The thing to note about Webster is his motivation for creating a separate dictionary had more to do with patriotism. He wanted an "American" language and less to do with simplifying spelling. The latter excuse was created after he died. It was basically sticking two fingers... errm one finger... up at Britain saying "look how different I am... nah nah you can't stop me!". Like a teenager who wears baggy jeans around their knees to be different and defiant .... exactly like every other teenager. Strangely enough though experts say British English has changed more since the two nations split than American English... the American pronunciations of things and word usage is more similar to our shared past than our own. Our great x10 grandfathers would find it easier to understand yanks than Brits. Thing than amuses me about American English is how different words converge to have a single pronunciation... like Berry and Barry pronounced the same... always thought the name "Berry" sounded rather effeminate until I saw the spelling and realised they were Barry. Gram and Graham are both pronounced "Gram". Mary, Marry and Merry are all pronounced identically. Solder and Sodder both pronounced Sodder is my favourite. "Me and Bubba are just going to solder together in his workshop. He's a professional solder " Lots more examples of words which are pronounced differently in England that have a single pronunciation in America. Although they do pronounce pawn and porn differently... which can ease embarrassment that could ensue in Britain hate for the misses to think I got her toy at the 'pawn' shop
try teaching merican kids the origins of words and have them comprehend the U in colour They have butchered the language and came up with a "simple" watered down version as they were obviously having trouble teaching kids the proper words and the test scores were probably plummeting and teachers were probably shooting themselves in the head after trying to get those dumb asses to "get" the U. So not only do they spell it wrong, they pronounce it wrong too. I've read a HP manual from the US, gibberish I tell you! Gibberish! Besides the arrogance to go and create a different version of English from what the rest of the world uses As if we don't think they are stupid enough already.
The one that really pisses me off is "ALUMINIUM" Oi! Yanks see that second "i"? Try ****ing pronouncing it!
In their spelling there isn't a second "I". They pronounce it the way they do because they spell it the way they do.
Easiest one right off the top of the head is portuguese. brazilian and portuguese can sometimes sound so damn different! Then you have spanish, Spain spanish is different to south american spanish, which is different to Mexican spanish.
Think it sounds more like walter. Brummie roomate of mine used to get it all the time at any restaurant.
Maybe regional but here in SC no one pronounces the t they all say "waddah." No one understands me in America when I pronounce the t as a t or pronounce the er. Despite the t and the "er" most definitely being in the spelling of the word.
Ah, think we got mixed up. I was saying when you lot say water it almost sounds like "wal-ter" where as you rightly put it, we cut alot out, replace with "wah-da" (norhtern) "whoa-ter" southern "wadda" all in between. Ever asked an American for a plaster?
