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Q: Why is American English so prevelant in China and is it a good thing for the language?

There is little that irks British defenders of the English language more than Americanisms, which they see creeping insidiously into everyday conversation.   It has to stop now or we will not have a language to call our own and I for one will be suicidal.   Help save a life, stop the use of American English, NOW.

11 years 26 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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I'm a Brit, and I see no serious harm in it. The English language is different in that it spread internationally, most commonly in the time if the British Empire, and we have no 'right' to that language anymore, it can, and is, adapted by any group of people who adopt (or have had forced on them) the language. Look at Patois as an extreme example.

 

Is it annoying? Americanisms; no, not to me at least. Text speak irritates me as I view it as lazy, (I always write in full when texting). However all languages are evolving entities and as a teacher it is part of my role to move with that evolution and to  put the information where my students can learn it. This widespread evolution is just more pronounced with English as the language is spoken in so many widely different nations and cultures. Even French is changing, as much as some neo-Midas French language nationalists try and prevent it. If you were to go back to Saxon England you would find the language spoken almost impossible to understand, (there are some recorded examples online somewhere, obviously they are re-created).

 

So for once I have to defend our American (and Australian, Canadian, New Zealander, Hong Konger, ..........) friends. It's their language as much as ours.

lokethebloke:

Bloody hell, that's told me!   A very fair and cogent answer but how do I stop these suicidal thoughts at what I see as the demise of MY language.   I suppose that I could convert to using German!

Or better still, we could fight back, watch this space!!!! 'Brit', a very good example of american english, I prefer 'pommy bastard'.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Hugh.G.Rection:

Hmm, perhaps you could declare war on America, lose and revert to grant aid?

Or learn fluent Chinese?

Or, or, or....................... take to excessive use of alcohol?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

I've already declared war but my little attack has not registered yet.   As for learning Chinese, too old mate, brain's gone.  

 

I'll just have to carry on my fight alone until I die

Will nobody join me?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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MissA:

You like being called a pom?P>

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

No, I prefer to be called a 'pommy bastard'.   To me it's a term of affection even though I think most Australians would say not.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

If it is all the same to you, I will keep to politeness and stick with "British". Dont want to get a fat lip for calling a British person a "Pommy", "Limey" or "Brit"....

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Unlike my american cousins I don't feel offended when people take the piss

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

It's 1 in the morning, and I've taken your advice.   An accessive amount of alcohol has done the trick.   I can't even bloody spell in 'correct' BBC english.   I am now going to end it all because there is no hope for my language any longer, the americans have won, they have more nuclear weapons than me.   I blame the Bush family.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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MissA:

Raf: you'd certainly not want to go about calling a Scottish person "pom', that's an English-only term. It would end badly.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Yes MissA, he'd probably get a very swift 'glasgow kiss' !

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

So noted!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Well, from my point of view, it is a simple answer.  I have found basically two different types of Chinese who wish to learn English.  Those that wish to learn "pure" English do seek UK instructors.  Those who dream of emigrating out of China, seek American instructors.

 

As to why, i have not bother, Chinese mind moves in mysterious ways to me.

 

But, does it really matters ?  Not to me, at least.   I see language as a tool to communicate my thoughts, not as a symbol of a nation.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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It's great. American English (standard) is much easier to understand than UK or Australian. The accents of some of the teachers I've met here are horrendous. Because of that, my classes are always jam packed with people who want to learn to speak coherently. The poor Australian and British teachers at my school end up pushing papers for most of the day since no one wants to take their class.

lokethebloke:

It's the other way round with me, I can't understand american english accents, as for Chinese people speaking with american accents then I'm completely lost.

My favourite is a french english accent, very seductive.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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MissA:

Some Americans are easy to understand and some are extremely difficult. Some Brits are easy to understand and some are very difficult (I needed a translator in Glasgow, for example, I couldn't understand a bloody word - no issues, ever, in Edinburgh). I don't think either of you can claim superiority in that regard. As far as colleagues not being understood in the classroom, that just means they're crap teachers, nobody should ever be speaking in a broad accent in a Chinese classroom.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Victoria1987:

My teachers are british and Australian men.I think their accents are very elegant and sexy.Personally I prefer taking their classes.

