Author:
My last blog was about, rather specifically, how in just the uk the language changed over the years. And that "proper" english, by their own terms, is an error. This is due to evolving language.
You will also find that, even innocently, suggesting that someone from the uk has made a mistake you will feel like you have run into an army tank while on a bicycle as they get angry. Not defensive angry and very much will chew you out.
"I'm British and we bloody well know the proper English words not some(blank) from overseas." Literal reply I have gotten more than once.
Moving on.
The thread focused on an example I put up. Router.
This was turning into a flame war.
My example was that an early 1980's british commercial for computer network router, they clearly said rout-er not root-er. But NOW forty years later it is root-er.
So I did a little searching on the web.
From Oxford dictionary.
Router (roud.er) a device used to remove wood. (1)
Router (root.er,rout.er) a device used to direct packets of information. (2)
From cambridge dictionary
Router ( rout.er, roud.er) device to remove wood.
Router (us) (rout.er) (uk) rud.er, rut,er, root.er,rood.er) a device used to redirect or re-rout packets of information.
I thought the re-rout part was cute.
More investigating:
Bill Yeager invented the computer router in 1981 at MIT (its a university in the united states) There is mention of a Nott guy as well also at MIT same year apparently after Bill Yeager.
Still the invention is in united states and logically the "correct" term would be the (us) version of Rout-er.
BUT People in the UK will adamantly say it is rooter.
Incidentally a rooter is a device used to clear sewage pipes. It's a mechanical cutter that cuts up blockages in sewage, notably tree roots. Plumbers make a business out of doing this.
And yet again here is a contradiction I have hear while watching youtube videos put out by people in the uk.
"the canal was rerouted (note not rerooted) to make room for (blank)" The M1 was rerouted (again not rerooted) to avoid this landmark"
Yet I am sure people in the uk will swear and go down the route (root) that it was in reference to the word route meaning pathway...which is incidental a french word(gasp) derived from Rue.
Strangely enough in the US its almost the exact opposite "We had to rerout traffic on the interstate while the incident was cleaned up" In this case its reroot.
Of course typing this using pronunciation wording my Canadian English spellchecker is going off as its reroute in Canada. We use both terms with the e just being silent.
This is part of a pattern that goes back to when "Those blimey American colonies rebelled" With Canada being the middle ground.
When it comes to writing this causes a headache. It does not seem to be an issue when talking only when you write something. Be it a reply to someone, a comment on youtube, a blog, or even stories of fiction.
And if that is not bad enough. Grammar comes up often. I have to wonder if those people so stuck on "proper" grammar must have major issues with anything on tv, in movies, or talking to people. Unless it is a word verbatim speech, people neither think nor talk that way. Really not kidding on the talking part. Run on sentences using and, and ,and is hilariously common.
Language arts, which is the local english classes taught to children, the teachers explain things one way and talk the other way. Usually monotone if male. Like on television, one sentence paragraphs without pause. Why? They use their hands.
Does make me wonder if those who spend their time editing for proper grammar, vocabulary, etc etc. Avoid anything not written.
Oh well just another Observation of mine for people to chew on.
Please do not flame war this. Behave please.
(I know, but I have to ask)
Comments
Non-native speakers
And now try to imagine how difficult it is for us non-native speakers that learn both versions of english, British English and American English (yes, the german school system neither recognized other national variants nor distinguished between the USA and the rest of (the) America(s) in this matter). We were allowed to use any variant as long as we did so consistently (no switching variants within a single text).
Also learning Latin and French at roughly the same time helped to muddle the subject even more. ;-)
Don't worry. We non-native speakers of any of the Englishes
can just lean back, look at the peoples of the Anglosphere and have fun at their delusion of speaking ONE language.
Personally I think that communication is what matters. A few mixings of different versions, an occasional "wrong" spelling ... As long as it doesn't impair understanding or reaches such levels as to becoming really annoying.
Bru
PS
I have relatives that nominally speak my native language and there is no way I can understand when they talk to each other. So if you see the stone in my hand in this nice glass house ...
The second e
is redundant , it should be Englishs, note there is no apostrophy there either.
Lol - sorry, couldn't resist
Madeline Anafrid Bell
:)
I appreciate it.
However, are you SURE that there isn't an English (i.e. language) somewhere that uses Englishes? ;)
Beg to Differ...
A plural which adds an additional syllable to the singular form of the word requires an e. So it's Englishes in this case.
(But no apostrophe. People who use an apostrophe to form a plural should at the very least be sent to bed without their supper.)
Eric
Common language
I believe it was Winston Churchill who said, "England and America are two countries divided by a common language." But an internet search credits George Bernard Shaw, so maybe Churchill merely quoted Shaw.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
its gets worse
I played wow for over a decade online on private servers. This means I dealt with people from all over the world frequently.
A common joke in wow is "Speak ENGRISH".
That aside I happen to know that in many countries around the world English is taught as either a first or second language. Cough cough, it used to be french but french is a dying language as it is not keeping up with the times. You will hear, anywhere, french, spanish, italian, being mixed with english words to describe stuff....not necessarily in keeping with any other country.
Economic, political and cultural power
is a better explainer for which language is the lingua franca.
You can see this on a regional level as well. In the first half of the 20th century German was the main foreign language in Central Europe and Scandinavia. Not so much after World War II. In the second half of the century Russian came to be the main foreign language in much of Central Europe until being replaced after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Any perceived conservatism of French could arguably be chalked up to a reaction of an already onging process of losing it's prominence.
Then there is an inherent quality of English. While in many ways illogical (e.g. spelling) it's quite easy to learn to speak on a basic level thanks to, inter alia, it's sparse use of cases and various verb forms.
The fact that other languages adapt English words while using their normal language rules to handle them may appear quaint but is a perfectly normal process which should be appreciated by speakers of the world's foremost mongrel language.
Once A Jolly Swagman
Camped by a billabong.....and he stuffed a jumbuk in his tuckerbag, etc.
Now tell me that's not English.
"There's no call for you to get snippy with me.
I'm just doin' my job here. "
Darn tootin'!
You betcha!
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)