Graywolf wrote:
I have heard that unaccented proper "English" is very similar to
Midwestern American English. What is otherwise spoken in England is
British English, except for those who speak Cockney. I've never even
seen that referred to as a dialect of English <grin>. The popular
Australian version is actually a variation of "Thieves Cant". Which
was popular in the US about 1840. Strangely some words from thieves
cant still remain in regular use in the US, though usually only as
slang. And the American version of English, ala TV (ugh!) is the most
widely spoken in the world.
You'll note from the quote I was only referring to *spelling.* Accents,
pronunciation, slang -- lots of variation and a completely different issue.
As far as misspellings on the Internet. So what? As long as it does
not confuse the meaning.
Well, from time to time it actually does confuse, but to more or less
agree with you, it usually does not.
However, as someone ELSE raised the issue of whether the particular
spelling was right, wrong or belonged to one of the two standards of
English spelling, I offered information.
It was in some ways better before spell checkers because you tended to
simply misspell rather than accidentally use the wrong word.
Although it is quite apparent from reading them that the vast majority
of posts are also never seen by a spell-checker ...
.... I seldom comment on peoples English unless they accidentally
said something really funny.
Same here, with the additional exception of when someone has opened a
discussion about usage.
But then, Eleanor, you were the one who objected to folks using the
word suck, weren't you? Must make you feel powerful, seeing all the
folks falling over backwards so not to offend your sensibilities. That
sucks, girl!
Actually, NO! I didn't; I do remember who it was, but as I recall, I
didn't even participate in that thread.
I'll accept the blame for stuff I actually do, but ...
and as long as it's still here, I'll leave in my earlier quote (since I
referred to it)
*no such thing as "British" spelling. There's American English, and
then English used by everybody else in the English speaking world.
"British spelling" implies the non-American version is the minority
version ...