Due to them,my accent is kind of british way ,in which I am proud of it.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

And so you should be Victoria, english is a wonderful language that is being destroyed by american linguistic imperialism.  cool

But if you really want to hear a sexy english accent you must listen to the french.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Why is it so prevalent? I suspect that the reason has to do with economics and the relative attractiveness of American consumer culture. Unfortunately, the days when Britain led the world as both an economic power and its foremost producer of smutty vampire fiction have ended, and the rest of the world now yearns to speak English in a way reminiscent of ball bearings rolling on a hard wood floor.   

lokethebloke:

How I pity the rest of the world and the BBC will be devastated.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Hugh.G.Rection:

The BBC will be devastated?

Wow, if I thought that would be true I'd take up American English myself! A plague on the British Biased Club and their left wing bias, may they, and their state enforced monopoly rot in hell!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Wow, and here am I thinking that they're a bunch of Thatcherites.   What a diverse world we live in.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Hugh, did you miss the wonderful BBC 4 programme this evening, or should I say, this morning.    The demise of the english language.   9 pm GMT.

BBC iplayer, a good money making invention for the masses out in the rest of OUR world.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Hugh.G.Rection:

Loke, I stay away from the BBC, I don't want to be corrupted by their left wing agenda. You realise they are more pro-socialist than the Communist Party of China?

However, I do have BBC iPlayer (yeah I know, hypocrite) but so far I've only used it for the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Interesting weren't they.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Because of Hollywood perhaps. If Hollywood was in England, more students would prefer to learn the English accent.

Well, I am sure it has some effect anyways.

lokethebloke:

Good point, but I think that it is exposure to an accent and style that has a great deal to do with it.   For example, the Dutch tend to speak english with an american twang because of their exposure to subtitled american shows on their tv in the 60s, 70s and 80s.   So I'm assuming that overexposure to american english via teaching, films and other sources in China will create a similar outbreak, and that it will inevitably lead to a pandemic.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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I can stand the English but for the hell of me i cant understand the Brittish wankers!  Guess it has something to do with us pouring out loads of tea 200-something years ago!

lokethebloke:

I wonder what sort of english they were using at the time?

I gave you a thumbs up only because you're not one of the 'usual suspects'.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Because, we are intent on taking over the world of course, not just politically but culturally and even linguistically!

(Que in Darth Vaders Theme song)

Bwah ha ha ha h a!

lokethebloke:

Over my dead body  -  by the way I'll be committing 'hari cari' (please note the Japanese referrence) tomorrow.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

If you do that Loke, wont you be making the "Usual Suspects" happy?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

In that case, I've changed my mind.    I will fight till my dying breath,which may be tomorrow if I carry on at this rate.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Thats the spirit!!!!wink

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Pog, you're welcome, it's called guinness, I get mine from carrefor, you'll have to get your own.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

I don't drink spirits, especially Chinese spirits.   Not unless I'm at a wedding, then I am doomed!!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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I have a suggestion for Crimo and his few friends   -   read all this carefully and then please, politely, if you can be polite, tell me again if you think  that I am british or not.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Why did I just get 2 bonus points.   Is this some sort of american marketing ploy?

 

GuilinRaf:

Drat! My stupid virus did NOT work! It was supposed to TAKE WAY two points!

Curses!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Take them please!   What and why did this happen?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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  Haha, still looking for a fight with someone American, Loke? You sir, are a racist! I know what you mean about American English though, I also find it unnecessarily lazy in its attempt at being phonetic. I know that 'ough' can be a pain if English is your second language; I mean how is it pronounced, 'rough, through, though, thought, bough, cough', it must be a pain in the arse for a student, so as a Chinese student of English i'd probably go with learning American English too. I did put my foot down once though: when teaching a class of young ones I found that the book I was using did not teach the word 'which' but insisted on using 'what' instead, however inappropriate. Pedantic and stubborn, I know, but for a country who's citizens speak on average 'two' languages at least (my wife speaks four fluently, only two of which are dialects of the same language, Mandarin), I don't see the necessity to omit 'any' words in the teaching of my own one.

lokethebloke:

Thanks for the compliment mArtiAn!, it's just the country I despise, not the people.   I would use the word americaphobe, if it exists, if not, then I've just invented it.   Is that an example of a good thing or bad thing for the language?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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mArtiAn:

  Nope, I think antiamericaphobia is a fairly common ailment. I'm no fan of the American, British 'or' Chinese system of governance; they all promote the use of money, even if they preach equality. And i'm 'all for' inventing new words, if nobody did that we'd still be stuck with nothing more than 'ouch', and that would've made 'War and Peace' almost impossible to write. Either that or it'd be called 'Ouch and Ahhh.'

