Page 33 - Frittenden Parish Mag - July - 2021

Independence Day Independence Day

Commemorating differences such as honor for honour, there is no right or wrong answer to that
question, probably one of the reasons he
theater for theatre, plow for plough,
the Declaration of curb for kerb and of course that old source flies the flags of both nations at his abode!
Independence of the of irritation to English (UK) speakers, There may be a logical pattern as to how
color for colour; not to mention that
United States, on other bugbear, pronouncing “aloominum” the language has developed over the years
in both of the countries; but it is a fact
July 4, 1776. for aluminium. that the widening of the language gap was

To tie in with this annual So, small, seemingly insignificant changes a slow and deliberate process on the part
of our American cousins that has left us
were introduced into the American
holiday, well ‘vacation’ actually language and in fact the changes were with accent and language difference that
in today’s world is almost endearing and
actively encouraged by many of the
Colin Bullock writes about American English … or is it influential teachers, politicians and more bordering on, dare I say, cute? This fact
importantly the newspaper industry. The was not lost on the author Bill Bryson
motivation here was the same as the Rebels OBE, FRS, who once observed: “How else
Anyone who has operated a modern a conversation between President Biden and had; a complete separation from the Old could the American Postal Service deliver
computer will have noticed that the native Boris Johnson, there would be no doubt Country, that’s also why the Dollar was the mail, while in Britain the Royal Mail
language of our green and pleasant land is about their respective nationalities. adopted as national currency and not delivers the post?”
no longer English but English (UK).
The American Revolution marked the the Pound. Bizarrely this was also the
As early as the start of the eighteenth turning point of the new, American kind motivation for mandating that coaches,
century, British commentators were of English. The rebels wanted to announce horses and waggons drive on the right and
noting a divergence in the language their separation from the old country not the left of the road as in England. of
either side of the Atlantic and making and changing the style and accent of the It was all a symbolic and contemptuous slap Smarden
PHIPPS MOTORS
PHIPPS MOTORS
disparaging remarks about how those language was certainly one of their aims. in the face of the British Government and PHIPPS MOTORS
est.1984
Tel: 01233 770171
naughty Americans were misusing the The men who gathered in Philadelphia to more importantly, the Crown. www.phippsmotors.co.uk
mother tongue. sign the Declaration of Independence had
more than a passing interest in words; they In fact, some patriots proposed to revenge
Actually, many of the differences could understood the power of language to shape themselves on England by adopting French
be accounted for by changes to the national consciousness. as the national language and one or two
language in Britain rather than in America. hot-headed legislators even toyed with • MOTs
Words such as trash (rubbish), loan English in America differs still further the idea of adopting Greek! However, the • Servicing and repairs
(instead of lend) and gotten (got) are because of its acceptance of words from voices of reason argued that English was
all found in Shakespeare but have since the indigenous populations, such as canoe, the obvious choice as first language of the • Diagnostics
fallen out of use in The Albion. In fact, savannah, tomahawk, hickory and also new United States. In 1790, when the first • Tyres and batteries
Shakespearian English is, in many respects, from the Spanish colonists with words like census was taken, four million Americans
closer to American English than it is to canyon, ranch, barbecue, and stampede. were counted, and 90% were descendants • Air conditioning
English (UK). Other ethnic immigrants were also major of British colonists; these results provided • Welding
contributors to the diversity, notably the
A conversation between George Germans, Italians, French, Dutch and of the catalyst for the final decision to keep • Digital 4 wheel alignment
Washington and the Prime Minister, Lord course the Jewish communities. English as the official language with the
North would have produced only a handful proviso, as Benjamin Rush put it, English
of noticeable differences in vocabulary and America’s great lexicographer, Noah in America should be “improved and Kenfield Coachworks, Mill Lane, Smarden TN27 8NW
accent; however, if one was to eavesdrop on Webster was responsible for spelling perfected”. Has it been? This writer believes Your local family run garage

32 Frittenden Parish Magazine July/August 2021 Frittenden Parish Magazine July/August 2021 33