All The Silly Old Arguments, Brit/american English

[thaicbr]

Koheesti. It was coined by a lazy wanke_r who could not be bothered saying 'association football'. He was English but the same as most Yanks shortening other English words. IT's colour not color. Notice it didn't catch on in England.

Edited May 23, 2009 by thaicbr

[marsteele]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

And the thai language is owned by the Americans also. Just like America patented the term "Waltzing Matilda" Yes they own this phrase now took it from the aussies. I bet they don't even know what it means. No he has nothing to do with dancing

[Texpat]

Something about sheep shagging if I'm not mistaken.

Quintessential Aussie.

Edited May 24, 2009 by Texpat

[tb86]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

And the thai language is owned by the Americans also. Just like America patented the term "Waltzing Matilda" Yes they own this phrase now took it from the aussies. I bet they don't even know what it means. No he has nothing to do with dancing

Who in the US uses that term? I hate to break it to you, no one cares

[hansnl]

That is just like saying your thai is better that that os a thai. My son had an American english teacher pulled him away from the american real fast so did a number of other parents he was soon dismissed from the school as he was teaching the american version and not correct english.

Would you like to try that again?

Never mind.

Speaking like you've got a mouthful of marbles does nobody any favors. I'll take Obama's diction over Brown's any day.

Oh yes?

Really?

But why is it that so many American English speakers (or the Australian English speakers) get aggressive when they hear an English English speaker talking?

Inferiority complex, maybe?

Thing is, English English speakers can be understood nearly everywhere in the world, while American English speakers have trouble to be understood.

Or the other way around.

But yes, sometimes it can be a little bit difficult to decipher the English accents, any accents.

Maybe, it might be handy not to leave the accents drift apart any more?

Because as it is progressing now, another 100 years from now, English speakers cannot understand each other any more.

COME AGAIN!!!!!!!

[hansnl]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

And the US is trying to build an imperium?

[timinchina]

I would prefer my child to be taught by an irishman than an american. Just look at how the americans have changed the english language and the spelling. There is American english and there is english. I want my child to learn english not american

Over the years I've had dozens of Thais remark that my spoken English is far more understandable than others from UK, Oz, NZ or Ireland.

"R"s are not evil. It's OK to pronounce them.

"U"s are overused. Delete them when they add nothing.

English is capitalized when referring to the language. Youf today don't know noffin.

That is just like saying your thai is better that that os a thai. My son had an American english teacher pulled him away from the american real fast so did a number of other parents he was soon dismissed from the school as he was teaching the american version and not correct english..

Dam_n good show too old chap,better to sit him down in the new class and teach him the Queen's English mind...

[timinchina]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

America never had one and my sister owns a house that's older than your country...NEXT!!!

[timinchina]

From the African American point of view.

When he is doing well: He is the first African-American president!

If he messes it up: Who the hel_l is that half-white guy?

(Credit, Wanda Sykes)

Yep I guess that will be true

Chris Rock's stand up routine before the elections was better:

"That President Bush,he done f****d up sooo bad as President,next one gonna be a woman or a black man,that's how much he f****d up!"

[Zpete]

The correct name is "The Queen's English".

People at times have mentioned "The President's English".

President Bush, he was of no help in using "The President's English" at all.

American style spelling seems to me, to have evolved from sheer laziness in learning how words should be spelled.

..... with Australians tagging along on US coat tails as is normal.

[Jingthing]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

America never had one and my sister owns a house that's older than your country...NEXT!!!

Yes, England is old. Old things die. It's a pity. America has an empire all right and you poxy poodles are bloody well in it, innit. American spelling isn't lazy. It's streamlined ... Next!

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The Falklands! :D

Edited May 30, 2009 by Jingthing

[TerryTibbs]

Next!

[canuckamuck]

All I can say is that when I worked out of an international college in Thailand the last five years and befriended most of the English as a second language students. I learned that they had the most difficulty understanding the teachers from the UK, but also some of the Americans (southern). and definitely Australians. It is clear to me that the western regions of the US and most of Canada has the clearest phonetic representation of English. Canadian maritime provinces and Quebec excluded.

[Zpete]

All I can say is that when I worked out of an international college in Thailand the last five years and befriended most of the English as a second language students. I learned that they had the most difficulty understanding the teachers from the UK, but also some of the Americans (southern). and definitely Australians. It is clear to me that the western regions of the US and most of Canada has the clearest phonetic representation of English. Canadian maritime provinces and Quebec excluded.

As a Kiwi, a New Zealander that is.

I 'resemble' the statement saying...........

"It is clear to me that the western regions of the US and most of Canada has the clearest phonetic representation of English."

Get real.

Having spent much time in the area, trying to understand all the differing accents left me bewildered.

Australians are copying everything America does, yeah, accents too.

Kiwis speak English clearer and better than most........ not perfect, but better.

[getgoin]

I don't mind if people want to learn the British version of English over the American version. However, be aware that if your child wishes to work with Americans, he will be assumed to be a homosexual. That is clearly another advantage for the British version. Cheers!

Cheers! Had to repeat it.

What once was yours is now ours. Don't worry we won't change the name.

[Jingthing]

Yeah, and who says Americans don't do irony ...

[Lancelot]

Probably the same argument goes on between the Spainards and their former colonial subjects in the Americas. Do the Castilian Spanish speakers in Spain have the same accent as Mexicans or Argentines? Better yet, who cares

[wackysleet]

England lost its empire. I suppose its only natural that the English cling to the pitiful notion that England owns the English language. They don't. Next ...