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

"Ouch and Ahhh."

That would have made our language a "binary code"! In that case, computer programs for us would not be a hard thing to program but just "normal language"!

Cool!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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mArtiAn:

  I think we should all learn the language of dolphins. Might be tricky at first but at least you'd be able to be heard in a nightclub.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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American English is just easier, not so formal, and allows many variations...

British English - is strict.

In my opinion this is the difference.

____

Btw. America don't have "own" language, it is adapted from some of Your ancestors, and at the beginning, in times of "Wild Wild West" American language could be also German Wink

Native languages are almost erased... Otherwise US Americans should speak and write official Navajo or other language of people who was "holocausted" by the "superior (self claimed) race". 

lokethebloke:

English is a mishmash of quite a few languages, Latin, French, German, Scandinavian, Persian, Indian, even Mandarin, plus more.  And yes, sad to say, american, and if the cultural imperialism continues at this pace, then the English language will be doomed and destroyed in my humble opinion.   The British disposed of hundreds of languages around the world in their quest for world dominance.   If the English language is destroyed then I will die, crying into my beer and shouting 'death to all imperialistic aggressors'!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

The Continental Congress actually debated between using Greek or German as the language of government. German, because they were the most numerous immigrants around and Greek because they felt a certain kinship to the "Greek Democracy" (though both were VERY different from each other.  Eventually, they just decided to let things as they were and do nothing.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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WhiteBear:

That's what I'm talking about ;)

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Raf,    What's the Continental Congress?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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mattsm84:

 @ Loke, The 1st Continental Congress was legislative body within the 13 American Colonies that was composed more or less of wealthy community leaders from each colony. It's aims were to, initially, keep the 13 American Colonies within the British Empire by creating a formal body that could lobby Parliament for a redress of grievances on what they viewed as an unfair tax policy and that Parliament could work with when governing the colonies in the future.

 

A common misconception of these grievances is that they were directed simply at higher taxes levied on the colonies, when in fact much of what the members of the Continental Congress took issue with was the UK subsidization business interests in other parts of the world while using revenue from North America to off set the cost. The thinking was that planters and shipping magnate in North America shouldn't have to watch the Government in London give their money to planters and shipping magnates that owned the British East India Company.

 

Parliament's aims however, were to use the tax cuts to drive down the price of goods produced by the British East India Company and eliminate shipping concerns that were operating without the proper permission. On this the Continental Congress and Parliament were at an impasse. While Parliament felt it well within its mandate to regulate business and stamp out smuggling, the members of the Continental Congress, many of whom were actual smugglers, felt that Parliament was unfairly using its power to help a small group of favorite sons to maintain a monopoly over shipping and trade.  

 

When Parliament essentially ignored  their concerns the members of the Continental Congress organized a boycott of goods imported from other parts of the British Empire. Some months later, this body called for a 2nd Continental Congress to again try to reconcile with Great Britain, and, failing that, declare independence. 

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Thanks Matt, very interesting.   Clive of India has a lot to answer for.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Shifu

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Latin was one of the basis for many European languages Smile and as far as I remember British Isles are culturally quite close to Scandinavia (history).

All languages are "mish-mash", as long at they lives (poor dead for centuries Latin).

 

Would "English" language be doomed? In meaning "pure British" - I think ... yes. Because of statistic and demography.
Would "International English" be doomed? Who knows... but it will take centuries, so to cry over the bear - You should hurry up into freezer 

Until now - English is quite universal business language for most of the globe. And we want it or not - it will keep that place for many years (decades? centuries? ... oh no, Latin again)

mArtiAn:

  Why 'oh no, Latin again'? Latin is a marvelous, poetic language. Carpe diem! (Seize the day!). Sounds way better in Latin, don't you think? Even Charlie Brown sounded poetic in Latin when he said of Snoopy, "Felicitus est parvus canis calidus" or rather 'Happiness is a warm puppy.' In English it just evokes images of Tory cabinet members committing perverse sexual acts in their living rooms. Haha, "Carpe canis calidus!' the educated among them cry. 'Seize the warm puppy!'

