Did Americans screw up the English Language?

Question

I think we did due to allowing Eubonics and Spanish to be acceptable forms of communication. Its becoming the destruction of America's most important national 'glue' if we lose our country's language: English! Nothing irritates Americans more in our country than being forced to choose between our English language and Spanish being forced upon us by millions of illegals. And its spreading to the UK.

Answer 1

If we call America the universal melting pot, shouldn't we accept all the cultures that come along with it? It's foolish to expect everyone who lives here to speak English right away, especially if they came here to the "land of freedom and equality" to escape opression. No, we shouldn't have to learn their language, but we should at least allow them to speak it. I myself derive personal satisfaction from understanding a bit of what someone says in Spanish. Think of it as preparing our youth for the bigger world out there, one where English is important, but knowledge of other languages is crucial too.
And besides... I had written that paper before you called becomes. "I wrote that paper before you called." What happened to Pluperfect? We "pure-blooded" Americans are ruining English ourselves... think of it as a gradual deterioration. Did we ruin Shakespearan English?
Instead, I believe that with each generation of English-speakers comes more change. We can't point out one group as the "slayers of the English language," but we can accept the changes as they come.

Answer 2

The Spanish have been in USA for a very very long time. USA is a multicultural country and it is ridiculous to say other languages are unacceptable.

The English language is constantly evolving and always has been. America spells some words differently and American-English and has brought about phrases and sayings that are totally grammatically incorrect to English people, but that's just what happens with time, things change.

As a multicultural, almost entirely immigrant, society the English language is not your 'national glue' and I assure you that choosing between English and Spanish is nothing compared to English people being forced to choose between 'English' (american) and 'International English' (the english language).

Answer 3

Sister Margaret, you screwed up the english long before that when you transformed it into a dialect.
For english to be the language of your country, first , as an English said long time ago, you should learn to speak it.
Now, what you say about being forced to choose between your dialect and Spanish, if it irritates you, buy an ointment.
You are now experiencing what the Native Americans felt when the british came and instead of learning the language of the Natives, they forced them to learn english. I believe that this is what is called poetic justice

Answer 4

American English as opposed to Great Britain's English is considered as "slang" as Mexico's Spanish language is to Spain's. Yes cultural, social and environmental factors do make a difference in the form of a language (accents, dialects.. etc.) and this is what American English is "coined" to be. It's just that our English is not as proper as our father tongue is. To answer your question, American English isn't considered a distinct language in itself (being modified) from a form of British English because our language is still a derivative of British English. Meaning that American English is indigenous to England. The etymology is still that of the British phonology.

Answer 5

i would like to point out that we actually have no official national language, and although i am quite fond of speaking english, and am against illegal immigrants, languages are constantly changing over the course of time, there is really no stopping it. even if there was no eubonics or spanish, the language would still be developing separately from other forms of english. english itself stems from german and french originally, back in 1066. so a union of 2 languages cant be that bad.

Answer 6

I fully believe that 'American' is a mixture of a lot of languages.Americans use alot of different words and terms that came from Latin,French Spanish,German,and lots of other languages.That's why America kicks a ss so much.Diversity.HOWEVER,ebonics is ridiculous.And the national language of America should be American,not English,because of the reason I stated before and because we don't spell favorite and color with an unnecessary u in there.

Answer 7

The English language is evolving with America. I think it's interesting to watch the changes. I like how all the cultures are beginning to blend like the melting pot we began as.

Answer 8

I don't know about 'screw it up', but there's a big difference between American English, and the English spoken in England.

Answer 9

That be a real dope question. Fo shizzile icadizzle, comprende amigo?

Answer 10

No more than the Australians or Canadians did.