Isn't it funny that people who forgot how to spell Colour, Humour and Learnt, demand others to speak English?

Answer 1

Well, let's be fair now... some 'Americanisms' actually predate the 'Britishisms' that are seen to be 'original' - 'fall' is an older word than 'autumn' and Shakespeare preferred the word 'gotten'...

Most American 'alternate spellings' were actually arbitrarily created by Noah Webster in a half-hearted attempt to 'simplify' English spelling - but also for nationalistic reasons. He always referred to his masterwork as a 'Dictionary of the American Language' (as if it were a new language altogether). Oddly enough, a lot of his reforms spread internationally. The other day I saw reference on the BBC to 'organized labour' (sic.), which I thought was bizarre - one American spelling and one British spelling.

In the end, it doesn't really matter much. It is, however, highly ironic when these same people get all uptight about other people's usage. With reference to 'learnt', note the fourth answerer on this link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjQ486yGPXyshrkSGesqxyTsy6IX?qid=20060623071842AARjCrO and further, note the general harrassment of this girl, who felt obliged to 'correct' her British spelling of the word 'foetus': http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=Av2B2UYadTviBBLiGY1rxdEjzKIX?qid=1006052303848 - both of these are highly, highly silly.

How tolerant can you expect people to be of the diversity of languages in the world when they are so intolerant (and ignorant) of the diversity within their own language?

Answer 2

I was born in the USA and immigrated to Canada at the age of 10. So, I had grades 1 through 4 in the USA. To tell you the truth, it was a bit of a culture shock for me. The language was still English, but there were a lot of things different about it. My new Canadian friends laughed at my "southern" accent (I came from Oregon, so not all that southern) but they loved to hear it and always asked me to say certain words that sounded different to them. Now, after 40 years in Canada, I have lost all of my "southern" accent and sound 100% Canadian, but I am still very aware of the differences in the language and spelling of words. The biggest thing that stands out in my mind is the last letter of the alphabet, "Z" in the USA, but "Zed" in Canada. To this day, I still say "Z." I do, however, spell in the Canadian way the words, "colour, humour," etc. When you pay a bill, you write a "cheque." If you fill out a form, though, you place a "check" mark in the box. I love the differences between Canada and the USA, as much as I love the similarities. In Canada, we are very influenced by both of our English and French histories and culture and, of course, French is our second official language. I don't speak French, but I know quite a bit of it just because it is our second official language and so all of our consumer packaging is in English and French and our government communication is in both languages. Also, from the 8th grade, on, you learn French in school. I didn't like French in school and so left that program by the 10th grade to go into an occupational program that didn't include French. However, I know enough of it that I could manage, if the need came up. We also do have a lot of French immersion schools for children from kindergarten on up, if parents want their children to be completely bi-lingual. French is stronger in the Eastern side of Canada than in the West, which is where I live, in BC.

Anyways, don't give Americans a hard time because of how they spell words - the USA is quite a lot older than Canada is, so maybe they have it right, eh?

Answer 3

In the United States we have our own way of spelling certain words, just as some words are English words are spelled differently elsewhere. What is wrong with US demanding people to speak English (American English) in OUR country when that is the language WE speak here?

DEPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS

ENGLISH ONLY IN AMERICA

Answer 4

before you say something, THINK, first of all color and humor are BRITISH not our English language here in America..we don't demand others to speak English we only want those who enter OUR country to speak OUR official language. I wouldn't come to China and expect everyone to want to accommodate me, when I knew before I was coming in into their country that their language is something that I don't understand. By the way, I agree with natasha, I don't like you either...you don't know what you're talking about.

Answer 5

An interesting point. Try moving to England, and communicating with the locals in broken English- see what kind of reception they lavish you with.

If you're familiar with British culture at all, you would know that they discriminate amongst themselves based on local dialect and accents at great length.

Answer 6

Colour and humour are legitimate British-English words.

I'm sure that people that speak other languages don't use their languages perfectly either.

Answer 7

I was brought up using English English but I quite often use American spelling.
By my own choice I no longer use the contractions that end in "t".
How much have you earned?
Tell me what you (have) learned.
The purpose of a language is to communicate, not to stagnate.
You are welcome to adhere to correct forms if that is your pleasure.
I still shudder at "normality".
Enjoy our language, but you must allow others the same right.

Answer 8

Okay, we'll send all our illegals to you in Britain and you can teach them in person how to speak the "queen's English". They can all stay at your house. All 25 million of them.

Answer 9

Believe me, I forgot the British way I was brought up in, after living in the US.

Answer 10

No, because what we are demanding is American English, not British English.

Just as Mexico speaks its own brand of 'Spanish' we speak our own brand of 'English'.