why is it americans always correct us u.k people with words, that we use differently from them?

Question

like if we say mummy then they will always say no its mommy why cant they just accept we use different words we dont pick them up on anything we always know what they mean, why dont they start learning our words so they know what we mean as we do to theirs

OH MY GOD! I PUT THIS IN THE WRONG POST ON PURPOSE! THINK ABOUT IT AMERICA. IT RELATES TO THE QUESTION.

Answer 1

I'm a PROUD AMERICAN!! The only explanation I can think of is, people can be close minded to other cultures. I personally LOVE the way different people of different cultures talk and express themselves. The more I can learn the better. I have to agree with the "American arrogance" comment made. I love my country, as I'm sure you love the U.K. But too many people in this country are full of themselves. Unfortunately it is that way everywhere. I'm sorry you have had such a bad experience with us "yanks". Please believe we are not all like that! Please let me know if the yanks comment was out of line, I just watched a movie were we Americans were referred to that way. But it would be just my luck to screw this up!!

Answer 2

Ok, well candy, when we say pants in the US we mean trousers. You may be thinking of underpants. This is just an example (with no insult intended) of how people from different countries so far away from each other can have a wrong knowledge of the other country. There are many different reasons why us USer's are correcting the UK's spelling. One may be because they don't realize that the responder or asker is from the UK. I know that there are plenty of people, all over the world, that assume that everyone is from where they are from. It could be that they have very little or no knowledge of the differences in spelling. It could be a complete lack of respect for the UK culture. It could be a bunch of other reasons as well.

Like Mark ( I think it was Mark) said. Can't we all just get along (I know I'm paraphrasing)? There is too much dissension between cultures that when it comes down to it, we are all the same thing deep down inside.

Peace

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To: emaxtde

I wonder if you would have an easy time pronouncing (I'm breaking this word up because it won't all show up on here)

phemomoultral
microscopicsilocol
volcanocaniosis

It would probably take at least a couple times, the first time reading it, to get the pronunciation correct. That's been a favorite word of mine since I was about 14 years old. So, not all American's have a hard time enunciating words that contain more then 3 letters. People need to stop generalizing.

Answer 3

I think it goes both ways.... in the UK we are more used to spelling according to the etymology rather than a bastardized (note the American 'zee') phonetic version that 'American English' has evolved into.

We (in the UK) HATE being corrected on what is our native tongue - to say that 'spelt' is wrong..it is 'spelled' - no, either is correct in the UK, or 'math' (US) and 'maths' (UK)...as it is an abbreviation of MATHematicS I think you'll find that the UK is the more correct in normal language form.

HOWEVER, generally spelling in the UK is deplorable - it sucks big style - so 'we' as a nation can hardly be proud "esp sn txt spk" became 'acceptable' for general communication.

So chill out! If nobody makes a fuss about the spelling we'll do just fine!!

ps. Re: "We'd all be speaking German if it wasn't for the americans" what a load of B.S! The US sat on it's **** for years before doing anything - even your 'Northern neighbours' Canada, and the allied Russia were more active in fighting the Nazi regime. To the 'hard of understanding', not the whole nation...READ SOME EUROPEAN HISTORY...you might learn something.

Answer 4

Because some people are ignorant, they always think they know
it all. What they don't realize that everybody is different and no one
should be the same ,cause if that was the case ,we would all be clones and speak and act the same. What you do is just ignore
them. I probably get reported for writing this but I don't care,
freedom of speech. I'm Mexican/American and I like the way
others speak from their own language. I speak nothing but English and Mexicans don't like the fact that I don't speak Spanish
or can't pronounce my words correctly. So I choose not to speak
because I can't pronounce it, so why even try.

Answer 5

I think that some people are unaware as to the diversity of people from different countries that are asking and replying to questions. So they don't realize that an English person is asking the question. They just think it's an illiterate American or someone who is trying to write American english and is getting it wrong. Although, it may be true in some cases most Americans do respect and understand the difference between the languages.

Oh and spelt is not an American english word. It is spelled.

Notice I said AMERICAN ENGLISH.

Answer 6

I love this. The simple reason is because most humans are ego driven, and we all like to think our way is the best one. Word usage, grammar, idiosyncrasies, and pop culture references all need to be taken in context. The correct one is dependant on whatever country you are in. Try being a Canadian living in the US where your spelling is berated, but your pronunciation is similar, OR being a Canadian in the UK where your spelling is correct, but your accent (with the notable exception of Newfoundland which sounds like a strange Irish melange) denotes you mistakenly as American. Just take it in stride, set the correcter straight, and move on.

As for the speaking German comments? Let's just everyone read a basic history of WORLD War II and learn what a co-operative effort looks like.

Answer 7

Be careful the way you phrase questions..."always" indicates that all Americans are this way, and unless you know this for a fact you are generalizing incorrectly. For those Americans that you have encountered that want to correct your vocabulary...screm them, and get over it. Not all Americans are like this and if you truly assume they are, well, that's more of an ignorant statement than what you're assuming. It's fine to make observations about different behavior from different nations, but seriously...grow up.

Side note...as much as my personal experience allows me to make this statement, I know its a generalization and not the overall truth, but...do you guys believe in dental hygiene? See? Don't generalize!

Answer 8

Perhaps it's because we use English and they use American. If anyones interested the English spelling was used first, American tends to be more phonetic i.e. spelt as it sounds, and ignores the etymology of the word.

Answer 9

Come on everyone, we share so much, what's a little difference here and there? Americans please stop correcting Birtish spellings, it is somehwat rude anyway. Fellow Britons please stop complaining about our American friends, as that, too is a little bit rude.

We have enough adversaries in the world, let's not alienate our friends over a few spellings. I have seen enough spelling and grammatical errors here by both nationalities to make an English teacher cry anyway. Isn't variety the spice of life?

Answer 10

Because the Americans are stupid, bumbling fools. They always try to shorten or abbreviate just about every word. Anything longer than 3 letters is a tongue twister for them. The world would be a better place if they just kept their mouths shut and their politics to themselves.