written in America, then it's going to feature America English, but why not simply put EITHER "English" or "US".

Or do Americans need to be reminded of the language they speak?

[Bonnie]

It all comes down to simply the markets in which the programmers and website makers know their product will be placed. The US is such a larger market, of course the designers are going to cater to them.

That said, the Grand Theft Auto series obviouslty tried their best to make it American, but every once in a while even the American accent voices will say something that only British people would say.

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I love cheese.

[DrAlex]

Quoting legion from 16:34, 16th Mar 2006
I don't like the way software installation packages prompt you for a language, and then offer the choice of "English (US)".

Fair enough - if the software was written in America, then it's going to feature America English, but why not simply put EITHER "English" or "US".

Or do Americans need to be reminded of the language they speak?

Surely then you would call for the same to be made with the other English dialects. Australian? How about South African? What you say makes no sense.

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"Listen to DrAlex."-Polli
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37100343

[Atangaladhion]

What really annoys me is one of my lecturers pronouncing, 'isomorphism' as 'izomorphism' when it's clearly supposed to be an s sound, and she's not even American.

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Lars Olsen is not the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the first coming of Lars Olsen.

[JonCore]

Quoting Rilla from 10:06, 16th Mar 2006
I think Jon winchester is running, and some other guy, who is scottish maybe? (or he had a british accent compared to the other two guys.. but i dont know his name)...

I had no idea this thread was anything about the AU elections. I am so out of the loop.

Anyway, I too cant stand the z's in words - I use "randomisation" alot (the word, that is) and no matter how many times i add it to spell check, it never stays. Why is this?

An interesting read, for anyone particularly interested in this subject (American language) is "Made in America" by Bill Bryson - it's the case that alot of the "american" words are actually closer to the 1600's british they brought over from Britain - language has evolved quicker (or differently) here than there. So alot of the time, when we complain about the bastardisation of english, we're actually complaining about 400 year old british.

I, however, speak hiberno-english, so that's another language altogether.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038071 ... e&n=283155

http://www.hiberno-english.com/

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Time Dedicated to You.

You'd be right, Jon Winchester is indeed running. Anyone who wants to know more about my ideas (and that of all electoral candidates) should go to the elections board, as that is where Q&A is being held. As for organization, or organisation, it doesn't really matter. Hopefully there are no problems with the spelling on my posters, but then again I might get a front page thread out of it if there were.

Cheers,

Jon Winchester.

[flarewearer]

Quoting Ben Reilly from 17:35, 15th Mar 2006
...one of my pet peeves.

What 's yours?

Electoral candidates saying "nominated for", when they quite clearly put themselves up for it

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[atreus]

Quoting Ben Reilly from 17:35, 15th Mar 2006
...one of my pet peeves.

What 's yours?

People trying to finish my sentences. As if anybody but me possessed the grand power of ESP!

[exnihilo]

My pet peeve is being pinned in corners by people who want to discuss my research. Which always means tell me everything they know about my research. I don't want to discuss my research, even with informed persons. Few postgrads do. We want to get away from it when we leave our offices.