Pick on the French?

Teeb are you originally French or did you move to France at some point? Just curious because you refer to the French as "They" when you live in France.

The latter - I am Scottish and moved to France all of 2 months ago. As much as I love France and the French, I'm not considering myself French!
 
What do you mean the 'American version'? Just because you guys can't spell a few words properly you decide 'sod it, we'll call it our own version and now it's right'? :p

Also, Clarkson pays out every country that isn't England. Heres a piece from one of his columns published in Born to be Riled:

'All the best countries begin with the letter I - Italy, Iceland, Ireland, India, Ingland and so on - while all the worst begin with an A: America, Austria and, of course, the godforsaken spider-strewn snake pit. Why do you think God put it so far away? And why do you suppose he's trying to remove its protective ozone layer?'

And it goes on like that. I'd get out my pen and write a letter of complaint, but I find it piss funny and very true! 8)

TIRES:mrgreen:

Most of the words we spell DIFFERENTLY, are words that came to be after the American revolution, therefore two different spellings came to be. Neither wrong, just different.

(Sidenote, one of my College professors was handed a paper yesterday that was written so awfully I couldnt believe it. They spelled talk and walk like tlak and wlak. No typo, it was hand written! Ebonics....gotta love it.)
 
TIRES:mrgreen:

Most of the words we spell DIFFERENTLY, are words that came to be after the American revolution, therefore two different spellings came to be. Neither wrong, just different.

(Sidenote, one of my College professors was handed a paper yesterday that was written so awfully I couldnt believe it. They spelled talk and walk like tlak and wlak. No typo, it was hand written! Ebonics....gotta love it.)

Spelt.

Actually the majority of words you spell differently such as colour, through, specialise etc. were changed by Noah Webster as he thought you should have a language that was different to English.
 
Spelt.

Actually the majority of words you spell differently such as colour, through, specialise etc. were changed by Noah Webster as he thought you should have a language that was different to English.

Not true - in reality, there was a 'u' shortage in the States around 1877 that resulted in many words changing spelling - colour, behaviour, favourite, harbour, honour, humour...you get the idea.

'U' rationing was strictly enforced until it was abolished by the Carter government in 1978.
 
Ok teeb you are not really french... So I think I am really the ONLY one here !

BTW that's weird, because TG is having a lot of success in France.
 
Not true - in reality, there was a 'u' shortage in the States around 1877 that resulted in many words changing spelling - colour, behaviour, favourite, harbour, honour, humour...you get the idea.

'U' rationing was strictly enforced until it was abolished by the Carter government in 1978.

:lol: WTF does that even mean?
 
I could care less were something is from, if i like it i'll include it in my life and thats that.

Although with that said, Italian cars are typically much more interesting then their rivals, Bavarians are by far the best at making pants, British make the the greatest TV and Music (at least in this century), and the French are probably the best foodies Europe has to offer.

Excluding one region just because they invaded your land at some point is only being self-masochistic in my opinion.
 
Actually the majority of words you spell differently such as colour, through, specialise etc. were changed by Noah Webster as he thought you should have a language that was different to English.

Being an academic he probably changed the spelling just for simplicity's sake or due to a Latin fetish.

In latin neither labor or color have 'u' in their stems.

Personally I don't care which way they are written as long as the word is spelt correctly in one of the forms.
 
One thing to say about most english words is that arn't actually english words but borrowed words.
Alot from french actually. and some from ancient roman or greek. don't ask me why.
I like the english language, although the spelling is about as horrible as it gets.. alot is to be said for the german language reforms... to actually make the language a bit phonetic wouldn't hurt. although I guess if that's the case we'd all start using phonetic symbols to write... it'd be far easier wouldn't it... although then you can't have written distinctions for homonyms.
 
Being an academic he probably changed the spelling just for simplicity's sake or due to a Latin fetish.

From my understanding, he was taking advantage of having the only widely sold dictionary in the US and used it to try and simplify and make English more consistent.
 
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