Young Col
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,407
- Locality
- Coulsdon, London/Surrey
Ian, your list is like so random? No doubt that blows out any chance of you buying me a drink on 10 April!
Actually I agree lots of that. I don't have a problem with Americanised spelling as such. I wonder whether an etymologist would say that we are seeing the development of a separate but similar language to English. That would not be surprising given the mix of diffrent nationalities and indigenous peoples of North America and a need for standardised spelling. However, that doesn't mean we have to accept that spelling in the UK where we may have a different reason for spelling words in a particular way. Has anyone else noticed, as well, the trend towards missing and out in numbers, eg "Two thousand ten". A literal translation from some other languages gives that, but it is not English.
Interesting that this seems to apply more to spelling than to actual nouns. We have not substituted American "trunk" or "hood" for our "boot" and "bonnet".
On the other hand, I have no problem accepting new words with a specific meaning from other langauages. English has a long history of that. I am thinking of words like "program" with its particular meaning in IT. But I differentiate that from a broadcast programme.
Finllay, has anyone noticed the trend by newsreaders and weather forecasters, even on the BBC, to say "slippy". Any TV or radio presenters on here, please note the correct word is "slippery"!
Colin
Actually I agree lots of that. I don't have a problem with Americanised spelling as such. I wonder whether an etymologist would say that we are seeing the development of a separate but similar language to English. That would not be surprising given the mix of diffrent nationalities and indigenous peoples of North America and a need for standardised spelling. However, that doesn't mean we have to accept that spelling in the UK where we may have a different reason for spelling words in a particular way. Has anyone else noticed, as well, the trend towards missing and out in numbers, eg "Two thousand ten". A literal translation from some other languages gives that, but it is not English.
Interesting that this seems to apply more to spelling than to actual nouns. We have not substituted American "trunk" or "hood" for our "boot" and "bonnet".
On the other hand, I have no problem accepting new words with a specific meaning from other langauages. English has a long history of that. I am thinking of words like "program" with its particular meaning in IT. But I differentiate that from a broadcast programme.
Finllay, has anyone noticed the trend by newsreaders and weather forecasters, even on the BBC, to say "slippy". Any TV or radio presenters on here, please note the correct word is "slippery"!
Colin