Does anyone here speak English?

Question

I am from America, and it seems to me that you people in UK speak some other language than we do. I knwo we speak English, but you speak some sort of gutter talk. Why is that? You invented the language, learn how to speak it! If you dont understand what I am saying, watch ?My Fair Lady" or the Family Guy episode that made fun of it.

By the way guys, you may have misunderstood the question. I am not referring to the different words in our languages, but instead to the way you seem to drop the h's, for instance. If someone told me to wait 'alf a minute, I would think they were nuts.

Answer 1

I was going to write something rude, but I realise that you do have a point. I don't spend very much time in the UK, as I live on a desert island where the main entertainment is US tv, but I always look forward to going back to my native country to be able to get away from those American accents and hear the Queen's English spoken correctly. However, I must admit that I have noticed a considerable deterioration of late in the London area, where young people have started to swallow their syllables and adopt all kinds of unpleasant Americanisms such as "like, sorta, kinda", etc. etc. and this is far worse than any North American accent. If that is where you are based in the UK, then you are quite justified in your comments. My advice is to move away from the capital to other areas of the country where English is still spoken correctly, so that you can improve your own command of the language and in due course teach it to your fellow countrymen.

Answer 2

I understand what you are saying but I also think you are making sweeping generalisations. First of all a lot of young people, the western world over, find it exciting and culturally appropriate to speak a kind of "yardy", gangster talk at the moment. Personally I see no harm in this as it just demonstrates the creative power of youth culture which is ever changing and diverse and takes in world influeneces, it could even be said to be multi-culture embracing and they should congratulated for that not condemmed. Secondly a few slang words written in a chat, internet forum hardly constitutes a "spoken" language anymore then mobile phone texting does.
Thirdly the UK, like the USA embraces many cultures both home grown and from overseas, this influences the wider national culture and to dismiss it as "gutter" is offensive and narrow minded. In summary I would say, learn to see beyond what you feel is right and see differences for what they are before you blanketly condemn them. Incidently the UK and USA have their own very different forms of English which is direct result of how mixed cultures influenced and continue to influence language so don't be so blind to cultures other than your own!

Answer 3

Australia could have signed a UN treaty obligating the rustic to take some refugees or asylum seekers. according to probability politicians attempt to win the votes of ethnic communities with the help of allowing them to into the rustic. according to probability they're on your usa illegally. you're being paid with the help of the hour, good? So in the experience that your retail shop isn't busy, take time and clarify that costs are by no skill negotiated. That creates no economic loss for you. Or, if their hold close of our language is undesirable, only say "i'm sorry, i don't comprehend you" and then furnish no further reaction. Immigrants could be inspired to speak their distant places languages to their very own toddlers, so those little ones would be multilingual (an extremely effectual means). however the government could make English fluency a call for for any residency.

Answer 4

Wow, you're referring to one or two accents out of the scores we have in the UK. Wanker.

No one speaks in the posh accent you all hear on US TV, except maybe a few toffs still around (And Cockney is limited to one city).
Remember that most of our accents, like Yorks and West country, are older that your country. And as you said, we invented the bloody language, we'll speak it however we bloody like, how dare you tell us how to speak. Just because we don't speak it like you do doesn't mean we're wrong, more likely the other way round.

Answer 5

I know how to speak English. I also know how to write it and type it, which is what I'm doing now. Some people in the UK also know Scots, Irish and Welsh as well as English. Even other languages too.

I think it's sad you feel that way about all of 'us people' in the UK.

I also feel sad about the way many people from the US (I'm assuming you mean the United States when you say 'America') pronounce the word 'route'.

It's not 'raaa-wt', it's 'roooot'.

Thanks.

Answer 6

You're completely ignorant about the basic principles involved in the definition of what a language is and what a dialect is.
The received pronunciation is just a misunderstanding of the way languages work: shifting and changing sound all the time.
Your question only show the xenofobic approach of your mind.
Look wider!

Answer 7

Can't understand what you mean by 'gutter talk'. Are we speaking regional accents here? Do you have difficulties in understanding what British people are saying? Or is it we say biscuit whereas you say cookie?

I'm afraid you didn't phrase your question very well.

BOMB: Dukalink 6, We have a couple of 'bomb' sayings over here. If something or someone(s) 'Went down a bomb', it could be interpreted as 'went down very enthusiastically with the audience', but if a film - for example - 'bombed', then it was a failure (or stank, as you put it).

Answer 8

I was born in America so I speak English, but can also speak German, French, Mexican Spanish, and Hebrew. I'm from the southern USA, and have friends in England, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Austrilia, Iceland, everywhere, and can tell you that its fun to speak to these people from different places, and learn new dialects. Yes, it does lead to some confusion on word meanings, but with laughter, and understanding on both sides you get through it.

Answer 9

.....When you learn to speak proper 21st estuary English you will be ashamed of yourself. English is English and you don't speak it. Correct English is ongoing not stranded in the eighteenth century so let's hope that we remain separated by the same language. English started with the English and it is the possession of the English People. HOW DARE YOU!

Answer 10

Well, Americans do not really speak fluent English, am I right? And your grammar is terrible. I bet, you won't even be able to write very well than the people in UK. Well, they have the so-called Old English, they have the best accent in the land. Do not discriminate these people because they are very educated people and their grammar is far better than you Americans. Get my point?