Spell Checking in England.. I'm curious.
Feb 1, 2013 05:21:55 #
shall1585 wrote:
I've always noticed that we spell some things diff... (show quote)
I would speculate that a meter in america is a gauge for reading information sensed down the line.
In most places I know of A Metre is a European standard measurement of distance. Hence a Millimetere is a bunch of millions of the little buggers. I know! It's a thousand but it sounds nice.
Feb 1, 2013 05:33:18 #
I always thought that the US and the UK were two Nations divided by a single language
Feb 1, 2013 05:33:42 #
I always thought that the US and the UK were two Nations divided by a single language
Sorry for the double post
Sorry for the double post
Feb 1, 2013 05:58:24 #
Me Either, have never heard the word "Chrisps" till this minute, We have Chips here, and potato crisps that come in a packet, and I have 78 years behind me. :?
Oh, By the Way, I Speke Aussie as she is spoke "GRIN"
Oh, By the Way, I Speke Aussie as she is spoke "GRIN"
Feb 1, 2013 06:29:12 #
Interesting subject. Even though the language is called English we seem to be just a user (French does not suffer except with Franglais issues like le camera and le car ferry)
Bill Gates has a lot to answer for. Most software programmes seem to only offer US English so we can have spell checker corrections for Colour as Color etc and of course millimetre although here a meter is something they use to charge us for utilities usage. Sometimes I am offered International English as a choice whatever that is.
Probably only a short term issue as we could use SMS text speak as the new international language!
Bill Gates has a lot to answer for. Most software programmes seem to only offer US English so we can have spell checker corrections for Colour as Color etc and of course millimetre although here a meter is something they use to charge us for utilities usage. Sometimes I am offered International English as a choice whatever that is.
Probably only a short term issue as we could use SMS text speak as the new international language!
Feb 1, 2013 06:29:39 #
rayford2
Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
R.G. wrote:
Would it be considered provocative if I said the choice should be between American English and REAL English :)!
Point of curiosity - I was on the Panasonic website, typed the word "Lumix" into the SEARCH box - and the spell-checker underlined it!
Graham Thirkill wrote:
Some applications can be set to European English or American English.
Would it be considered provocative if I said the choice should be between American English and REAL English :)!
Point of curiosity - I was on the Panasonic website, typed the word "Lumix" into the SEARCH box - and the spell-checker underlined it!
Why does it have to be titled American English? Why not just call it American and make everyone happy.
Feb 1, 2013 06:39:27 #
rayford2
Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
Graham Thirkill wrote:
Cheers Frank br LOL at the stirred or shaken pig p... (show quote)
Apparently Elvis is a ubiquitous person. Shortly after his death he was spotted in several different places at the same time in the US (and presumably in the UK also).
On Google images "fake Elvis" there are many pictures of pseudo Elvises. There's even a picture of a 10 pound note from the Bank of Elvis in GB.
Feb 1, 2013 06:49:10 #
It all depends which dictionary you use - Websters or the Oxford English.
Feb 1, 2013 07:02:49 #
On a slightly different but related topic, I have a question for the Australian members. Given that most of your ancestors came from the UK, when and why did you adopt that God awfull accent?
Feb 1, 2013 07:07:54 #
shall1585 wrote:
quote=JR1 Surely most words were changed by the U... (show quote)
Talking about language-use is much more fun than arguing about camera brands. So here is the explanation of Brits using the word 'nappy' for those 'sooper dooper poop scoopers'. The word 'nappy' was used right up to the 1960s(?) when Pampers were invented. Previous to that squares of terrycloth were used and after each filling were washed and dried for further use.( and any of you under sixty is going "yuck".) These were similar in size and resembled cloth napkins used at the dinner table and hence the word 'nappy' came into being.
Feb 1, 2013 07:45:14 #
It's an interesting subject.
There's a school of thought that American English, as spoken today, is closer to English English as it was spoken at the time the Pilgrim Fathers made their journey across the pond, and that it's English English that has changed. Spelling on the other hand suffered from the fact that these same pioneers carried a fair quantity of bibles, but few other books and consequently spelling became more phonetic, while UK continued with French influence on words like, 'Colour' while US landed up with 'Color'.
Many other things changed on one side of the Atlantic, but not the other; The word 'Gotten' was in common use in UK a couple of hundred years ago, but has long since fallen into disuse.
As long as it doesn't lead to any disputes over meaning, does it matter?
There's a school of thought that American English, as spoken today, is closer to English English as it was spoken at the time the Pilgrim Fathers made their journey across the pond, and that it's English English that has changed. Spelling on the other hand suffered from the fact that these same pioneers carried a fair quantity of bibles, but few other books and consequently spelling became more phonetic, while UK continued with French influence on words like, 'Colour' while US landed up with 'Color'.
Many other things changed on one side of the Atlantic, but not the other; The word 'Gotten' was in common use in UK a couple of hundred years ago, but has long since fallen into disuse.
As long as it doesn't lead to any disputes over meaning, does it matter?
Feb 1, 2013 07:52:28 #
As far as the 'American English' goes this was more or less brought about by one Noah Webster of Webster Dictionary fame. At the age of around 70 his first dictionary was published (1828)and it was his intention that words should be spelt as pronounced.
Example 'center' instead of the English spelling 'centre' - He couldn't get his head around 're' being pronounced 'er' (join the club mate)
Another word which is relevant to computers is 'program' (American) as opposed to 'programme' (English), 'favorite/favourite' et al.
The way some people spell (wrongly) and use words in the wrong context, to me is more annoying than American dropping the 'u' or swapping the 'er/re'
Checked on Word spell-checker - Americanise words came up as misspelt :-) ;-)
Example 'center' instead of the English spelling 'centre' - He couldn't get his head around 're' being pronounced 'er' (join the club mate)
Another word which is relevant to computers is 'program' (American) as opposed to 'programme' (English), 'favorite/favourite' et al.
The way some people spell (wrongly) and use words in the wrong context, to me is more annoying than American dropping the 'u' or swapping the 'er/re'
Checked on Word spell-checker - Americanise words came up as misspelt :-) ;-)
Feb 1, 2013 08:08:30 #
Whoever owns the language it is very strange-consider these
The bandage was wound around the wound, the Dove dove into the bushes, he was too close to the door to close it, the Buck does strange things when the Does are around, he did not object to the object....
The bandage was wound around the wound, the Dove dove into the bushes, he was too close to the door to close it, the Buck does strange things when the Does are around, he did not object to the object....
Feb 1, 2013 08:34:38 #
There are lots of spelling anomalies in English:
Bough of a tree.
To take a bow.
He had a cough.
And one of my favourites/favorites: The pronunciation of the name Cholmondeley.
Bough of a tree.
To take a bow.
He had a cough.
And one of my favourites/favorites: The pronunciation of the name Cholmondeley.
Feb 1, 2013 08:38:42 #
Microsoft Word lets you add words to the dictionary. Word lets you choose which style of English you want. American or UK or ect. Here in the states UK English words or phrases such as colour, tyre, loo, water closet, lift, bonnet, boot, prop shaft, mind the gap and others may get flagged as wrong. But most of us can figure it out.
I look forward to another trip to London and the rest of the UK
I look forward to another trip to London and the rest of the UK
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