Hi you yanks, I read somewhere that when you was first formed?

Question

After the American war of independence, You had a vote to speak [I think French--Spanish] but you choose English, Now insight would you have chosen the above?

Answer 1

yow howdy thar pardener.Them there pashky injuns am rip ridin` thru ours `omelands
The American language is a different form of English which I think you will find was spoken by Abraham(I`ve seen the film the ten commandments and Charlton Heston speaks legible English) God himself spoke English,It says so in my English bible.as did Adam,and all the Germans in those war films,they just said "Ve haf vays ov making you tawlk"The Borg speak English as does Spock.Munchkins,Ewoks and even Sponge Bob Square Pants.So there you have it conclusive proof that English is the language of the gods.And if I am wrong may god strike me down in a flash of lighten......................ugh.......sizzle

Answer 2

The dominant language overall in the American colonies was English. Although there were some German-speaking communities and some French-speaking and even some Spanish-speaking, English was the language communities used to communicate with other communities.

Generally the first generation of immigrants speaks just their native language. The second generation is almost always bilingual and the third generation (unfortunately) speaks only English. That's true even today.

Now American English is different because we have borrowed so many interesting words from other languages and they've come into common use. We've also coined words which have spread world-wide. American English is a growing language and far from stagnant.

Answer 3

Like a lot of people you don't seem to realise that the USA of today bears no resemblance to the British colonies that gained their independence and the people who fought would have if asked called themselves British or English until independence.The Spanish and French speaking colonies didn't join up with the original English speaking base until later and their languages wouldn't have been considered as they were either purchased or taken by the US.This is a myth and the language mention in it is German which the vast majority of the population wouldn't be able to speak anyway.

Answer 4

There was a legend, the Muhlenberg legend, that there was a vote on whether to speak English or German and German lost. It was based on the vote on whether to print materials in Virginia in German. German was popular because the British Royal family was German and there were many German immigrants at that time. There was no such vote on French and Spanish.
Currently there is no official national language despite the, aptly named, proposed "English Language Amendment" of 1981. (97th CONGRESS 1st Session, S. J. R. 72, April 27, 1981).
If the US had chosen German (or French or Spanish) it would probably would have made little difference in the US. It would have made more difference to the influence of English in the world and diminished it to the levels currently enjoyed by French and German, that is, important but not universal.

Answer 5

Theres an urban myth about a vote over German but it has all been Snopesed.

Actually your all wrong and American English is pretty much how an 18th Century English person would have talked. None of those clipped vowels and Received Pronunciation - that didn't arrive till the late Victorians.

You can see it in Shakespeare - they did a version recently using American accents and it fits much better.

When Russell Crowe was in Master and Commander his Aussie accent would have been far more authentic than his put on English accent.

The Americans and Australians didn't mess up the language, it branched off and each nation developed it from there.

Answer 6

Personally, I enjoy speaking English. I also speak Spanish. I never cared for French. As someone who teaches languages, I'm glad that I learned English as a first language and not as a second language. It was much easier this way!

Answer 7

they were British colonies mate, our Brothers, but we didn't treat them right, well our KING didn't so they got their freedom. English language was a mothers tongues for the majority of the states there for it was easier to make English their language. besides English is a better language than Spanish right ;) well french is not so bad either.

and what the hell is it with you Americans thinking we would have been invaded if it wasn't for you, sure you did push the Germans back faster than we did but didn't we defeat Rommel in Africa all on out own. didn't we crash the German air force which was also the reason why it was much easier for US troops to advance faster, because of the air supremacy which we granted. like always US steped in a little late.

Answer 8

Well since we don't have an official language in the U.S. guess it doesn't matter what they decided to speak. If that vote took place it was more about being farther independent from England and it was about how far they should go. They picked England to say hey let's not get stupid about this, most of us speak English so let's stick with it.

Answer 9

The vote was about German. Myth and rumour says it was whether the whole country would speak German or English whereas in reality it was a vote as to whether legislative documentation would be produced in German as well as English in the State of Virginia. English won the day and no German documentation was printed.

Answer 10

If there was a vote, since the colonies consisted of mostly English speaking people, the vote would have gone that way.

BTW, if we were really so self absorbed that many people think we are, we would have changed the name of the language from English to American. So you would be speaking American right now. lol. jk.