ColoUr/Color me confused

rocconorth · #1 08-23-2002, 01:10 PM

Come one come all...all English speakers of the world. Does anybody know why, when, or where the use of letter "U" in such words as favoUrite, coloUr, harboUr, etc diverged between America and the U.K.? I've noticed that the Brits use the "U" while the Yanks shun it. What gives? Can anyone shed any light on this subject of such great importance? I imagine probably not...so maybe ya'll could just give some more examples of words we two allies spell differently. It could be fun...maybe?

moose562 · #2 08-23-2002, 01:31 PM

well it always makes me laugh when i hear in the movies "can't you speak english?" when the actors obviously cannot.

The main difference is that american's speak american and english folk speak english...the Queens English :P I think somewhere in between the Atlantic when those ye olde pilgrims set sail from somewhere to the new world, they forgot how to speak and write English properly.

I mean itmust have been MONTHS at sea

hehe

I have no idea....

rocconorth · #3 08-23-2002, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moose562

The main difference is that american's speak american and english folk speak english...the Queens English :P I think somewhere in between the Atlantic when those ye olde pilgrims set sail from somewhere to the new world, they forgot how to speak and write English properly.

Hey! What's up with the sarcastic comments Moose? We don't need that here. I was asking a very serious question.

*Rocconorth stops to think....wait a minute...I'm always making sarcastic comments in threads and this thread is really not serious at all.*

Oh sod-it!!!(Are you impressed my Brit bretheren?) Carry on. Let the war of "words" begin. (That's really what I wanted anyway!!!)

MountainDewNut · #4 08-23-2002, 02:33 PM

A word that has been troubling me for years now is, gray/grey. On crayola crayons it's called gray but everywhere else I find it grey

*staticon* · #5 08-23-2002, 04:08 PM

I believe that the phonetic variations btween English and American are somehow related to the more cosmopolitan nature of American society.
With such a wide variety of nationalities of the many settlers who have made a home in the U.S.A., it is inevitable that the language would evolve along a differing path to native English.
With the increased immigration to the U.K., and the vast improvements in communications and travel, we are now seeing written and spoken native English changing.
I would imagine that, eventually, the language will homogenize and that all English speaking countries will, undoubtedly, speak and write the same. Though I expect local dialectual variations will persist.

Hope that helps.

BTW According to my dictionary:
Grey Of a colour that is intermediate between black and white, like that of ash or a raincloud.
Gray The SI unit of ionizing radiation equal to an absorbed dose of one joule per kilogram.

DaveJ · #6 08-24-2002, 12:51 AM

Aluminium.
Worcestershire.
Leicester.
Arkansas.
Kansas.
Catacomb.

Go play with these for a while.....

Deekman · #7 08-24-2002, 08:21 AM

I let you know my thoughts after I cash my cheque.

I watched a PBS series on the English language quite a few years back.
I'd love to see that series again.
Did you know that the Southern drawl and vernacular heard in the Carolinas
is closer to the Queen's English than anywhere else in the US?

Gray and Grey are both acceptable for the spelling of the color.
As is ax or axe.
Is it Fairy or Faerie? Either are acceptable.

Many times I'll chose alternate spellings to evoke a certain mood.
Pyrate is much more colourful than pirate.

moose562 · #8 08-29-2002, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rocconorth

Hey! What's up with the sarcastic comments Moose? We don't need that here. I was asking a very serious question.

<looks forlorn>

Sorry

heh!

Prelude · #9 08-29-2002, 04:00 PM

Ok so this thread is far too intellectual for me so here’s some silly ones:

You Say............................We Say
Yield.................................Give way
Traffic circle......................Round about
Clutch..............................Creamy
Stoked.............................Ecstatic
Wasted............................Trolley’d
The *****..........................The Dogs
Spades............................Stacks
Watch the gap..................Mind the gap
Stuff................................Things
Thanks.............................Cheers
I take the fifth..................No comment (or sod off!)
Your welcome...................Always a pleasure
Have a nice day................Pi*s off and leave me alone

Hålo · #10 08-29-2002, 04:16 PM

Im canadian...i only spell things with that stupid U when I do school projects(as I get marks off if I dont).

In real life, I dont use that crap.

rocconorth · #11 08-29-2002, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prelude
Ok so this thread is far too intellectual for me so here’s some silly ones:

You Say............................We Say
Yield.................................Give way
Traffic circle......................Round about
Clutch..............................Creamy
Stoked.............................Ecstatic
Wasted............................Trolley’d
The *****..........................The Dogs
Spades............................Stacks
Watch the gap..................Mind the gap
Stuff................................Things
Thanks.............................Cheers
I take the fifth..................No comment (or sod off!)
Your welcome...................Always a pleasure
Have a nice day................Pi*s off and leave me alone

Can't you see why she's my "Goldmember"? I bow down.

rimfire · #12 08-29-2002, 07:06 PM

I hear that when a doctor tells you need to lose twenty pounds, he's talking about his bill.