11 years 26 weeks ago
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WhiteBear:

it was small joke dear Martian, I love Latin, even is I don't know Her 

beautiful use of Latin "variations" is in Pratchett's Disc World ....
"Carpe Jugulum, etc."

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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I mean English English  - it won't be long now. Perhaps it's a good thing that I am thirsty.cool

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Shifu

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American English is easier to learn and more viewed and listened to you everywhere...TV and Radio and the whole American empire thing influence everyone............Just the case of power influences culture in many ways......China being effected will not be a  big suprise...........Not being impolite though but if Chinese real suck on English do you really think they can speak British English?!!!!!!.......Imagine a Chinese person offering you a cup of tea using a British accent and you will understand what i mean

lokethebloke:

I expect 'everybody' to offer me a cup of tea using 'correct' English.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

Would be hilarious to see a Chinese offering me a cup of tea using a british accent......I will be like LMAO....Dead and Gone cause of laughter

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

What's LMAO?

I've had many offers of tea and to be honest I don't really notice the accent, I'm more interested in the tea.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

Hey dude.......How old are you?!!!!!!!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

LMAO:

Laugh

My Ass

Off.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

Serious Guillin Rat.i was waiting for him to tell me his age....i was aiming for the victorian era but you screwed it up mate......Anyways Go Figure

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

I learn something new every day but please don't tell me that it's american english!!!

By the way, I'm not a dude, I'm a 64 year old gentleman.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

Which novel did you pop out off?!!!!!.............Let me guess.........Heck i guess Shakespeare owed you some money then

11 years 26 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

I think what you really want to say is "SeriousLY Guilin Rat...."

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

I saw the mistake before even clicking submit but am too lazy to press backspace...............LOL

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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because american english owns. no one wants to learn british english. they sound like weirdos. america rules the world. why not learn american english

lokethebloke:

I don't need or want to learn american english because I have been speaking correct english for 62 years.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

so you are 62 years old?!!!!..........Go figure mate......No wonder he got the rats on for the americans and their accent..........Cheereo hero

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

No, I'm 64, for my first 2 years I was just babbling, like you are now.

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

You might give me a lesson or two on how to speak in a "Shakespearean" accent............Might be a bit helpful with the ladies...Anything else would be a suicide

11 years 26 weeks ago
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mArtiAn:

Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Does thee fancy a shag?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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Createach:

Well said and i Shall Shag tonight and Shag tonight i shall........With all the glory of..................................What the hell?!!!!.......I can't speak like that.I prefer to kick myself ass and my ass shall be kicked by me.........................Damn i got the fever....Now am going to die a lonely old bastard

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Who is this strange fellow, Createach?      Is he perchance a bit of a prat?

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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"Why is it so prevalent? I suspect that the reason has to do with economics and the relative attractiveness of American consumer culture."

am an english teacher in china from Kenya, one of the commonwealth countries where english was imported by the British colonization.

yes, the Chinese want American English bcos its more prevalent in the movies that they watch.

but why go thru all this trouble,just to watch movies?

well, its not only for the movies, its for the parallels btwn China and America.China sees America as the only worthy opponent in size, economy, and power.

but what you fail to recognize here is that different tongues will always speak different accents.

you cant expect english to be spoken the same everywhere it was exported to.

Just in africa, you would know a nigerian just by the accent,

in my country, i would tell smbody from a certain area by the way they talk.in America alone,pple from the country dont talk like town pple. even the black american community have their own twang, and they have been there for hundreds of years.

in the UK, a scottish accent is different from an irish or a welsh or a londoner.

and as far as writing in 'short' is concerned, it wasnt brot abt by laziness, (notice how am using it now & then),

it was brot abt by the messaging billing in the phones, ie, more like telegraphing, so that ur msg fits in one allowed page of a phone text.so, shortening words became a way of writing English btwn pple who use them.

so, whichever way English is spoken, or written, its because of the changing tides.times changes everything. even English.

if Shakespeare was alive to read a text from a teenager in English. boy, would i love to look at his expression then.

