The English Language

Carolyn

  I really should not get into a discussion of English as it spoken here and
there but at the risk of losing a new found friend I would like to toss in
my two cents worth.
Although the language originated in England there are at least 30 variations
in that small country, developed over centuries of isolation. American
English dose not exist (unless you are misusing the term American to mean
just the U.S.) There are many countries in America (both North and South)
who speak other than English  - not to mention the many original languages
now merely termed native or original inhabitants. As for Canadain English -
we don't commonly use the mang slang terns found in the U.S. Our school
system was quite good and universal in the pioneer days  and prevented a lot
of queer terminology from getting started. The term America was first used
for both north and south continents but as the British and French started to
colonize the north part it became common not to take time to say North
America but just America - an error of course as the Spanish also referred
to the south continent as America too. Now it is further restricted  and
confused by many to mean just the U.S. Even your Constitution and your
coinage says "of America". Just who is right - the people today or the
Fathers of your country. Even Canadians say they come from America when
visiting Europe (and add not the United States).

   I realize this has nothing much to do with iris lore but it has been
bugging me ever since I was old enough to read. I'll stick to iris in the
future - its a safer subject.

Bruce Richardson (near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
Bruce Richardson (near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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