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American English by default

This is something that really annoys me and I have to get this off my chest.  I was installing some Adobe software on my computer a few minutes ago when I had this message pop up asking me what language I would prefer.  Imagine my outrage when I saw that the first choice of language was "American English" - with no other choice of English despite a good search up and down the list for an alternative.

American English language default option

No other English language option available, just American English!

As if that wasn't bad enough, scrolling down the list revealed that there was no other English language option available, just American English!  Even "British English" or "International English" would have appeased my sense of indignity. Having said that, these choices would have been annoying too (although not quite as much).  It's just plain old English you fools - not International English or British English.  If this were an isolated case or a rare occurrence then it could be forgiven but it happens far too frequently for my liking during software installation and on various websites; basically anywhere there is a language choice.

I actually got involved in a discussion on a forum recently regarding an email that Google had sent out using the term "drawing" instead of draw (as in prize draw).  Anyway, the people from the America taking part in the discussion were convinced that their version of English was correct and that we should simply accept it.  Well I'm sorry guys, but we're not about to let YOU tell us our version of the English language is wrong!

You Americans really have got some nerve haven't you?  I'd have thought the name would give an enormous clue as to the origin of the language.  How dare you lay claim to our language when you can't even speak it properly!  Pay some respect.  By all means have your own derivative and call it "American English" or whatever, but don't assume that "American English" is the only version of English there is.  Besides, that gutteral drawl that you use to communicte with your fellow primates is barely recogniszable as English anyway!

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I was at a country festival the other day and heard a child pronounce the letter ‘Zed’ as ‘Zee’. Another child corrected him and the former insisted the word was pronounced as ‘Zee’. I noticed that the children’s parents did not correct the first child, and say that in Britain we say Zed not Zee. Why are more and more Britons not aware of the differences in pronunciations, and of pronouncing the Americanese ‘skedule’ instead of schedule? Please don’t blame American TV or films as we have had 8 decades or more of American entertainment.

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funkg - 23-Sep-11 17:40 

It's true Americans as a group are as capable of speaking or writing language that is rife with error as any other. I dare say, however, that we are no more monolithic than the British, or other English speaking nations, in either our virtues or our vices. Your insults would be more credible and humorous if edged more with truth and less with the whiny moaning of an overly sensitive elitist.

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StaceyNotAGrammarian - 23-May-11 20:29 

Words spelt like color, ardor etc. were the proper and recognised spelling for these words in 18th century England. It was only during the 19th century that the stuck-up English public schools reverted to etymological spelling for these.

You see. Everything is organized correctly.

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The Color of the Truth - 5-Feb-11 09:33 

One thing that hacks me off is just that. And, everyday words such as 'colour', and 'centre' get flagged up as incorrect or unrecognised particularly with computer programming languages. Even 15 years after teaching myself how to code in html, I still hate having to omit the 'u' from the word colour, or spell 'centre' wrong just to please the Americans.

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John - 5-Feb-11 02:17 

It appears to be typo day. I can spell "differently" but I am a rubbish typist.

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ASMO - 20-Sep-10 18:26 

anon / Alice

I think the poster called you a troll because you seem to be arguing for the sake of it rather than making a point of some sort.

As Kit said, they have been spelling their words differently for two centuries so for them it is the correct way to spell.

You seem to be getting all hung up on their spelling words differntly when they pronounce them in the same way as we do. So what? It does not seem to be worth getting all hot under the collar about

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ASMO - 20-Sep-10 18:11 

"At least Americans know the difference between "your" and "you're". "

Oh really? And what evidence is there to support that assertion?

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anon - 20-Sep-10 14:22 

And if you actually took the time to read properly, you will see I pointed out the typo in the very next comment.

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alice - 20-Sep-10 13:34 

Ha. You cannot call someone a "troll" just because they have an opinion different to yours. Get in the real world!

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alice - 20-Sep-10 13:33 

Alice, my dear

"I do feel your getting way too defensive my dear."

At least Americans know the difference between "your" and "you're".

Here is an example to help you understand :

Your attitude is very patronising

You're a patronising little troll

Get it now?

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yet another anon - 20-Sep-10 11:14 

If it ain't broke don't fix it, alice?

Where is the logic in spelling "thru" as "through"? If you take out the h it becomes trough, pronounced "troff". Remove the t as well and it's "ruff"! Then there is the word threw, as in threw away, pronounced the same.

Seems broke to me!

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grumpyoldwoman - 20-Sep-10 08:18 

You really aren't getting it "yet another anon"....American English has no spoken difference to English, unlike Canadian French, as you have just pointed out.

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alice - 20-Sep-10 02:51 

I love the way you're ranting at my opinion, yet not saying anything towards the Griper...

and yes, I made I typo in my previous comment before you jump on THAT bandwagon...

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alice - 20-Sep-10 02:50 

Kit,

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I do feel your getting way too defensive my dear.

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alice - 20-Sep-10 02:47 

Alice,

Modern day Americans don't "insist" on spelling differently they just do! As they have been spelling English their way for more than 200 years now they are not going to suddenly change to English style spelling now.

If you really want to know why they spell the way they do then look up Noah Webster.

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Kit - 20-Sep-10 01:57 

You really aren't getting it "yet another anon"....American English has no spoken difference to English, unlike Canadian French, as you have just pointed out.

They just insist on spelling words different.

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alice - 20-Sep-10 01:15 

Alice - you may not get Spanish Dutch but Spanish can either be Castillian or Latin American Spanish in the same way that the French spoken in Quebec differs in some ways to that spoken in France or other French speaking countries.

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yet another anon - 19-Sep-10 23:55 

I mean, you don't get German French or Spanish Dutch, do you? It should just be plain English.

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alice - 19-Sep-10 22:58 

Yes, but GOW - why do Amreicans feel the need to change the spelling of the ENGLISH language? Something I'd love to know!!

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alice - 19-Sep-10 22:56 

"Americans cannot spell!
Examples: 'color' instead of 'colour'; 'aluminum' instead of 'aluminium'; 'thru' instead of through' and 'pajamas' instead of 'pyjamas'. need I go on? methinks not!"

What a load of misguided tripe! The Americans have their own way of spelling some words. To take one of your examples, "thru" instead of "through"; just think about how the word is pronounced and you will see the logic of spelling it the American way.

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grumpyoldwoman - 19-Sep-10 09:25 

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