I was going to say this gives Americans a bad name...
...but I just discovered through a bit of digging that this person probably isn't American, but from the UK somewhere. It would be nice if it wasn't us for once...heh. I was poking around on the IMDB messageboards (often a scary experience) for Torchwood and John Barrowman tonight. While I assure you that there were many intelligent folks on there (huzzah), I cringed when I saw this staggering post:
Also, as we're all aware, Americans speak English also, but does anyone find it strange, or does anyone even has an answer as to why Americans always say that they speak the English language instead of the American language? I know that probably sounds extremely stupid but being that America is much, much bigger (can't think of a better term) I would've thought it would be called the American language.
*smacks forehead* Believe it or not, people actually explained things to her in a fairly civil manner and quite admirably restrained from flaming her into oblivion. Sadly, she compounded things by replying to these well-intentioned folks with:
I guess I find it kind of strange that this little country speaks this language and then other countries like Australia and America addopts the language to speak also, that's what I should've said, I suppose.
*jaw drops* No...surely not... I thought maybe there was a...erm, language barrier...heh. That maybe she just wasn't phrasing things properly and was marveling at the far reach this smaller country had managed. But no, she actually THOUGHT AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA ONE DAY JUST WOKE UP AND SAID "Let's adopt English from that little country over there. What say you all?" (Except they said it in some other language...American, maybe. *eyes roll out of head*)
Just for clarity, she's 19 years old.
I fully confess to not being a history or geography or any kind of genius. Not even close. But yikes. I heartily commend the lovely and polite Scottish, English and American posters who gave her proper answers. See, John Barrowman not only stimulates, he educates! LOL!
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Also, as we're all aware, Americans speak English also, but does anyone find it strange, or does anyone even has an answer as to why Americans always say that they speak the English language instead of the American language? I know that probably sounds extremely stupid but being that America is much, much bigger (can't think of a better term) I would've thought it would be called the American language.
*smacks forehead* Believe it or not, people actually explained things to her in a fairly civil manner and quite admirably restrained from flaming her into oblivion. Sadly, she compounded things by replying to these well-intentioned folks with:
I guess I find it kind of strange that this little country speaks this language and then other countries like Australia and America addopts the language to speak also, that's what I should've said, I suppose.
*jaw drops* No...surely not... I thought maybe there was a...erm, language barrier...heh. That maybe she just wasn't phrasing things properly and was marveling at the far reach this smaller country had managed. But no, she actually THOUGHT AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA ONE DAY JUST WOKE UP AND SAID "Let's adopt English from that little country over there. What say you all?" (Except they said it in some other language...American, maybe. *eyes roll out of head*)
Just for clarity, she's 19 years old.
I fully confess to not being a history or geography or any kind of genius. Not even close. But yikes. I heartily commend the lovely and polite Scottish, English and American posters who gave her proper answers. See, John Barrowman not only stimulates, he educates! LOL!
~