Why do Americans say they speak English when its obvious they don't?

Question

For example, Jelly = Jello, Jam = Jelly, Biscuits = Cookies, Pavement = Sidewalk, Give Way = Yield, Chips = French Fries, Crisps = Chips.

AND THEN THERE IS THE MISSING U WORDS

Neighbour - Neighbor
Colour - Color

Can anyone think of anymore words? and does it irriate you when reading a novel when the words are spelt wrong?

Answer 1

I came across the Ian Rankin novel "Fleshmarket Close". As you know, the Edinburgh detective writer is popular in the US too. On Amazon however, the book is sold as "Fleshmarket Alley". When I saw this, I was disgusted.



This is in blatant disregard of the city of Edinburgh - where closes are a touristy and beautiful feature. If I'd meet anyone there, asking directions to a "Fleshmarket Alley" or "Princes Mall" - I'll drag them right back to the airport.



The Americans should nationalise their language, call it American or siclike - and stop meddling with the British language. This is not such a far-fetched idea. The Scots have their Scots and Gaelic, the South Africans have their Afrikaans, the Australians have English with a nice accent.. But Americans have English? It only leads to confusion. And why oh why do Europeans speak American?

Answer 2

It's not just the spelling and different words, it's the pronunciation as well, but I don't think anyone should be criticising American English just because it is different. As some people have pointed out previously American pronunciation may be more similar to archaic British English for a lot of words, and it is British English that has changed. I should point out to zsopark that the vowel shift you are talking about didn't occur in Scottish English. We don't pronounce grass and pass to rhyme with a r s e.

All the same I do wonder why Americans call their language English, it seems to be as far from proper English as, say, Scandinavian languages are from each other and they are classed as separate languages despite being mostly mutually intelligible. If you speak a language which causes you to demand subtitles when watching a British film such as The Full Monty or Brassed Off, then it is fair to say you don't speak English at all. So do those of us that call our language English really have the right to, when we are not English?

Answer 3

It's simple really, the americans tried to distance themselves from the English after they won independence. So through the centuries the spelling of words have changed. I don't know if you've noticed that americans are the only ones in the English language spell the way they do; England, Canada, Australia, New Zea land, Ireland, Scotland and every other English colony spell words the same. Sometimes, dialect gets in the way of the written word but text books are all the same, except for american text books that is. Little known fact: when the 'father's of independence' voted on the official language of the new country the German language was almost voted in, only a couple of votes decided the English language.

Answer 4

I am from USA and living in Europe and here they distinguish between Queen's English, English English, American English, Australian English, Canadian English, etc. So, it can be compared to the word Apple and then break it down into the different types of Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, etc.



I do have a funny story, though. Last Christmas, I was traveling on an airplane from Sweden to London and when reading the rules came across a rule that said, "No Christmas Crackers!" I just could not figure out why I couldn't bring any crackers on the plane-- I mean they are food, right?! When I was in London I mentioned to a friend how stupid the rule was and she informed me that "Christmas Crackers" are those things that explode when you pull the string. She said that the crackers I was talking about were biscuits.

Answer 5

Let me get some things straight



1. Jello is a brand of gelatin

2. Sidewalk specifies a specific type of pavement

3. Yield is one word, so it is easier to put on traffic signs

4. French fries were invented in America, so I think we get the naming rights

5. Missing U? YOu say -bor, not -boor

6. Words can't be "spelt" wrong, just "spelled" wrong

Answer 6

Americans do speak English. They just have some local differences in pronounciation and spelling, compared to Great Britain. It's the same case as the Swiss Germans, who speak a German dialect, and the Latin Americans, who pronounce some Spanish letters different than the Spaniards.

Answer 7

In some respects, American English is closer to "original" modern English than British English. Here is one example of many:

"In the early 1800s, another smaller vowel shift occurred in British English, between an older /æ/ and a newer /a/ before certain consonant clusters. Say the words "gas mask." If you are a native speaker of American English, you probably have an /æ/ in both words. Speakers of the RP, by contrast, have /æ/ in "gas" and /a/ in "mask."

So the familiar /a/ in British English is actually a late development which did not occur in American English. Now, you know. But will THEY admit it?

Answer 8

People from Potugal say the same about Potuguese spoken in Brazil. The thing is a language is a living thing and it is always changing. It is absolutely normal that different countries will develop their own "dialect". I'm sure even inside England you can find examples of different pronounciantions and meanings for the same word. Does it mean one of them is not speaking English?

Answer 9

Man I hate this question, and with the addition of Yahoo! Answers in French, I can hate it in French (France vs. Quebec) as well. Do you say the same about the Scots?



But if you are in fact interested, here are some other examples:

apartment/flat

elevator/lift

stroller/pram

diapers/nappies

pacifier/dummy

German shepherd/Alsatian

subway/underground

underpass/subway (I think!)

TV/telly

soccer/football



And a Canadian one for you: HOCKEY/ice hockey

Answer 10

There are two kinds of English: Americanized English and British English. Both are correct but to use British English in an exam in an American high school wouldn't be wise.

Answer 11

They do speak English, just a different variation!



It's the same for different part of England too. There are some words that people "Up North" say that are different for us Southerners!

Answer 12

thats beacuase american is a derivitive of the origonal english but all languages change over time because someone makes up a word and someone else starts using it soon it gains slang status and eventualy its added as a normal word to the language.

Answer 13

Americans and British people speak different dialects of English. So what?

Answer 14

It is still officially English but it is American lingo. Same as there are multiple versions of Spanish but are all considered Spanish. Just different dialects

Answer 15

No, it normally does not irritate me (the only time it comes close to is when I am in a hurry and the spell checker underlines all my "favours" and proposes me "favors", but well, that's not the comps fault and I easily correct that.



I think a course or two in linguistics will do you some good and help you overcome your ''linguistic intolerance''. ;-)

Answer 16

Hello,



I get it..it just a dialect, but the best speakers of English are from Great Britian.

Answer 17

Gee, opinionated aren't we? Maybe you should send us your dictionaries since the ones we have are so obviously wrong. And while you're at it, why don't you contact Yahoo and tell them that their spell checker isn't working because it doesn't catch "color" and "neighbor". One more thing, what on earth is "spelt"?

Answer 18

When was the last time you visited a dentist?



And no, it doesn't "irriate" me at all.



"Then there is the missing u words"



"anymore"

Answer 19

Americans rule the World! or at least they think they do! You wait 10 years from now when China is the greatest Economy in the world! who would win in a fight? Fat yanks who cant get out their Armchairs or martial arts / healthy chinise?

Answer 20

can't think of any more but your so right and made me nearly fall off my chair laughing! the way they tomato is bad enough!



award yourself 10 points for such a brilliant question!

Answer 21

Well tihink of a name!!!How do you call it instead of English? And you think they can not speak, look at me I speak with a big accent, so get over it.





Bye

Answer 22

it annoys me how my spellchecker excepts both american english and english english spelling its like well how are I meant to find out which 1 2 use

Answer 23

we have improved upon your language. most of your meanings are wrong......or at least silly. buy an American dictionary. and by the way, we got rid of the "U"s simply because they're not needed.

Answer 24

I believe you mean spelled wrong. Yes, it does.

Answer 25

You're the one that's wrong, Neighbor !

Answer 26

Its all about identity

Answer 27

thats kinda a dumb question, most of those things are totally different. duh!! and no, i think its kinda cool to see the words spelled like that, its different......

Answer 28

cos they thick

Answer 29

they can but dream