On 7/25/06, Steve Bennett stevagewp@gmail.com wrote:
On 7/25/06, Adam Lorenz kungfuadam@gmail.com wrote:
Hey what's nothing wrong with American English? The differences are very few. In fact, I write with American English, and there is not one word
that
I typed just now that differ between the two dialects.
I would have written the corresponding paragraph:
Hey, [there's] nothing wrong with Australian English. There are very few differences. I actually write in Australian English, and none of the words in what I just typed are spelt differently between the two.
I don't know if any of those differences are particularly significant, or just stylistic. Maybe "there is not one word" is the strangest - I certainly recognise this construction, but would never use it. I wouldn't say I write "with" a language or spelling system, but "in" it.
I'm not sure I would describe AusE vs AmE as "dialects", but they probably are.
Steve
I think the only really fundamental difference in spelt/spelled. The other differences seem like personal stylistic differences. On the other hand, I have had so much exposure to American idioms that I don't notice them as unusual, even when the wording isn't something I'd ever use myself.
Ian