Be Excellent To Each Other

My post up there.

All my troubles seemed so far away.

Personally.

Why is phoenix pronounced pheonix?

"fo-ennix" would be much better.

Insufficient. Admit defeat.

I cannot believe that a fellow Englishman is suggesting that one should take the opinion of a former colonial on matters of our mother tongue over the opinion of one's fellow countryman.

I think you have just asked to have your citizenship revoked, sir.

I find it more remarkable that a fellow countryman cannot be a good sport when shown to be proved utterly wrong in a matter of pronunciation of the English language, at which we are consumately peerless. You less so now.

Nothing, but things were still rumbling on from the other days. I kind of ignored it the other days, or tried to make light of it what with all the childish nonsense started by Stuart, which really disappointed me, but after travelling and feeling a bit tired yesterday anyway, I just put came over to here and the last few days happenings, along with someone sabotaging the photography upload account, just made me feel a bit down.

It's a bit nicer today, tough. Dimrill being around a bit more has cheered me up, and the sun is shining here which has just made me feel a bit more settled and not so bothered by things.

I am still bemused by your insistance that the opinion of one of our American brethren could possibly constitute proof of anything related to the subject of the English language. Having, as they do, no idea how to spell even the simplest of words.

Being an American, might might not even be a former British colonial. He might be from a former Spanish, or even *shudder* French part.

Color me surprised. That talk'll do y'all no favors.

My goodness.

Our colleague Mr Gnomes appears willing to take the word of a potential Spaniard over the word of his fellow Britisher.

I am both shocked and appalled. Shocked and, indeed, appalled.

I am all aquiver, and may have to correspond with the Telegraph on the matter, after a stiff port to steady my nerves. Revisiting such an upsetting episode in print may cause fainting, so I shall take the utmost care and be sure to measure out an extra large glass.

STAND BY TO LOSE YOUR SIGNATURE RIGHTS, COMICAL.

I must admit, I did find the phrase "potential Spaniard" thoroughly amusing.

It's pronounced as it's spelt.

Hehe - pornounced.

Ah, siding with a Spaniard-lover, are we? You chorizo-chomping traitor. I'm sure you've got some donkeys you need to be pushing off a church tower. That being your prerogative as a complete blackguard.

And shouldn't your sig say "Do not accustom yourself to using big words for little matters"?

'Spelled', please.

No - and take it up with Samuel Johnson.

...

Look him up.

I keep on calling his agent, but he's too busy making movies.

Oh... not Jackson.

Damn.

Start with Rasselas, and work your way down.

I have to say, Mr Chris, Americans do tend to dumb down their words and in the instance that a word is difficult to pronounce based on spelling, they'll just change the word itself to suit their ill-suited tongues.

That being the case, it's doubly odd that an american website would insist on the 'prerogative' pronunciation as it's clearly the tricker one. People that say 'perscription' or 'pacifically' do, of course, need a boltgun to the head.

You've never had some semi-literate British person start whinging about 'regional accents' and how 'popular use of the word defines its meaning, not the dictionary'?

Cor, you're in for a treat / torment, then. It's ace-best. I've had it happen a few times now*. Bonus points if they try and make shit up about 'Pagan spellings', and then throw a massive fit if you ask what the hell that even means

* Believe it or not, but I have been accused of being a pedant, at times.

The internet's stupid. The first 'r' goes unsaid.

Nobody of sound mind would go round pronouncing 'Feb-roo-ary'; this is similar.

When will people learn: when in doubt, consult Bobby Brown.

In fairness, to our slower over the pond cousins (I'm typing slowly so they can keep up), the american language has not evolved as much, in real terms, as our language, due to the influences our language has done, through our geographic location, and their cultural isolation.

That's one of the things that amuses me about America, and about our perception of America. In many ways, it wasn't until World War II that American culture became 'acceptable' in the eyes of Britain, specifically because of the war. Not just abroad, but with many Americans being stationed here. Meeting girls. Ask yer Granny

It's funny now, that using an American spelling is often seen (not by all) as proof of their corrupting influence. But we were the ones who begged them - Churchill specifically - to break from their long-standing and quite honourable isolationist policy. And we have moaned about them doing so ever since

To be fair, all we asked them for was (a) weapons and then (b) to join in the war with some soldiers. What we didn't ask for was for them to starting nicking our women and our vowels and selling us superior television shows.

Then I think the women would disagree I don't know what the voles think.

Which side were you on anyway FTFY

Amusingly, the town of Versailles, Kentucky, was named after the town in France. The locals pronounce it "Ver-sayles".

I would. Well, not really, but it's not a silent r; februrhy.

I pronounce the first 'r' in February.

I also put a very short 'd' in Wednesday, which my brother just cannot do (we were discussing this when he came over for lunch the other day).

Surely a short d is "a"?

Arf

A short 'd' is nothing to be proud of.

I pretty much agree with the Americans when it comes to spelling. Obtuse and unnecessary letters are exactly that.

I do not like American spellings at all. They just look jarring to me.

I'll have to criticize you for that.

I say we ax that comment.

I'm thru wit dis.

I say, who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?*




*Vid-song excellence about language facism. But I can't see the video I posted, 'tis merely a google search result, so don't punch me if it's rubbish, I'm just assuming its the music video.

I like Oxford commas, they seem to represent the way people think and speak far better. Myself, anyway.

Ditto, though wiki has a good set of examples as to why they are sometimes useful and sometimes not.

I employ liberal use of commas, I'm proud of it, but probably use far too many, really.

Me too.

I think I use them mostly for myself, to keep my thoughts orderly.

I just type the words that get beamed into my head from space.