At least we had one unlike your country,and why not call your version of English as american or is it because you have given the world f---all.

[Jingthing]

had

Had? So sad ... Next!

(Still trying to collect royalties for the old language, eh? We ain't budging on that one limeys, we're too dam_n busy TEABAGGING! )

Teabagging Rally, Columbus, Ohio, NottheUK

Teabagger wearing shirt

Why, it's revolting!

Edited May 31, 2009 by Jingthing

[purplehaze]

had some consultants out from scotland to support a job 10 years back.............. poor thai's could not understand a word he said.

Nee Bother ! (ended up not paying the bill from UK head office who assured me they spoke clear english before coming out )

Yea, my Thai partner works at an international school and tells me neither he nor the kids can understand anything the Scottish English teacher says. When I was a student in Glasgow in the sixties, it was emphasised in no uncertain terms that the Scots speak the purest English. It was at a time the Scots were flushed with SNP success for the first time. Other bullshit I had to contend with was how their economy could be run on oil and whisky, how their education system was the envy of the English, their fish 'n chips the best in the world, like their horrid lager that always seem to taste of formaldehyde, how James Watt invented the steam engine, Baird the TV etc etc. It's fortunate that foreigners can't understand a word they say (unless u are trying to learn English from them!)

Why the <deleted> go to Glasgow then,oh sorry you answered that question already.

[timinchina]

Probably the same argument goes on between the Spainards and their former colonial subjects in the Americas. Do the Castilian Spanish speakers in Spain have the same accent as Mexicans or Argentines? Better yet, who cares

Is this a serious question?Of course they don't!

The South Americans are the "Usted"-ers,as in Usted/Ustedes,very formal terms for You(singular)and You(plural)that have all but died out in Spain to be replaced with Tu and Vosotros.

Incidentally,there's 4 different languages spoken in Spain:Castellano,Catalan,Vasco y Gallego.

[wackysleet]

oh sorry you forgot to mention VIETNAM or was that because you had your <deleted> kicked by peasant farmers

I didn't forget. Most people including me assume that we lost that war, but some historians are saying we actually didn't win or lose, that we signed a treaty and the North didn't honor it. Also, I never asserted that all of those were solo efforts; that is your problem if you read it that way.

Oh and by the way, you didn't win the Korean war, a truce was signed which at the moment is still ongoing {just}

[Mrjlh]

Just think...if the Roman Empire had succeeded in becoming a lasting civilization we'd all be speaking Latin!

Et Tu Brute!

[Jingthing]

Korean War (debatable)

Oh and by the way, you didn't win the Korean war, a truce was signed which at the moment is still ongoing {just}

The south didn't fall. I was only including info from a reference. Winning wars is kind of an abstract concept sometimes. For example, the war of 1812 it is said just stopped because both sides no longer had any compelling need to continue with it. You asked for one war, gave you several, so please put a cork in it ...

BTW, we are just joking around here. The US and UK remain the closest of allies and both would not hesitate to come to the defense of the other in any future war. Cheers.

Edited June 1, 2009 by Jingthing

[PeaceBlondie]

To avoid deleting posts and closing the thread, could we please get back to only language? Thank you.

[timinchina]

Back in a minute,just nipping out of the office for a rubber and a quick fag!

[PeaceBlondie]

C'mon - language, not wars. An old Army colonel met Ike in London during WWII. He says Ike claimed to be a Texan Texas was a country for about 9 years, larger than Thailand; and spoke American English with a Southern accent, y'all.

[Geekfreaklover]

Well just think if the vote would have gone the other way, then the Americans would have been speaking German.

I am British, and a teacher, when I teach English I make it a point to tell my students the differences between the two.

Remember we teach English, and there are two dialects - American and British.

Also 96% of the American Population speaks English

but 98% of the UK Population speak English.

what vote?

if it wasnt for the Americans the French and English would be speaking german , no?

Anyways who cares, there are plenty of Americans that speak poor English, and a equal ammount of English that cant speak their own language correctly.

What is those quote?? The rest of the world had been fighting in the war for 5 years the yanks only came in when the germans were down. like putting the boots in when the poor bugger is already on the mat.

Plus the war only ended 60 years ago. Do you know how long it takes us Brits to learn a second language?

[pn grata]

Given the dominance of American English, if you’re not an American but for whatever reason wish to sound like one – employment opportunity, passport swindle, cruel joke on oneself – it’s easy enough. Accent control plays no part. When speaking, simply insert “like” about every fifth word. Then, end any statement, even the most declarative, with a rising intonation so that you would seem to be an imploring street urchin even though you are chronologically an adult. Or just quick-convert by making certain nearly everything you say is irredeemably stupid. Wearing tasteless clothes helps too.

The above also works if for similarly obscure reasons you wish to sound Australian.

Conversion from any form to British English is not possible owing to EU regulations.

[Datsun240Z]

C'mon - language, not wars. An old Army colonel met Ike in London during WWII. He says Ike claimed to be a Texan Texas was a country for about 9 years, larger than Thailand; and spoke American English with a Southern accent, y'all.

I once met a Nam-Vet in Thailand ( Coming original from Texas) close to the Cambodian border, coming from a casino, he was married to a Thai wife. He was collecting signatures on the american flag against George Bush. Nice guy. The dude offered me a ride back to Bangkok with my girl in his private minivan with driver. I was really amazed of his hospitality. Nice guy, he didn't seem to care much since he was allready retired. His wife's ex husband was a general in the forces, she she had enough "face" and money.