#5824 - 08/30/00 11:27 AM
British vs American
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newbie
Registered: 08/30/00
Posts: 46
Loc: Canada
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What are some main differences between British and American word spelling and usage? Are there also differences between other English speakers like Canadians, or Australians? And what about Scottish, Irish, and Welsh -> are they considered forms of English too?
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#5825 - 08/30/00 02:53 PM
Re: British vs American
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/12/00
Posts: 3409
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British English adds to some words by inserting what Americans would call supererogatory vowels - "aluminium" vs."aluminum," and all the words like "vigour," colour," "labour" etc. Also, British English tends to prefer the French spelling of words like "metre" and its siblings, in contrast with American English opting for the German "meter." Pronunciation is also quite different, most noticeably in "u" Most Americans would say "Noo York," while most speaker of British English, or its derivatives elsewhere, would say "Nyou York." Even the single vowel "u" is often pronounced quite differently - "aloominum" vs "alyouminium." And this doesn't even begin to touch on the variations present in NZ English (my mother tongue), Australian English - note that I am steadfastly resisting the urge to make "oxymoron" type remarks here - and the many other flavours this wondrous tongue has adopted. Please note also, that the above comments are the ravings of a madman, and represent little more than personal opinions of questionable worth.  "Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein
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#5827 - 08/30/00 03:10 PM
Re: British vs American
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/12/00
Posts: 3409
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in keeping with local custom in regards to Max-posts, I'd point out that this is very much an ongoing topic in these here parts -- you'll find B v. A asides in many many of the threads!I wonder, is it nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous tsuwm? Am I to get no absolution? Does the fact that I did not start this one count for nothing?  On a slightly more serious note, the structure of this board makes moving from thread to thread a little awkward, and when pursuing a particular topic, tracking down all references can be very time-consuming. I still find it awkward moving from one thread to another, and so I empathise with my fellow greenhorn here. "Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein
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#5828 - 08/30/00 03:22 PM
Re: British vs American
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10463
Loc: this too shall pass
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>the structure of this board makes moving from thread to thread a little awkward Yet Another Rehashed Topic! (time to coin an acronym: YART) {but a topic on which we all agreed!!}
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#5829 - 08/30/00 03:56 PM
Re: British vs American
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newbie
Registered: 08/30/00
Posts: 46
Loc: Canada
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I do realize that this topic comes up in many forums, but as max mentioned, it is hard to search for something in forums that were not assigned for that particular information. I was hoping that people could come here with their English version/dialect problems instead of crowding up forums that weren't meant to hold that information. With those things said, could we please try to keep this forum subject-oriented rather than crowding it with our own disagreements? 
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#5830 - 08/30/00 04:17 PM
Re: off topic
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10463
Loc: this too shall pass
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hey, you're free to post whatever you want here -- we're pretty much self-moderating. but if you have the time to browse the "archives" you'll find some pretty fascinating stuff posted on these subjects, and also by folks who infrequently (or no longer) post. as for disagreements, I've been on my best behavior for quite a while! btw, a+o, did you know that your personal data is unavailable and that it is impossible to send you personal messages??
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#5831 - 08/30/00 04:32 PM
Re: British vs American
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/12/00
Posts: 3409
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I was hoping that people could come here with their English version/dialect problemsIt is a theme that allows of infinite discussion, isn't it? I love the way that English adapts to different environments, taking whatever it needs from other languages. It seems to me that this flexibility is what gives English its strength, and in this regard I regard myself as fortunate to live in a country with two official languages, as do you. The major problems that other English speakers have with New Zealanders is that we tend to talk very quickly, especially in contrast with the painfully slow and careful enunciation typical among US English speakers, and we barely open our mouths when speaking. Oh, and by the way, I was not having a disagreement with tsuwm. Tsuwm is the closest thing this board has to a deity, a personage whose incredible wealth of knowledge rightly inspires awe, and I have received a great deal of assistance from tsuwm in the ten days or so that I have been frequenting this board. I am, at least in my own self-delusional universe, a fellow of most infinite jest, and was simply attempting a little banter. I guess I am just starting to feel sufficiently at ease to indulge in such frivolity. "Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein
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#5832 - 08/30/00 04:45 PM
Re: off topic
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newbie
Registered: 08/30/00
Posts: 46
Loc: Canada
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>>btw, a+o, did you know that your personal data is unavailable and that it is impossible to send you personal messages??
I did not know that. Actually I checked it and it says I'm no longer registered, but I just signed up today. What could be wrong?
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