The great English debate.

I enjoy the differences.  They're like dialects on steroids.  These differences give our common language character and nuance.  

Speling dunt bovver me.

Now... I will concede the Zee problem... but "programme"? "Colour"? Are we French... or are we English?

The English officially became French in 1066 but we turned the invaders English after they spent too much time with us.  Therefore the true English language is actually to a good extent  Franglais.  In fact we insidiously anglicised our conquerors to such an extent they completely forgot we were a colony of theirs already and made several plans to 'invade' us again during the ensuing centuries.

Even now where the North East was more susceptible to Viking incursions a thousand years ago, rather than French influence you still can't understand a word that Geordie's speak even if you are 'English'.

Some of course would call this idea complete garbage, but I'd say to them, total rubbish.

To me language is something that develops over time rather than a rigid definition and of course its true purpose is to convey meaning, so I quite enjoy some of the American literal approach (i.e. sidewalk actually makes more sense than pavement) and also removes some of the unecessary adornment that has just been picked up due to it's heritage.  I'd much rather write color instead of colour simply because it's more efficient, but it ain't how I've been taught so it seems a bit odd.

We are definitely a recalcitrant bunch which is why there is such a wide range of localised dialects in such a small country, we obviously all like clinging to our own little ways.

Things I don't like are where the sense gets lost in translation, why do so many say they 'could care less' when in fact they 'couldn't care less'?  That's just plain incomprehensible to me.

SwedishPete


And then you have billions of people, like me, trying to do our best to make ourselves understood and not butcher the English language. What's your opinion on that?

Half the fun is butchering the language on purpose.  The effort is knowing the language well enough to know how to butcher it and still get your point across.  The very homonyms that drive English students crazy are fodder for puns and other humor.  Use them wisely, though-especially common words.  Using them incorrectly can be a sign of laziness.  Many people use their or there when they should say they're.  

I would thoroughly recommend a book called 'Made in America: an informal history of the English Language' by Bill Bryson. A lot of the words that us limeys think of as yank words (trash, fall (as in autumn), faucet, diaper,candy etc etc etc) originated in England and have been kept in the Amercan English language while UK English has developed and lost some of these words. Also, the puritan movement replaced the word 'Cock' or 'Cockerel' with the word Rooster and Toilet, Loo, Bog and the millions of crapper based words with 'Bathroom' (this one always baffles me as most american sh1thouses don't have a bath in them).
The book's a great read.

Wait.  You mean all of this time, our posts have been in English?

Stupid forum software...

 I failed most of my English classes in school. I was trying to learn from you guys.

Y U No Speaketh The English Like Me?

Mesh

Old55

SwedishPete


And then you have billions of people, like me, trying to do our best to make ourselves understood and not butcher the English language. What's your opinion on that?

Half the fun is butchering the language on purpose.  The effort is knowing the language well enough to know how to butcher it and still get your point across.  The very homonyms that drive English students crazy are fodder for puns and other humor.  Use them wisely, though-especially common words.  Using them incorrectly can be a sign of laziness.  Many people use their or there when they should say they're.  

Tru Dat Jan....I mean well done sir!! I admire the wit and witticism + the command that you, JB, Steve, Bubba, Bapu, and many, many others in the CH have on the English language..... it's just poetry to an uncultured vulture as myself. This is probably one of the primary reasons (if not THE reason) I enjoy visiting the CH on a daily basis......simply Priceless!!

Very kind of you to say so.  I'm honored and humbled to be included with that group, too. 
 
Now, back to the insanity. 

julibee


Then I went to visit him in Calgary in July.  I had to buy long pants and sweatshirts just to be there.  Yeah.  That didn't work out.  I'm blaming it on Zed.

Long pants to wear under your trousers? 

julibee


I have always been tempted to use the 'u's... Looks so much purtier.  I DO use 'grey' where it should be 'gray' in the US, though. Habit, I guess.  There was a time in my life when I was pretty sure I was going to marry a Canadian.  Then I went to visit him in Calgary in July.  I had to buy long pants and sweatshirts just to be there.  Yeah.  That didn't work out.  I'm blaming it on Zed.

I tend to use "grey" as well, but I was not every going to marry a Canuk!  I also have trouble remembering not to use "u" in some words, but I have no idea why I tended to use the British spellings.  Neither of my parents were anything close, nor any of my teachers in elementary school.  [shrugs]

So are the "u" in stereo or mono. I can't tell the difference.

Yeah? What about Jethro?

SteveStrummerUK

Jonbouy

Things I don't like are where the sense gets lost in translation, why do so many say they 'could care less' when in fact they 'couldn't care less'?  That's just plain incomprehensible to me.

+1 JB, winds James me up something rotten that does...
 
 
In fact, I could care more
 
 

It makes me want to set down and cry.

SteveStrummerUK 

Jonbouy 

Things I don't like are where the sense gets lost in translation, why do so many say they 'could care less' when in fact they 'couldn't care less'?  That's just plain incomprehensible to me. 

+1 JB, winds James me up something rotten that does... 
  
  
In fact, I could care more  
  
  

I can care no more or less but should I?