American v English pronunciation and spelling

June 19, 2008 2:33pm CST
We have different ways of saying and spelling things, how much do we realise (realize) this. Are you proud of your culture and the way you say and spell things? I am English and am proud of the way we do this, it's part of our history. Americans venture that their spelling and pronunciation reflects more accurately the old 17th and 18th Century English and that it is we English who have mangled the language. Is this true, and does it matter, or should we just celebrate our differences?
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3 responses
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I don't think it matters. I love language and every region has it's own special language quirks, some of them very charming. When I moved down here to Florida I heard the word "fixin" for the first time when my husband's niece told me that she was fixin to go to the store.
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tractorboy
@tractorboy (62)
•
19 Jun 08
I also speak fluent French and find that speaking another language makes one very aware of how things are generally pronounced. I love the way that the word CAR is pronounced CARE in New Hampshire (like Lois in "Family Guy" - Rhode Island). In Eastern England a car is a "motor", but you don't say the "t" so it comes out as MOW'ER.
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danishcanadian
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
23 Jun 08
My spelling tends to be a combination of English (Canadian) and American spelling. English spellings I use: Colour Favourite Honour Labour Humour Flavour American spellings I use: Realize Organize Finalize Socialize Specialize etc.
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tractorboy
@tractorboy (62)
•
23 Jun 08
In Canada, do people generally use American spelling?
celticeagle
@celticeagle (160064)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Jun 08
I love the differences and enjoy hearing and reading them. Celebrate the differences. Change is inevidible.
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