Since when has English not been British?

The language options on my iMac include the options 'English' and 'British English'. As we British invented the language shouldn't that read 'American English' and 'English'?

Haha, I'm with you on that one, but seeing as though you're using an American machine, they can call it what they like I guess?! Plus, I expect many of your average Americans think they 'invented' it.

But you should rest safe in the knowledge, knowing that we still invented it. 1-0.

I guess they can call it English if they wish, after all there are more of them than us, so on a vote they would win.

But at least English hasn't become like Latin after the fall of the Roman empire, we can at least understand each other well, unless I say I'm going outside for a fagg - or an American puts something in their fanny bag

I certainly agree with the origins of the English language mentioned above...here's what Wikipedia says:
British English - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's the definition of "British English" from the Oxford English Dictionary:
definition of British English from Oxford Dictionaries Online

Here's the definition of "American English" from the Oxford English Dictionary:
definition of American English from Oxford Dictionaries Online

I guess to be more fair...maybe the language option choices on an Apple computer could say:

- American English
- British English

...but if the English language is spoken in other countries as well...then should there also be these choices?:

* Canadian English: Canadian English
* Australian English: Australian English
* Hong Kong English: Hong Kong English
* Singapore English: (Singlish) Singapore English
* Chinese English: (Chinglish) Chinglish
* etc.

Food for thought,

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

* Chinese English: (Chinglish) Chinglish
* etc.

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Wikipedia has it all wrong... that would be "Engrish"

But when will the computer have an updated version of British English, hah wot I mean bruv, like, innit?

Kevriano said:

But when will the computer have an updated version of British English, hah wot I mean bruv, like, innit?

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Come again?

hah wot I mean bruv, like, innit?

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I'll apply my Estuary English translater Estuary English - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Should probably be nah wot I mean bruv, like, innit?

nah wot I mean = know what I mean (do you agree/understand)

Bruv = brother - not your actual brother but borrowed from black slang = another male

init = isn't it - but doesn't usually mean that - more used as a kind of period, in fact many speakers will actually put an init at the end of every sentence they speak.

Maybe Apple should create a special version of Estuary English OS X, but they would also have to alter the GUI to have the digital equivalent of blacked out windows, plenty of bling and track suits and hooded tops.

Luckily Apple does not need to do that, I think most brothers will stick to their PCs and blackberrys

If you guys had invented the iMac you could call the dictionary whatever you wanted... I've been to downtown London (also to York - for Sawday) a few times - I'm not sure the English there is much better than the English here.

BrianLachoreVPI said:

...I'm not sure the English there is much better than the English here.

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Certainly not the "Queen's English"...

"We are not amused!"


Of course which "Queen" are we talking about???



- Nick

Yes that was supposed to be "NAH", my stupid fat fingers in the way again.

Estuary English, I don't know why they refer to it as that. Yardie English, the influence of Black culture on the spoken tongue is terrible (no offense). Especially so in inner London and many estates in the UK.
Nah wot I mean?

You mean we DIDN'T invent English?

I'm pretty certain that history records somewhere that Civilation began in America. I mean how can you truly live a civilized existence without Cheetohs, Dr. Pepper and Pizza??!!

And two out of three of those (and not so sure about the third) began here.

Razormac said:

You mean we DIDN'T invent English?

I'm pretty certain that history records somewhere that Civilation began in America. I mean how can you truly live a civilized existence without Cheetohs, Dr. Pepper and Pizza??!!

And two out of three of those (and not so sure about the third) began here.

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Why would we need to invent English? We speak A-mur-i-can.

English has to be one of the most butchered languages.

osxx said:

English has to be one of the most butchered languages.

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Agreed. I'd say Spanish is probably a close second.

Way too many to count.

My logic: since English isn't the official language in either the US or the UK, they shouldn't get the title of plain "English"

osxx said:

English has to be one of the most butchered languages.

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Butchered? I would rather say that English is a very adaptable language that continues to take on borrowed terms (loanwords) and continually adapts to the modern world.

English never has been a managed language, its never had a body of experts who try and say what is and what isn't the correct usage - that would be like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

We dont worry when Spanish, Japanese or American terms enter the lexicon, as long as they serve a new purpose and any new term will live or die due to a kind of linguistic evolution.

I may personally hate the pronunciation oriented rather that orientated, but since I'm not in charge of the language so I'll just have to put up with it, but oriented is still semantically correct since I understand the term.

On the subject of language anyone else turned off by the excessive use of cuss words
in over half of the new movies.
I mean when an actor is shot then maybe shout an obscenity but two detectives following a suspect saying **** this or ************ is stealing a car.

osxx said:

On the subject of language anyone else turned off by the excessive use of cuss words in over half of the new movies.

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I'm more familiar with all of the cuss words used on reality television. My wife watches a lot shows on the "Food Network" and "Cooking Channel"...and you would be like...why so many cuss words on a reality cooking show???

Why???...because EVERY reality TV show uses the same formula...and part of that formula is lots of cussing (regardless of the show's topic).

What's even more interesting (at least to me)...is if I'm in another room (say on the computer...but I can still hear the TV)...is the frequency with which each of these cuss words is "bleeped".

So when I'm in the other room...all I hear is "bleep...bleep...bleep...bleep"...for minutes on end...time & time again.

So I say to my wife...how can you watch that...all you can hear is..."bleep...bleep...bleep...bleep"!!!

- Nick

Surely you're not talking about Gordon Ramsey!