What is your native language?

[13788]

norseman: OK, I filled in "English", but I'm sorry, "English" and "American" have really become two separate tongues !!!

I have  had a running discussion with a British friend of mine who lives in Spain and teaches English to Spaniards.  I've maintained that, difficult as it is to learn and to speak, "American" is becoming the world language.  We write the computer software and rule the internet and the most accepted currency in the world is the American dollar.   With the financial influence comes the language.  I think there's a certain irony to the push for bilingual education in the US when so many folks from other countries are trying to hard to learn "American".   I'm not saying any of this world dominance shit is right, but it seems to be a growing reality.

Norse

 

[13788]

7x6andchg: Norseman-

You are so right about English and American becoming different languages...

What's sad about that, to me, as an American, is that British has so many wonderful idioms and expressions that could be lost if it happens totally.

Same could be said for Australian, as well.

7x6&C

 

[13788]

gigantikok: I know the expressions and slang for American and English are different, but I think it is a bit extreme to claim they are seperate languages. Maybe in 300 years they will be totally different languages and people from Britain will not be able to understand people from America, but as of right now even someone born and raised in Kentucky could go over to London and TOTALLY understand what is going on. Point is, if two different people from different parts of the world can understand each other without having to learn the language, I would have to say they are speaking the same language... maybe slight variations of the same language, but still the same language.

 

[B_DoubleMeatWhopper]

Someone .. I really can't remember who ... once said that the United States and England are two countries separated by a common language.

Gigz is right about an American and an Englishman being able to understand each other, but there are exceptions. For example, imagine the expression on the face of the American lady when the British concierge asked, "What time would you like to be knocked up in the morning?"

 

[Ralexx]

Someone .. I really can't remember who ... once said that the United States and England are two countries separated by a common language.

George Bernard Shaw  ;D

 

[13788]

7x6andchg: Gigz-

It is a bit extreme, yes, but...as DMW points out the colloquial phrases and slang words are markedly different. I've had British friends who have "knocked me up" and "given me rings" that have nothing to do with pregnancy (I hope not!) or jewelry.


7x6&C

 

[B_DoubleMeatWhopper]

[quote author=Raal Lexx link=board=meetgreet;num=1063144626;start=40#44 date=09/26/03 at 01:12:38]


George Bernard Shaw  ;D [/quote]

Graciun, Radu. I should've realised that you'd know.

 

[13788]

Finnmark: Yes, of course, English/American is taking over - as a result of the imperialism of both nations. It's the new 'lingua franca'. As for all the variations of phrase, spelling, pronunciation and occasional word-meaning (the old rubber/condom joke) - long may they continue!

Which is why I regret the inexplicable adoption here in the UK over the past ten years or so of the "-errily" pronunciation of primarily, voluntarily, militarily etc. etc. We always used to put the stress on the first syllable. I still do.

And - going back a few posts - a warm welcome to Boreas in Finland! You're right ... it doesn't do any harm to keep quiet about some things. Which is exactly why this board is such fun and such a release.

 

[13788]

hngblkmn: english,spanish,dutch

 

[13788]

da_blissmachine: As for me, I speak English, Spanish, French, and Hindi and a little bit of German, Chinese, and Korean. What I think in is a muddle.

BTW this is my 100th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;D 8) ??? : :-[ :-X :-/ :-* :'(
heheheheheheheeh