A dialect of English whose pronunciation is frozen along with that of Canadian English. While British English had some drastic sound shifts, American and Canadian English pronunciation had only undergone a few minor vowel changes, as well as the changing of some Ts and Ds to alveolar flaps (butter sounds somewhat like "budder").
Most of the different spellings of American English (which, for all of you elitest Britons out there, are listed in the OED) developed in the U.S.'s early years, some of them created by dictionary maker Noah Webster. The differences are comparable to the ones between Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese Portuguese.
Another interesting fact about American and Canadian English is that both dialects still use the -ize spelling for words (organize, organization, etc.), while countries outside North America have almost completely dumped it for the newer -ise spelling. However, the OED and Fowler's Modern English Usage (both of which are decent books of British origin) prefer the -ize spelling. Folks from North America also use the older aluminum spelling instead of the newer aluminium spelling. (Though neither spelling is the original; the original is alumium.)
Americans also refer to the letter Z using the 17th century name "zee" instead of the name "zed" used elsewhere (including in Canada). Rest assured, the name "izzard" is pretty much obsolete.
Sources: Wikipedia and the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.
Most of the different spellings of American English (which, for all of you elitest Britons out there, are listed in the OED) developed in the U.S.'s early years, some of them created by dictionary maker Noah Webster. The differences are comparable to the ones between Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese Portuguese.
Another interesting fact about American and Canadian English is that both dialects still use the -ize spelling for words (organize, organization, etc.), while countries outside North America have almost completely dumped it for the newer -ise spelling. However, the OED and Fowler's Modern English Usage (both of which are decent books of British origin) prefer the -ize spelling. Folks from North America also use the older aluminum spelling instead of the newer aluminium spelling. (Though neither spelling is the original; the original is alumium.)
Americans also refer to the letter Z using the 17th century name "zee" instead of the name "zed" used elsewhere (including in Canada). Rest assured, the name "izzard" is pretty much obsolete.
Sources: Wikipedia and the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.
Give American English a break. There's nothing wrong with having a little bit of diversity in the Anglosphere. You don't see us complaining about your dialect every second, do you?
by Intelligence: The Anti-N00b April 7, 2005
by Angry Loner December 7, 2003
The pronunciation and spelling of British-english twisted up and made to fit the way americans live. made up of many different accents and sub-languages.
by Crackhojoe June 24, 2004
The English language, but twisted & abused into a barely recognisable form, with half the vowels dropped. The letter 's' is also commonly replaced with 'z' or 'zee'. Also known as 'Wannabee English'.
English: Colour
American English: Color
English: Neighbour
American English: Neighbor
English: realise
American English: realize
American English: Color
English: Neighbour
American English: Neighbor
English: realise
American English: realize
by EnglishPatriarchy August 16, 2011
the difference between "then" and "than". they almost always confuse them. I'm not American but I perfectly know when to use each one!
by Pan March 8, 2004
A different (Read wrong) system of spelling the English language used by citizens of the United States who cannot be bothered to learn the correct spelling of simple words.
usually involves missing out letters, switching the order or just using the complete wrong word
closest comparison can be asking a small child to spell a word and making a dogs ears of it.
usually involves missing out letters, switching the order or just using the complete wrong word
closest comparison can be asking a small child to spell a word and making a dogs ears of it.
English spellings: Colour, Centre, Honour, Draught
American English spellings: Color, Center, Honor, Draft
American English spellings: Color, Center, Honor, Draft
by Steve168762 November 6, 2010
(1). American English:
The worst manifestation of an oblique bastard tongue.
Rather than turning heaven to hell, the process of Americanising English is like watching a horror movie sequel: the original was bad, but the next installment will be much worse.
(2). American English:
Soon to be renamed "Microsoftonese".
Seriously, has anyone ever managed to switch the Word spell-check to English-English?
NOTE: if you have
- obtained a PHD in a nerdy IT subject; or
- are addicted to Jolt Cola and computer games; or
- are 30+ years of age and still yet to experience a woman's touch
Then please, PLEASE, consider that question rhetorical.
(3). American English:
The bane of high school English teachers. Have you found anyone else that cares?
The worst manifestation of an oblique bastard tongue.
Rather than turning heaven to hell, the process of Americanising English is like watching a horror movie sequel: the original was bad, but the next installment will be much worse.
(2). American English:
Soon to be renamed "Microsoftonese".
Seriously, has anyone ever managed to switch the Word spell-check to English-English?
NOTE: if you have
- obtained a PHD in a nerdy IT subject; or
- are addicted to Jolt Cola and computer games; or
- are 30+ years of age and still yet to experience a woman's touch
Then please, PLEASE, consider that question rhetorical.
(3). American English:
The bane of high school English teachers. Have you found anyone else that cares?
In the strictest sense, American English refers to the Americanised (or Americanized) spelling of English words. That is evident from the term itself, which consists of the noun "English" qualified by the adjectival "American". What most of these people have failed to realise is that "Americanisms", or distinctly American slang or vernacular is NOT American English. Who knows... maybe one day the corpus of Americanisms will be so great that one might refer to English American. Or has that day arrived?
Hmm...
Hmm...
by moolz January 20, 2005