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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
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Fight to save English spelling
Fight to save English spelling
A campaign is being launched to protect English words from being replaced by American spellings.
Colchester MP Bob Russell wants to prevent youngsters from being shown words such as "utilize", "color" and "traveling".
He wants to force computer companies to install spellchecking software which offers English instead of American definitions.
"I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling and not the American spelling."
Many operating systems, such as Microsoft's Windows, already allow users to select the language they use on the computer. But often popular web sites utilise American English.
The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English.
Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u" out of the word labour, they are soon put right.
Story from BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/essex/2967046.stm
Published: 2003/06/05 20:30:49 GMT
A campaign is being launched to protect English words from being replaced by American spellings.
Colchester MP Bob Russell wants to prevent youngsters from being shown words such as "utilize", "color" and "traveling".
He wants to force computer companies to install spellchecking software which offers English instead of American definitions.
"I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling and not the American spelling."
Many operating systems, such as Microsoft's Windows, already allow users to select the language they use on the computer. But often popular web sites utilise American English.
The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English.
Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u" out of the word labour, they are soon put right.
Story from BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/essex/2967046.stm
Published: 2003/06/05 20:30:49 GMT
Top answer
[nq:1]"I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling[/nq] The above is very different from the below: [nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. [/nq] The first quote is trying to force the public (at least under certain circumstances) to spell something correctly, which many might find offensive (I do). The latter is just teaching proper orthography to schoolchildren, something I think most people would agree is appropriate.
- [nq:1]"I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling[/nq] The above is very different from the below: [nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English.
- [/nq] The first quote is trying to force the public (at least under certain circumstances) to spell something correctly, which many might find offensive (I do).
- The latter is just teaching proper orthography to schoolchildren, something I think most people would agree is appropriate.
- Incidentally, the MP's reference to "the English spelling" is offensive also.
- If he's refering to the English language, it's offensive to us Americans; if he's refering to England, to Scotsmen (inter alia).
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145 Answers
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[nq:1]"I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling[/nq]
The above is very different from the below:
[nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u"
The above is very different from the below:
[nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u"
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[nq:1](1) Why is it "the BBC" but just "CBS", "NBC", "ABC", "TNT", et al. (each sans the article)? Is it a BrE/AmE distinction? Or just tradiiton (the traditional name for the BBC is "the BBC" so it continues)?[/nq]
Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"?
Actually, I think it may be more than just tradition. The s
Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"?
Actually, I think it may be more than just tradition. The s
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snip re: why "the" BBC?
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
In support of that, I'm fairly certain the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (also state-owned) tends towards "the CBC
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
In support of that, I'm fairly certain the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (also state-owned) tends towards "the CBC
00
MC filted:
[nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u" out of the word labour, they are soon put right.[/nq]
Next year, he hopes to return the thorn and yogh to their rightful place in the language..r
[nq:1]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u" out of the word labour, they are soon put right.[/nq]
Next year, he hopes to return the thorn and yogh to their rightful place in the language..r
00
[nq:2](1) Why is it "the BBC" but just "CBS", "NBC", ... name for the BBC is "the BBC" so it continues)?[/nq]
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
Actually no. The B.B.C. (period
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
Actually no. The B.B.C. (period
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[nq:1]MC filted:[/nq]
[nq:2]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in ... out of the word labour, they are soon put right.[/nq]
[nq:1]Next year, he hopes to return the thorn and yogh to their rightful place in the language..r[/nq]
I heard on the radio today that woad is due for a comeback.
Matti
[nq:2]The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in ... out of the word labour, they are soon put right.[/nq]
[nq:1]Next year, he hopes to return the thorn and yogh to their rightful place in the language..r[/nq]
I heard on the radio today that woad is due for a comeback.
Matti
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[nq:2](1) Why is it "the BBC" but just "CBS", "NBC", ... name for the BBC is "the BBC" so it continues)?[/nq]
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
The BBC is not owned by the stat
[nq:1]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming it still exists: don't they call themselves "the WB"? Actually, ... names in the US. But the "British" in BBC connoted "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
The BBC is not owned by the stat
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[nq:1]Fight to save English spelling A campaign is being launched to protect English words from being replaced by American spellings. Colchester MP Bob Russell wants to prevent youngsters from being shown words such as "utilize", "color" and "traveling".[/nq]
Although I think British children should be taught British spelling, I don't think it matters that much if they use US spellings or if B
Although I think British children should be taught British spelling, I don't think it matters that much if they use US spellings or if B
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[nq:2]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming ... "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
[nq:1]The BBC is not owned by the state. What a terrible idea. It is a corporation established by Royal Charter.[/nq]
Isn't it effectively owned by the nation? Certainly not by the government. I would equate "state" with nation rather than government.
[nq:1]The BBC is not owned by the state. What a terrible idea. It is a corporation established by Royal Charter.[/nq]
Isn't it effectively owned by the nation? Certainly not by the government. I would equate "state" with nation rather than government.
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[nq:1]On 15 Oct 2003, R F wrote[/nq]
[nq:1]snip re: why "the" BBC?[/nq]
[nq:2]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming ... "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
[nq:1]In support of that, I'm fairly certain the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (also state-owned) tends towards "the CBC" rather than an ... Cheers, Harvey Ottawa/Toronto/Edmont
[nq:1]snip re: why "the" BBC?[/nq]
[nq:2]Just tradition, is my guess. Consider the WB Network, assuming ... "owned by the British state entity" from the get-go. No?[/nq]
[nq:1]In support of that, I'm fairly certain the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (also state-owned) tends towards "the CBC" rather than an ... Cheers, Harvey Ottawa/Toronto/Edmont
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