Why do Americans say they speak English when its obvious they don't?

Question

For example, Jelly = Jello, Jam = Jelly, Biscuits = Cookies, Pavement = Sidewalk, Give Way = Yield, Chips = French Fries, Crisps = Chips.

AND THEN THERE IS THE MISSING U WORDS

Neighbour - Neighbor
Colour - Color

Can anyone think of anymore words? and does it irriate you when reading a novel when the words are spelt wrong?

Answer 1

I came across the Ian Rankin novel "Fleshmarket Close". As you know, the Edinburgh detective writer is popular in the US too. On Amazon however, the book is sold as "Fleshmarket Alley". When I saw this, I was disgusted.

This is in blatant disregard of the city of Edinburgh - where closes are a touristy and beautiful feature. If I'd meet anyone there, asking directions to a "Fleshmarket Alley" or "Princes Mall" - I'll drag them right back to the airport.

The Americans should nationalise their language, call it American or siclike - and stop meddling with the British language. This is not such a far-fetched idea. The Scots have their Scots and Gaelic, the South Africans have their Afrikaans, the Australians have English with a nice accent.. But Americans have English? It only leads to confusion. And why oh why do Europeans speak American?

Answer 2

It's not just the spelling and different words, it's the pronunciation as well, but I don't think anyone should be criticising American English just because it is different. As some people have pointed out previously American pronunciation may be more similar to archaic British English for a lot of words, and it is British English that has changed. I should point out to zsopark that the vowel shift you are talking about didn't occur in Scottish English. We don't pronounce grass and pass to rhyme with a r s e.
All the same I do wonder why Americans call their language English, it seems to be as far from proper English as, say, Scandinavian languages are from each other and they are classed as separate languages despite being mostly mutually intelligible. If you speak a language which causes you to demand subtitles when watching a British film such as The Full Monty or Brassed Off, then it is fair to say you don't speak English at all. So do those of us that call our language English really have the right to, when we are not English?

Answer 3

It's simple really, the americans tried to distance themselves from the English after they won independence. So through the centuries the spelling of words have changed. I don't know if you've noticed that americans are the only ones in the English language spell the way they do; England, Canada, Australia, New Zea land, Ireland, Scotland and every other English colony spell words the same. Sometimes, dialect gets in the way of the written word but text books are all the same, except for american text books that is. Little known fact: when the 'father's of independence' voted on the official language of the new country the German language was almost voted in, only a couple of votes decided the English language.

Answer 4

I am from USA and living in Europe and here they distinguish between Queen's English, English English, American English, Australian English, Canadian English, etc. So, it can be compared to the word Apple and then break it down into the different types of Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, etc.

I do have a funny story, though. Last Christmas, I was traveling on an airplane from Sweden to London and when reading the rules came across a rule that said, "No Christmas Crackers!" I just could not figure out why I couldn't bring any crackers on the plane-- I mean they are food, right?! When I was in London I mentioned to a friend how stupid the rule was and she informed me that "Christmas Crackers" are those things that explode when you pull the string. She said that the crackers I was talking about were biscuits.

Answer 5

Let me get some things straight

1. Jello is a brand of gelatin
2. Sidewalk specifies a specific type of pavement
3. Yield is one word, so it is easier to put on traffic signs
4. French fries were invented in America, so I think we get the naming rights
5. Missing U? YOu say -bor, not -boor
6. Words can't be "spelt" wrong, just "spelled" wrong

Answer 6

Americans do speak English. They just have some local differences in pronounciation and spelling, compared to Great Britain. It's the same case as the Swiss Germans, who speak a German dialect, and the Latin Americans, who pronounce some Spanish letters different than the Spaniards.

Answer 7

In some respects, American English is closer to "original" modern English than British English. Here is one example of many:
"In the early 1800s, another smaller vowel shift occurred in British English, between an older /æ/ and a newer /a/ before certain consonant clusters. Say the words "gas mask." If you are a native speaker of American English, you probably have an /æ/ in both words. Speakers of the RP, by contrast, have /æ/ in "gas" and /a/ in "mask."
So the familiar /a/ in British English is actually a late development which did not occur in American English. Now, you know. But will THEY admit it?

Answer 8

People from Potugal say the same about Potuguese spoken in Brazil. The thing is a language is a living thing and it is always changing. It is absolutely normal that different countries will develop their own "dialect". I'm sure even inside England you can find examples of different pronounciantions and meanings for the same word. Does it mean one of them is not speaking English?

Answer 9

Man I hate this question, and with the addition of Yahoo! Answers in French, I can hate it in French (France vs. Quebec) as well. Do you say the same about the Scots?

But if you are in fact interested, here are some other examples:
apartment/flat
elevator/lift
stroller/pram
diapers/nappies
pacifier/dummy
German shepherd/Alsatian
subway/underground
underpass/subway (I think!)
TV/telly
soccer/football

And a Canadian one for you: HOCKEY/ice hockey

Answer 10

There are two kinds of English: Americanized English and British English. Both are correct but to use British English in an exam in an American high school wouldn't be wise.