Why do the bloody Americans try to tell us how to speak English?

Question

They come on to this site and tell us we are using the wrong terminology and spelling, it's just not on old chap. What are your thoughts?

Am I wrong or is this the UK Yahoo Answers site? Ther's a guy here who thinks it's the American site. This is the problem, Americans are correcting us on OUR site! I used to admire the Americans about 20 years ago, but after what we have seen them do to this world lately it is obvious that they have no respect for anyone but themselves. The vast majority have never set foot outside their state, let alone the country so who are they to judge?

Answer 1

Basically, they think that they dominate the world u c.So they think that they are always right and could do whatever they want....they tell middle easterns on what to do n who to be hanged....then they bombed Hiroshima n Nagasaki, but have strong opinions against terrorist bombings...But their military killed more innocents than any other terrorist group add up together...n american tourists are arrogant cos they have USD..so basically, they still think that they are still on top of the food chain, while little did they know that they are making more enemies on the way...so...dats basically abt it...but u shld be glad to know that in places like London or some other parts of Europe, they hate the bloody americans too..so whn tourists asked for directions, they were usually given the wrong directions on purpose..
In addition, american football...History says it that it emerged from the UK..n they call it the american game..with body armours n helmet to protect themselves, such faggots!!!its not even a sport, n soccer (football in europe) is more much more challenging....notice that i never did use capital letters for the word: american throughout this answer? Cos i jus dun give a damn abt them..

ALL THUMBS DOWN FROM THE LAND OF FREE PLS>>i jus love to piss them off..they usually get so comical whn they do..

Answer 2

George Bernard Shaw once said, "England and America are two countries divided by a common language." Note the word 'common'.

We could also argue that Americans spell words the wrong way too for example a common one:
cheque in English (UK)
check in English (US)

Many people accuse Americans of spelling words the wrong way as they are more Auditory [spelling words by how they sound] and it also reflects a different pronounciation.

So, personally, I've never really had any issues about it before because it's natural to pick up on how someone spells the same word differently [especially when they're almost a third of the way round the World from us].

But it's a matter on personal choice, it's up to you who you think spell's draught/draft right or wrong.

Good luck in your explorations!!!
Lorna

Answer 3

I haven't see anyone telling me that Americans speak English better that the British. They have their own warped and simplified version but what annoys me is the British people who use American phrases because they've heard them on TV or heard other people use them who have heard them on TV. The American tendency to misuse two or three words when one would do adequately has become popular here too and how many times do you hear announcers in Britain saying "-fold" instead of times? In this way, we lose the sense of huge incremental increases implied by saying something has increased eg, fourfold (16 times) when it's meant that it has increased four times. Just another example of how we successfully follow America in using fashionable language withoput analysing the true meaning. Does no-one read George Orwell any longer?

Answer 4

A lot of us don't know that you have different spellings and terminologies. We're only taught in school our own way to spell words and not that they might be spelled other ways.

Not only that but most of the people on here are young, and only THINK they know what they're talking about. I probably don't even know what I'm talking about...to tell you the truth. Just ignore the one that don't know any better. They probably wouldn't know the right answer to your question any way.

Answer 5

I'm English and not too fond of America, but this thread is basically a children's scrap in the playground (or should that be schoolyard??). So America adopted our language and then made some alterations. Big deal!! I'm far more worried about the illegal war that they have dragged us into and their obsession with making the whole world one homogenous lump filled with people eating Big Macs and drinking KoolAid (whatever that might be).

We say pavement. They say sidewalk. Say what? Focus on the true damage they are doing us and the rest of the world.

Answer 6

Please do not get hot under the collar, we are well used to the americans boasting and being arrogant. It is about the only two things that they are competent at. Remember this, the English Language is OUR language. The americans may attempt(very poorly in my opinion) to speak and write English, but it is NOT their official language. Ask them! They do not have one!! Recently they debated this issue and decided that they would make English their UNIFYING language (???) I just wish that they had picked the German or French language to savage to death instead of the language of Shakespeare and Chaucer.

Answer 7

Well it is a good behaviour to tell a right thing but one should be polite & friendly. And if it is only differance of spelling it is not offensive, so American can write color & British can write colour! No offence !! I love English Literature!!

Answer 8

Any halfway intelligent American will be able to tell when they are speaking to a Brit, Aussie, someone from some other English speaking country.

To be honest, I have a problem with people who insist on using Netlingo. Nothing makes a person look more stupid than saying "Y r U tAlKiN 2 mE" or whatever crap.

Answer 9

yet another a style of... blah blah blah... ....you're extra useful off no longer asking illegals something-- they are going to pull out the "racist" card and proceed to hammer "amnesty" being the respond... you're able to have merely ordered a buncha beer for my pizza social gathering.. Like 6 women have already responded.. via, the way, thank you haydeylov and daisy.. and secondstar.. and.. the guy who involuntarily paid taxes to 3... fool..whom of that have been given it for unfastened... Dude.. merely order beer next time.. I merely ran out!

Answer 10

If you are in America then you should speak English it's that simple. If an American went to your country they would be expected to speak your language.

Answer 11

Well, we spell "Color" different, other than that, it's YOUR language, so it's your rules, thats how I feel, I get confused because, we (Yanks) are on the "English" standard of measurement, yet the Brits use the "Metric" system, please don't Bash us Yanks too much, we are fond of the British, our culture and life style are heavily influenced by you, and right about at this time in the world, America feels that England is just about our ONLY FRIEND NOW ! "We're your Little Brother" !