To hate Americanisms...?

[Groof]

I think maybe because it feels like all English-speaking cultures are becoming boring and homogenous.

New ones I've noticed that people in the UK didn't routinely say five years ago but are now EVERYWHERE:

• birth control (instead of 'contraception' or 'the pill')
• wait list (instead of waiting list)
• reach out

Which ones do you hate or AIBU?

Scientific Taxonomy changes/evolves like language.

I'll give an example - Giant House Spiders. They were three species within the Tegenaria genus - T. etrica, T, duellica and T, saeva. They were collapsed into a single species Eratigena atrica in 2013. And then moved back again to Tegenaria and the three separate species restored in 2020.

I don't suppose that the overall nature of them being big, hairy bastards that make you jump when they stomp over your pillow at night has changed as a result of scientists deciding to count the teeth on the chelicerae and differentiating between six plus of differing sizes (Eratigena) or three to six of pretty much equal size. But they do illustrate how Taxonomy is not a fixed quality that cannot change.

Scientists attempted to adopt common spelling in publications with give and take applied. Which is why we now spell sulphur as sulfur is science papers. But oddly, though everyone else followed that Americanisation, the Americans have not followed their part of the bargain, and still spell aluminium as aluminum.

Out for a meal when everyone used the can i get i say "if i may" "may i have" guess there rolling their eyes at me !

But oddly, though everyone else followed that Americanisation, the Americans have not followed their part of the bargain, and still spell aluminium as aluminum.

They do in my company! (Though come to think, not that many of our Americans have American English as a first language)

Are you asking for permission?

I love the variety, personally, and the ways languages evolve. Shades of meaning and nuance are important elements of communication.

As far as introducing standardised spellings globally - I don't think that would work. We already have grammar, rules on commas, apostrophes, and other punctuation, as well as standard spelling within various iterations of English, and you can see for yourself here and everywhere else online how successful that has been. Not a day goes by when I don't find a clanger involving grammar, spelling, or syntax even on the BBC app.

Oh, I think it could work. Taxonomic nomenclature works rather well...there is a rule book and if you want to change something it is done by peer review.

Or, we could just throw it out the window and spell phonetically like the early moderns did and have no rules at all. How wood dat bee?

Computer languages are standardised. No follow rules, no programme/program working.

I find it absurd all the various style sheets, spelling, etc. What a waste of time.

That's not asking for something though. 'Can I get' is ugly, and does indeed imply the customer will make the food/drink and serve themselves.

Catch yourself on, calling the way others speak "ugly". And get a dictionary while you're at it.

@NeverDropYourMooncup Scientific Taxonomy changes/evolves like language.

No, the process is entirely different - as @BeAzureAnt says Taxonomic nomenclature works rather well...there is a rule book and if you want to change something it is done by peer review. There has to be some reason for change, and when there's a reclassification it's not just the name, each one has to have a unique numeric ID assigned etc.

We don't have the equivalent of an academie français for 'English' , who on earth should be the arbiter of the rules, who would do the peer review?

Computer languages are standardised. No follow rules, no programme/program working.

But there are many computer languages, some more appropriate for certain applications than others. Something as simple as a single = sign doesn't mean the same thing in all languages!

Our spelling diverged 200 years ago. There's no standardising it now.

I called a word use ugly, not the way others speak. Why do I need a dictionary? I have one, of course, but why do you assert I need one?

If you can't understand the simple phrase "can I get" nor the multiple meanings of the word "get", then a dictionary may come in handy.

The divergences can be handy for crossword setters too. While I'm quite happy to defer to Inspector Morse's preference for the -ize suffix, I'm sure he'd have accepted that -ise is sometimes required to fit with the crosswise word.

I do understand it, and your bitter resentment. Have a nice day, y'all...........which doesn't mean quite what one would think.

Maybe to look up the meaning of ‘get’?😉

Oh, of course; as in 'get lost?'

You think she should go and fetch the concept of loss?

I'm a "Can I get" person (as its everybody I know). "May I" always sounds a bit pleading as if you need their permission.

Just as well PP doesn't live near me. Heard in the butcher this morning -
"Gees a pound o mince" 🤣

My father was a Yorkshireman and would occasionally use phrases such as "gie us a spice" (with the 'us' being pronounced appropriately to the dialect) if he wanted a sweet.

Yeah, I know. I've published taxonomic papers and understand how it works.

Why don't we have the equivalent of an academie français for English? People are content to have multiple spellings, whatever, and then complain about Americanisms and be grammar pedants. What it really is language is an expression of nationalism and tribalism, no? People don't want to communicate, they want to signal their superiority with their usage of language.

I know that too. But, is it appropriateness, or the tech bros can't be arsed to make it easily understandable. They make a lot of money making things arcane. That's why a database programmer can make 6 figures and why operating systems work so very well, right (ha!). It is why fortunes are charged for computer programmes that don't work very well (exhibit A: the NHS system). It is fun and profitable to have power and feel superior over others who don't understand computing or languages or coding.

We've even handed information exchange and dissemination to tech bros who announce they aren't fact checking their products, so there is propaganda spread for the benefit of politicians. I guess that is a win, right?

The whole thing is risible.

Why don't we have the equivalent of an academie français for English?

Does it really work well for the French? Does it enhance or tend to fossilise their culture? (I'd be interested to hear the views of some French speakers on this!)

I suspect the people who complain about 'Americanisms' wouldn't be in the least bit content if there was one international 'standard English' which they were required to use. Because it's a pound to a gooseberry that at this point it'd be American standard English which won out.

Some of the complexities and issues are discussed in this

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_English

But, is it appropriateness, or the tech bros can't be arsed to make it easily understandable. They make a lot of money making things arcane.

Honestly I think it's mostly appropriateness, and the results of technological change. I'm not sure many programming languages are 'arcane', any more than a foreign or archaic language with unfamiliar grammar and vocabulary is.