Table of Contents
Why do Americans say they speak English not American?
They are two dialects of the same language. The differences between the two are few and superficial. Americans say they speak English because American English is not a different language from British English. They are two dialects of the same language.
Why is American English so weird?
When you think about it, American English is a weird language. That’s because: The spelling doesn’t match the pronunciation. The stress patterns aren’t marked.
Why is American English so different from British English?
The American and British dictionaries are very different, because they were compiled by two very different authors with two very different perspectives on language: the UK’s dictionary was compiled by scholars from London (not Oxford, for some reason) who wanted to just collect all known English words, while the …
Why is American English better?
Some learners prefer American English because they believe it has fewer regional accents and dialects than British English does, experts say, and therefore is easier to understand and to use.
Should English be used above all other languages in the US?
Most people in the US only speak English. But that hasn’t stopped some lawmakers from trying to ensure English is used above all other languages. In 1981, US Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California introduced an amendment to do just that. It failed.
Do you consider people from England to be British?
People from England are British. I had no idea that Wales and Scotland were British too (no one here would ever refer to Scottish or Welsh as British, never). Generally, in America, “English” will refer to things (English muffins, English horns) and “British” just means the people from England.
Is English the de facto language of the United States?
There’s no question that English is the de facto language of the United States. It’s the language of government documents, court proceedings and business contracts. Immigrants feel an immense pressure to learn it.
Is it wrong to call an English person British?
British by definition means someone from the island of Britain: either from Scotland, Wales, or England. So it’s not incorrect to call an English person British. But 99 times out of a hundred an American will use Scottish for Scottish, Welsh for Welsh, but British for English.