Why is American English so different?

Question

This is one of the things that strikes me as quite weird and sometimes annoying. I mean all of the rest of us in the world learn the "queen's English" but the USA changes it to suit themself.

Many people in the states don't get why people in the world sometimes feel discontented with that country, but the whole "american english" thing, though suttle comes across as quite arrogant at times!

e.g.

The spelling of "sulfur" was forced to become "sulphur" by american scientists!

http://www.webelements.com/sulfur/

So now people in the UK are forced to spell it the american way.

After all I understand that various countries speak differently and certain differences develop over time..but America made a DELIBERATE effort to change the English language and into a written and spoken derivative.

And I'm not from the UK, but where Ilive we were taught english english.

Answer 1

A few misunderstandings, I see.  English evolved over time from many languages and many peoples.  Spelling wasn't regularized for English until well after the U. S. split from Britain, and so neither country controlled the spelling of the other, though both probably tried.  You really didn't go into spoken English, and while I haven't traveled in Britain, it is a very much smaller country, and I am told has far wider variation in accents and dialect, certainly as compared to the size of the U.S. (For our size, our language doesn't vary so much, perhaps because until recently, the Continental U.S. was relatively isolated from other languages, while Britain has  never been so isolated.)  I have also noticed that it is upperclass British that the current and former members of the Commonwealth usually speak, where the Americans tend to an inclusive, large middle class identity and accent as standard.

I once knew someone from Hong Kong that I couldn't understand at all, until I slowed her down enough to identify her accent - she was speaking with a straight upperclass British accent, with no deviation from it except I've never heard English spoken that fast.  After that, filling in blanks in what she said was easy, because I had the right tool for understanding.  And isn't understanding each other a basic step?

It's also my impression, although I have no hard evidence, that American English has remained more plastic, and so less regularized, but I really don't have the experience to know if that's right.  I agree with you on the word sulphur/sulfur - I would have guessed the spellings to be the opposite.  However, as to Americans being arrogant about language, it's more like being provincial than arrogant.  Also obnoxious, but as it comes from a different source, it isn't responsive to the same things.  It's this inexperience of looking at things from more than one viewpoint, almost a stodginess about certain things.

Answer 2

Hmmm... maybe it's simply because the USA is a much more influential country (don't get me wrong; so is the UK... remember, the British Empire covered 1/4 of the world at its peak... even the USA started as a British colony), that's why American English is more commonly used by learners of the English language (I think).

Plus, personally I think British English has more idioms and figures of speech that are usually hard to interpret...  

Answer 3

Noah Webster ( Websters dictionary) was charged by the new continental congress to develop a unique american lexicon that was phonetic  (spelt and sounded the same as they are written) and simplified so that new migrants and others could easily learn the English language.

( The vote of Americans speaking Dutch as opposed to English as the official language was defeated by one vote).

The Queens English as spoken by British settlers was considered to have too many unnecessary vowels and had several words that were spelt the same but pronounced differently, they also had many spellings that would change including  the removal of the letter u from words such as colour and honour.

Webster also changed several of the expressions and words to make learning easy such as "sidewalk" for path.

Dia hards of correct 'English" purport American English to be a lazy form of English however as it is spoken like it sounds and is written many new migrants to the US have actually learned "English" from TV and radio.

Migrants to the US were also encouraged to add words to the developing language that further separated the American from the Queens English.

That is why many unique words  and spellings populate the US English that are something of anathema to other English speaking nations.

Webster helped the new continent to develop its own unique version of English for the new developing nation just as Collins did for the Australians..

Answer 4

What may strike you as "weird" may be the norm for millions. Study and travel will make this clear to you. You do not mention where your english is from. Are you aware of the many dialects?

As an American that has lived around the world, I am particularly sensitive to the way others communicate. Living in Melbourne, I recently saw a linguist on a show from Australia explaining the contradictions in Australian English, and how many words that have been modified by American English actually contribute to the evolution of the language more than other forms. Some words end in S versus Z, but plural forms are contradictory to standard English grammar rules. Also, why do some spell Labour with a U, but the Australian Labor Party is spelled differently?

The deliberate changes you mention are considered by some to be evolutionary improvements to the language. There are several differences between modern English in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Caribbean and other countries. Very few people in England speak "the Queens English", and Aussie English is close in relation to Cockney English with bits of Irish expressionism and clever Cockney Rhyming interlaced within idiomatic expressions. Just ask the Kiwis! English in India breaks many rules of pronunciation, and the Singlish from Singapore often requires a basic appreciation of Mandarin and Malay.

Don't think you can effectively argue there is an "English English".

Also, if you look up Sulphur in the Oxford Dictionary, you will see that the origin of the word spelled Sulfur came from Latin, not English.

p.s. correct English would require you to use 'themselves" in our question when referring to more than one person, such as a country. Also, subtle is spelled with a b in the middle, rather than with two t's... subtle.  

Answer 5

and in Mexico they dont speak the same spanish as they do in Spain.  So whats your point?  America is another country.  It is a melting pot of different cultures and different people, and the language evolved that way.  

Its those "subtle" (notice I corrected your spelling, unless its the queens way of spelling, then I am sorry) little things that make the world what it is.  

Answer 6

well america doesn't have a queen so it would be weird for them to learn the queens english when it's not their queen. but like you said, different countries develop different words and spellings for things, thats just the natural way of the world.  i know everywhere else speaks the queens english but like i just said, different places will speak differently and how their own ideas on how the language should be. just accept that it is the way it is and move on! it's really not so much of a deal

Answer 7

you were taught proper english which is good.

but i dont understand why it should bother you so much.

american english has certain slangs like other countries call other things different.. but its nothing to be worried about.

and as far as sulfur... i still spell it as s-u-l-f-u-r. even tho i live in america

Answer 8

i don't see american english to be any different (in regards to your english english) than australian english,,,we were colonised by the english as well...american and Australian english just lost the pompousness(if there is such a word)..

Answer 9

I don't like how the US spells colour, flavour, honour or a good portion of there words.

I think it had to do with there less then perfect education system.  More likely, USA is trying to b different for the sakw of being different.

There is only one English language, and I believe England spells most things right.

Answer 10

why is english english different to american english i don't know good questions america was colonized by the english

Answer 11

Because the sad truth, and as an American I find it embarrassing, is that we tend to bastardize everything we get our hands on.

A little German, a little Latin, a little French, a little of Polish ,a little Norse, and a whole lot of English English and you get American English.  

Thank Mr. Webster for that as he created the first standardized spelling in American English.

I hate Webster,  

Answer 12

Both are interesting

BRITISH ENGLISH --------------- AMERICAN ENGLISH

AUTUMN------------------------------ FALL

BAG ----------------------------------- SACK

BARRISTOR ----------------------- LAWYER

BISCUIT ----------------------------- COOKIE

CAR PARK-------------------------  PARKING LOT

CASHIER --------------------------- TELLER

CHEMIST'S SHOP -------------- DRUG STORE

CRISPS ----------------------------- CHIPS

CROSSROADS ------------------ INTERSECTION

CUPBOARD ----------------------- CLOSET

CURTAINS ------------------------- DRAPES

Visit to view more

http://learnspeakingenglish.blogspot.com...

Answer 13

because it's mixed of informal languages