American Pronunciation?

Question

Why is it that americans can't speak english, even though they claim that they do?
Why do they pronounce "Aluminium" as "A-LOO-ME-NUM"?
Why can't they say the name of any middle-eastern country that starts with the letter "I" (eye-raq, eye-ran) properly, except for
eye-srael?
Why do they pronounce the word "wanker" so that it sounds indistinguishable from "Bush"?

wq4you:
I can write and capitalise properly. I can even spell the word capitalise, which you obviously are still struggling with. If you are offended by the lack of a capital "A" in my notation of "america" this is sad, but "America" is not recognised(no zed in that word, not even a zee) as a country - it's a British Colony going through it's teenage rebellion phase.
Upon the topic of leaving that you raised:
I went to the colony once. The people in Grand Rapids, Michigan were quite cool, but the rest? Don't think I'll be going back there.

Answer 1

Nice one dude, but they can’t even pronounce English towns, like them asking about Leicester it becomes Lee-I-cester. Think us Brits should send our English teachers over there.

Oh and dude theu have to say Aluminium like us now. HEHE thanks to some scientific councel thingy

Answer 2

Many Americans pronounce "Aluminum" they way it is spelled in American dictionaries. When "Aluminum" was named by scientists way back when, there was a split between the decided proper term of "Aluminum", and the British preferred "Aluminium" which more closely matched other elements, such as Selenium. Aluminum is proper, although the British version has hung on in its pronunciation.
Like other English speaking countries, America is rich in local accents and dialects. Some people from different areas and backgrounds pronounce words "correctly," some don't. England is especially diverse in how every few miles words and accents are pronounced with great differences. What a colorfull way to be!
I am not sure what part of America pronounces "Walker" as "Wanker", but it might sound that way to forein ears. It is not indistinguishable from Bush, Walker is the Presidents middle name.

Answer 3

Humphry Davy, the modern discoverer of aluminum, called it aluminum so that is the older spelling.

And tell me, why do British people pronounce 'th' as 'f'? It's not like they're even that similar? (As in 'I don't know nuffink', pinkcloud). Only a fool would bite his lower lip when trying to say 'th'. And the land of Shakespeare and Dickens should be ashamed that such an ugly word as 'innit' has been allowed to flourish.

Why do British people pronounce 'pawn' and 'porn' the same way? If I said 'I'm going to the pawn shop' in an American accent, I wuld not create the confusion, and possible offence, which a British speaker would. Or pronounce the 'r' at the end of words like 'star'. It's there for a reason.

Finally, your claim that 'America' is not the recognised name of a country does not excuse failing to capitalise 'Americans'. Just admit you made an error instead of pretending it's a political point.

Answer 4

The best speeches were pronounced by Clinton, and he is
not a Boston born and bred! The worst is Bush who claims
to have an A1 education when all of us know he did not.
As they say "that‘s how the cookie crumbles. My wife loves
the American soap operas on TV, all poorly acted and spoken.
I can‘t stand them, all blood and thunder. She is Brazilian,and
finds it strange that she can understand English but not when
spoken by Americans. I was born in Glasgow, and that is pretty
bad, but my father sent me to Fettes College (the same as Blair)
and it all turned out well. Remember we have cockney etc, which
gives the Americans a tough ride for their money. To sum it up,
some Americans do speak well, a small minority. Let it be, as
the Beattles would say, but what I find the most disturbing is
the way they dress when on holiday! You can spot them from
a mile away. Cheers, Iain

Answer 5

That's a different way of speaking. It's not that their language is not English. It's a different variety of English. In fact even within the very city of London, there are varieties. And the one that's been privileged as being 'the' language is only the variety used by educated Londoners. That's actually one more way of imposing their power over the rest of people, so you shouldn't pay attention to that. They're using this prejudice against YOU, unless of course you're part of them, which I seriously doubt.

Answer 6

Shouldn't that be 'pronunsation?'.
They invaded a country called 'Eyerak' in 2003 and I'm still looking for it. And where's Utly?
On a recent comedy quiz show in the UK one of the panelists pointed out that Mr. President doesn't like 'tourists' and was committed to wiping out 'tourism'.
There will come a time in the future when we will be forced to acknowledge that USA English is a different language.

Answer 7

Probably for the same reason they pronounce nuclear 'nuculear'.
It's kind of funny right now... I'm an american doing some editing for a group in the UK. It's really interesting to work while not americanizing the document.
Why, in america, are plural groups treated as singulars?
These imponderables of language are what make it interesting.

Answer 8

Yes, you're right. Listen to the way an American pronounces
children.
I Cr 13;8a
10-24-6

Answer 9

Because American's are fast and furious. Have you forgotten about freedom of speech, let me extend it to freedom of accents. Why do you think England English is the English. Oh i get it because English is derivative of england.

Answer 10

Most Americans don't pronounce Iraq "eye-raq," just as most Brits don't pronounce horse "orse" or run around addressing people as "guv'nor." Sorry to burst your bubble.

Btw, why do Americans and American English make you feel so insecure?