Why do some people say that "american" is a language?

Answer 1

Because they're idiots?

Answer 2

Because the pronounciation is very different for each dialect. If they say "American" is a language, what they mean is that it's a DIALECT of English. They are essentially the same language, with very few differences in spelling (i.e. English - colour, American - color). There are a lot of pronounciation differences, but we can understand eachother for the most part, so it is generally accepted as the same language.

The same thing happens all over the world, where languages which may have once been universal were changed locally until it became represented by regional dialects. A good example of this is the Chinese language, with vast differences between Cantonese and Mandarin dialects (with a long list of other dialects as well), but essentially the same language underlying both forms of speech.

Answer 3

Americans speak English......just not proper old English. When you have immigrants from all over the world comming here, it's natural ,I think to have some alterations and additions. I can understand when English is spoken, except for maybe not understanding what some words might mean or they may differ here. Like chips, or calling a cop a bobby etc. Different yes, but you can still communicate. They say they speak Spanish in Mexico but they can't understand very well when a person from Spain speaks Spanish. So no....it's not a language seperate from English.....just a little different. Heck, we have trouble understanding some accents throughout the country or slang terms from certain regions. Took me forever to figure out what "red up the house" ment or what a "gum band" was.

Answer 4

They say that English is what's spoken in England with an accent and American has no accent...of course, different regions of the US have distinct accents, so I really don't see the point of calling English language American unless they just want to further separate themselves from England.

Answer 5

If you compare English and American, you will see very little similarities. For the most part, English was the base for the American language, but over time words from other languages found their way into the American vocabulary. Pronunciations and spellings have also changed dramatically, forming new words. American has virtually formed itself into it's own language. This is why Brits and Americans have such a hard time understanding each other.
The next time someone asks you what language you speak, the answer is "American."

Answer 6

Because they're american and think they invented the world (hi to all the americans out there :) )

Seriously though, maybe they're trying to distinguish american slang/dialect compared to british english, australian english, etc and use 'language' to describe these differences which is not technically appropriate.

Answer 7

One reason is the difference in words used. There is little resemblence to the English language anymore. Think of it as a different dialetic just as German changes from country to country and Spanish spoken in Spain is not exactly the same as spoken in Mexico or South America. Some differences between English and American English are: Chips are Fries(America), Lorrey is Truck(America), etc.

Answer 8

Bcoz they want to be different from everyone.

To operaphantom....

In southamerica, no one call the language..."argentinian" or "uruguayan" or "chilenian" etc. in spite of they have differences from the Castillian from Spain.
It is all the same lang, but with different slangs when talking. If you see it when writing.........almost hasnt differences

By the way..the correct name for that language is not spanish.......it is castillian
Spanish are all the languages spoken in Spain

Answer 9

It´s a dialect, not a language. Someone may speak English with an American accent, but they don´t speak "American". Mexicans speak Spanish, not "Mexican".

Answer 10

Pepe, if you mean USA, the language that they speak is a dialect. I have seen that even the inhabitants born here sometimes don't understand what is written in a newspaper

Answer 11

Have you ever heard an English person speak English? The Americans and the English can barely communicate.

We're in Barney...