DaveJ · #13 08-30-2002, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hålo
Im canadian...i only spell things with that stupid U when I do school projects(as I get marks off if I dont).

In real life, I dont use that crap.

Theres obviously a reason for 'that crap' then.

Nice list, prelude....the mutt's nuts indeed.

BeKs · #14 09-05-2002, 02:33 PM

Dont forget ... American to Brit

Bar = Pub / boozer
Glass of beer = A Pint!
Eraser = Rubber
Fries = Chips
Chips = Crisps
Panties = Pants
Pants = Trousers
Pack of Cigarrettes = Box of ***s
Friends = Mates
Sweater = Jumper
Sidewalk = Pavement
Elevator = Lift
Mall = Shopping center

And ... dont forget Cockney Rhyming slang!!!

Dog and Bone = Phone
Apples and Pears = Stairs
Trouble and Strife = me ... erm i mean wife
Brittany Spears = Beers
Battle Cruiser = Boozer

Nice good olde Brit paragraph for ya.....

Jump outta bed, put on my pants, then trousers, then jumper. Off down the local Battle Cruiser for a few Brittany Spears. Mates rang me on the new Dog and bone, grab my coat and head down the apple and pears. Take the lift down. Ran out of smokes but ill get a box of ***s from the pub. Maybe a couple bags of crisps too. Off down the pavement i go ...... Make mine a pint!

Leson over LOL

#15 09-05-2002, 04:06 PM

To answer the original questioner, the reason why the yanks shun it is because of the direction in which this particular charactwer is written ie... from top left, underneath, back up to top right. Call me Mr logical but draw your own conclusions.

Prelude · #16 09-05-2002, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeKs

Nice good olde Brit paragraph for ya.....

Jump outta bed, put on my pants, then trousers, then jumper. Off down the local Battle Cruiser for a few Brittany Spears. Mates rang me on the new Dog and bone, grab my coat and head down the apple and pears. Take the lift down. Ran out of smokes but ill get a box of ***s from the pub. Maybe a couple bags of crisps too. Off down the pavement i go ...... Make mine a pint!

Hey Beks!!!! Good to see you back me old mucker!!! Where have you been? Couldn't Adam and Eve me mince pies!!

Btw nice list

Lara Croft Online · #17 09-05-2002, 10:55 PM

As long as I can understand it I'm ok. Plus UK and US
accents from all over are cool a nice contrast. If everyone
sounded the same it would be boring don't you think?

DaveJ · #18 09-05-2002, 11:46 PM

How long before yous guys drop the g in 'feign', the k in 'knife' or the p in 'psalm' too?

BeKs · #19 09-06-2002, 12:50 AM

Yeah i agree it would be a bit boring if everyone spoke the same, but as for accents - some are more desirable than others LOL. I try very much not to speak with the local one.

Hiyas Prelude!!!!! Yeah ive been real busy sorting my contest photos out for the Adventurers Place competition, was GREAT fun! Also ive gone and started playing Everquest again which i am TOTALLY addicted to LOL. Then there is my website ive been trying to sort LOL

Hopefully ill manage to keep posting on the forums i use, i like it here, dont let the men in white coats take me away!!! lol

Solaris · #20 09-06-2002, 12:41 PM

I think the brits have a pretty cool accent..but they should really work on there slang..i mean dog an bone whats up wit that??
as far as the u's go as long as its the same word with the same meaning im fine

.

Hey Beks your back! *pats beks hard in the back* so how ya been? from what i read above youve been busy (duh!). So arent you gonna raid with us anymore?

Aquarius · #21 09-06-2002, 12:56 PM

I just have to say this one thing. When I was in London, everyone there seemed so nice.

Like we went to this restaurant, and the watiress was like, "Oh I'm sorry love, it was my fault dahling."

I loved that!!!!

Prelude · #22 09-06-2002, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquarius
I just have to say this one thing. When I was in London, everyone there seemed so nice. Like we went to this restaurant, and the watiress was like, "Oh I'm sorry love, it was my fault dahling." I loved that!!!!

Cheers love

@Beks, wow you have been busy, well just glad to know you are ok, I was worried you'd have a little accident on that beast of a bike of yours!!!! Thought you might have tried to park it under someone’s car again

just glad you are ok my dear. Are you gonna join in the raiding, you have been kept alive despite your absence, and the story could do with a little injection of Beks’s witty hUmoUr .

Solaris · #23 09-06-2002, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prelude

hUmoUr .

its Humor! geez u brits, the U doesnt even sound so whats th epoint of..oh wait dont let me go there cause i know then someone else is gonna start saying well the k in Know is silent so then...

Nevermind bout that