NB, i don't want a lecture on my perfection of English. it might not be perfect but it has made it thru many parts of Africa, Europe and Asia. i like to cut words too when its not an English essay am writing.

to become a British army, i had to learn the British accent...

now thats taking too far, don't u think?

 

 

lokethebloke:

Thanks for a good explanation.   I'm just concerned about the changes and abuse to the language that I love.   I know it's inevitable, just wish it wasn't the americans who were doing most of it.cool   

 

As for the British Army, there's not a lot of difference between hearing duck and f ck when someone is shooting at you.   Just hope you pick the right one at the right time!

11 years 26 weeks ago
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mattsm84:

No, you've misunderstood me. My point was that if the Brits are serious about getting the Chinese to speak British-English they had better commission the BBC and Hammer Horror to make a 65 episode TV series where in a young and beautiful Chinese English major at Peking University has to decide between an earnest but dull Chinese engineering major (as played by Jay Chou) and her mysterious, but alluring foreign English teacher Count Dracula (as played by Christopher Lee), both of whom are competing for her affections. Chinese High School and University students are going to love it and will be saying phrases like "have you got" instead of "do you have" and words like "lorry" instead of "truck" before you can say "bob's your uncle."    

11 years 26 weeks ago
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lokethebloke:

Are you suggesting that Chinese youth are just as shallow as those in the west?   Then my language IS doomed  cool

11 years 26 weeks ago
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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Nothing to see here.

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11 years 25 weeks ago
 
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The America leading position in each industry determines that the American English will be dominant  in the near future.

WhiteBear:

if the language position would be similar to "leading in industry" position... World would forget American version of English very soon :)

11 years 25 weeks ago
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Why? Because a lot of Chinese consider the good ol' USA a wonderful country and aspire to be American. In Taiwan - which is a little more advanced in these matters than the Mainland - the prevalence of of the missing 'u' and turned back to front baseball caps has to be witnessed to be appreciated. Is it a good thing? I don't think so. On the other hand language is a wonderful, ever-growing, ever-changing tool assimilating influences and new meanings willy nilly but that doesn't mean it should be an instrument of world domination for the comedians in 'the greatest country God ever built". Seriously.

mattsm84:

World domination? Seriously? Like something you'd need Dr. Impossible's death ray to accomplish? And here I thought we were done with crazy on this board.

11 years 11 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

Notwithstanding the fact, of course, that it is the greatest country God ever built. Seriously.

11 years 11 weeks ago
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mattsm84:

Well, yeah, but only if we're using economic production and the ability to project military force as our only metrics. Quality of life, and income per capita should also count for something. Seriously.

11 years 11 weeks ago
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giadrosich:

Quality of life and income is what one makes of it. It's called "planning ahead." Mine remains fine, where ever I choose to reside.

11 years 10 weeks ago
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11 years 11 weeks ago
 
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Bc the Queen's English is for QUEENS!!

 

Take that you Cockneys! bah hahahaha

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11 years 10 weeks ago
 
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My GFs GF works as an interpreter. She told me that I don't speak proper English because I am not from Britain. Two thirds of the worlds native English speakers live in America. Right from Wiki : Compared with English as spoken in England, North American English[6] is more homogeneous. I maintain that the biggest influence on modern English language is North America. We'd still be saying ''thou aret a naive'' , ''come heither'' , ''I say old chap'' if we spoke British.

 This woman said she could not understand me, so I talked to her using a British accent and I can't help sounding gay. Britain has such terrible accents also. If I used an east Indian accent on this woman, she can not understand a word I say, but everyone else laughs. The language should be called American, screw Britain.

  Does anyone know if Loke bit a bullet?

 

giadrosich:

Don't know if he bit the bullet, but his account was banned. However, he may be back under some other guise. Time will tell! surprise

11 years 10 weeks ago
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11 years 10 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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british english lmao who wants to listen to any brit with their idiotic spelling and accent really

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11 years 10 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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chinglish is easier to understand than british english

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11 years 10 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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As Rex Harrison said in my fair lady." In America they have not spoken it for years" I f you want to learn English you go to an educated English man or women and listen to them. The London accent leaves me cold. If only everyone who speaks English could do it like Rex Harrison. Franck3

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11 years 7 weeks ago
 
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