JamesM3M5  +  61734 Thu, 16 Dec 04 04:11 AM Huh? So you're all in a bind because American English uses Z instead of S, and we drop the 'u' in 'colour' and 'behaviour'? This is butchering the entire language? Now I'll concede that pronunciation, diction, and prose are all lacking in most Americans, but seriously. The S / Z substitution is trivial. Even pronounced in the Queen's English, the S has a Z sound to it. And removing the U doesn't appreciably change the pronunciation either. And if you want to flame, at least post with your name. Hiding behind "Guest" is weak. JamesM3M5 Joined on Wed, Dec 15 2004 New Member 10 American English, Pronunciation

	Conus Lotus  +  61737 Thu, 16 Dec 04 04:43 AM There is a lot more to this silly phenomenon than meets the eye. After the War of Independance, Americans did their best to shun the British and their influence. They went so far as to change the side of the road on which people drove ..... just so they were not following British custom! Ridiculous? I think so. So, there was a deliberate "exclusiveness" which can still be seen reflected in American people's use of the English language. The overabundance of strange, bizzare and baffling idioms used by Americans is another good example of this clique mentality. I don't mean to be seen as being 'dark on' (critical of) Americans, but isn't it time they joined the 'World English Club' and stopped wandering off on some weird tangent? While they are at it, why in blazes don't they cease being the only nation that still uses the Imperial measurement system (they seem to have overlooked the fact that the British introduced it), and start using the metric system like the rest of the world? And for crikeys sakes .... why did they butcher Gods game of cricket? That thing they do called BasXXrdball just aint natural! P.S. love their V8 engines and their really big guns though P.P.S. Driving on the left evolved because it leaves the right hand free to hold a whip, a can of beer, or to bravely gesticulate at other road users. P.P.P.S. If you think American English is bad, what about French English? Let's take a look at that next time kids Conus Lotus Joined on Wed, Jan 28 2004 Heavenly Lake Namtso, Tibet Full Member 202 When the hand of the ruler is light, the people do not contrive. American English, Idioms, Cricket

	string08  +  61768 Thu, 16 Dec 04 10:12 AM Language should keep pace with the times,many languages are far different from what they have been . English is widely used all over the world, America made some modification in english,maybe it is tied up with american history. It only have a history of more than two hunderd years ,and the early american people came from all over the world ,it was comprosed of english ,french ,african chinese and so on ,english was the commen language but their native language are diffrent,simplified english were easily accepted by those whose native language was ont english. I don't know if other countries such as australia,new zealand act as american, maybe their also modified english according their own custom. string08 Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004 New Member 09 American English

	Clive Woodward  +  61773 Thu, 16 Dec 04 10:23 AM "I don't know if other countries such as australia,new zealand act as american, maybe their also modified english according their own custom." Oh good gosh no! Are the REAL colonies up to this silly nonsene too? Let's have another war! Clive Woodward Joined on Mon, Nov 17 2003 Veteran Member 242 Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity American English

	Clive Woodward  +  61776 Thu, 16 Dec 04 10:26 AM "To me, the American accent really sounds like it's evolved very much from the Irish accent. Does anyone else detect that?" Yes, I have. I thought it was just me. I think it is because of all those Irish police they have over there in the new world - they must be intimidating people into talking that way. Clive Woodward Accents, American English, American Accents

	Mike in Japan  +  67138 Wed, 12 Jan 05 12:39 AM Thanks for that information Guest. (Behave Clive, or I'll cut your fingers off and sew buttons on!) Mike in Japan Joined on Tue, Aug 19 2003 Senior Member 4,371 I do like to be beside the seaside