Introduction

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

there are basically two different types of english , proper english and that americanized english the upstarts use on the other side of the pond

Egads man, you'll have me re-writing that blasted country song next... I'm Proud to be just a Big Ole Upstart!!! Hells Bells, we can't even agree on how to pronounce things. Just ask anyone from California - Seattle side to speak with someone from Boston - Maine, then sit back and watch the fireworks.

[Tonyblack]

I love the way some people pronounce Missouri. And what's going on with Arkansas?

[MattK]

And what's going on with Arkansas?

Do you mean with the spelling, or just in general?

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

And what's going on with Arkansas?

Do you mean with the spelling, or just in general?

There are laws on the books which explain that unless you pronounce it Our-Kansas you can be jailed.

Edit: or R-Kansas

[Tonyblack]

And what's going on with Arkansas?

Do you mean with the spelling, or just in general?

The spelling = the pronunciation. Yes, I know that British spellings and pronunciations make no sense at all.

English is a bastardisation of a language - it's right that it should get mangled. Until the first dictionaries (and long after) people spelled things pretty much how they wanted to. Communication was more important than standardization. I personally don't have a problem with Americanisms either in spelling or pronunciation - I think it makes for a more interesting world.

[Cheery]

And what's going on with Arkansas?

Do you mean with the spelling, or just in general?

The spelling = the pronunciation. Yes, I know that British spellings and pronunciations make no sense at all.

English is a bastardisation of a language - it's right that it should get mangled. Until the first dictionaries (and long after) people spelled things pretty much how they wanted to. Communication was more important than standardization. I personally don't have a problem with Americanisms either in spelling or pronunciation - I think it makes for a more interesting world.

You know, it's even worse with Swiss german. We speak Swiss, but write german, so it's actually an unwritten language. If someone writes Swiss german, they write it however they want. It depends on which dialect they have.
And there are LOTS of different dialects (in a very small area) and some of them are pretty strange. For example the people in Bern swallow half the words and in canton Vallis (down in the alp-area) you could think, they've invented a whole new language.

[swreader]

Cheery, I intend to watch The Man from Snowy River tonight - with subtitles (English)- I know exactly what you mean about having difficulty, and I, at least, theoretically speak the same lanugage. I've had to do the same with a few Brit films also.

Tina, the Arkansaw River is correctly pronouced "Our Kansaw" while it's running through my home state of Kansas Elsewhere, your pronunciation is correct. Oh yes, then there's Arkansas City, Kansas--same deal. Those folks over in Little Rock and vicinity just don't know how to pronounce the name of their state.

And most important - Welcome Matt! from Sunny Arizona. Where in Colorado did you grow up? I'm from a town in Kansas with an oxymornonic name - Libreral, Kansas

[MattK]

Thanks swreader, I'm really liking the forums so far.

I actually grew up in Lancaster, PA. I was out in Loveland, Colorado for about a year-and-a-half for school. It's nice to be back on the east coast (sometimes). I went to a concert and checked out the Mutter Museum in Philly yesterday. Medical oddities and good music... you won't find those two together out west too often unless the circus happens to be in town.