English language around the world

All is explained here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rexKqvgPVuA

a bit like 1066 and All That.............

but it does give a useful oversight of the indtroduction of new words to the English language from the times of the Romans

I personally think people get too twisted up over jargon and business-speak. Somebody a while back argued that term "stakeholder" was an egregious use of business-speak. I honestly can't think of a better word to describe the otherwise disparate group of sub-groups and people who are affected by business decisions.

Much repurposing of our vocabulary going forward.

G

I work in an industry that is full of jargon and acronyms. But it's consistent jargon and only evolves slowly.

I wonder if business speak is used to impress.

Once heard a bloke at Manchester airport behind me speaking ( loudly) into his mobile phone: " Yes I have him on my horizon".

What a load of b****cks.

Something that really got my goat was the edict that sulphur should be spelt sulfur tp comply with ISO nomenclature.

Bloody americans ; get your own language. 

I refused on principle; pissing against the wind though.

I've never been sure whether Engsoc was an engineering society or an english society.......

American English is quite distinct from English English.

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction.

You mean like "pissing in the ocean" 

Don.

I'd recommend you read The Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth

And, The Joys of Yiddish  by Leo Rosten

Both very informative and highly amusing.

You'd be surprised at the number of saying derived from insults aimed at our neighbours, or maybe not.

Over the pond here, I just saw a segment on 60 minutes which was about an American who is on the board making additions to the Oxford Dictionary.  They also interviewed one of the aristocrats about the Queens English, he knew it was a dying form but emphatic that  slang should not be in the Oxford maybe a separate slang dictionary.  I really enjoyed how  his face would sour or lighten, but he was sticking with the "proper English usage".

But then again every one of you probably use slang as I do.  Should we go back to one form of English and pronunciation?  Plus think about what used to be not said because it was improper, such as pregnancy. I know when I get over there I won't understand a portion of what you're saying, word usage and accents.

There is one American English word that I keep wondering about and now is my chance.

'Aclimate'

When did acclimatise become aclimate in the states? I first heard it on an episode of Lost and its never left me. 

Any takers?

Jason.

Not strictly an English thing, but in America the word "Entrée" means 'main course'.

I mean, what?

Surely, never was a word appropriated from another language whose meaning was so blatantly obvious as this?

The Americanism that most gets my goat is "Burglarize".

There is no word in English for 'to take to hospital' so - abortion though it sounds - 'hospitalize' serves a purpose I suppose (although what is actually wrong with saying 'take to hospital'?).

But 'burgle' is already a word for the love of god, so why make a noun of it, and then a verb from that, which not only sounds ugly, should at the very least be spelled -ise (if you're normal) and occupies a whole extra syllable. Tossers.

My personal bugbear with English in general is the less/fewer thing.

Less cake, fewer cakes.

It could not be more simple, it is very useful, twisting it gains nothing, and yet it's about to be lost in the crapness of the modern world. 

I'm going to pour another very large Grappa and calm down. Good night.

Mr Rodwsmith,

What is you view on the 'flowering' English wine industry. I had some wine from a vineyard in Kent and thought it quite palatable, the Vineyard is called Chapel Down in Tenterden. 

Are these wines generally considered a laughing stock, or have they garnered some respect Abroad?

Jason.

Jason, I have written you an answer in the wine thread.

I always thought this was "admitted," as hospitalise is not the act of being taken to the hospital but rather admitted to same. In this way, the proliferation of jargon is somewhat diminished as it seems that new words are replacing old words that will be soon forgotten entirely. I remember having an argument with an American who refused to admit the existence of the word skein for geese on the wing, never mind that it might also refer to a reel of wool.

"Referring to the above post and the danger of a noun becoming a verb, I think the word assassin could be put to new uses by the Yanks to denote a sexual act between two people."

Lol. Very good Mr Wallah!

Jason.

Corporate speak is largely MBA created crap to make them think they are academics in their own right.

Judging by the number of companies that have been run into the ground by highly paid Harvard MBAs in the past 10-15 years, one wonders what it is MBAs actually know.

I knew a man back in NYC who literally made millions running an Italian Pastry business in Brooklyn, and he didn't need a MBA to do it, and definitely knew more about how to run a business than any MBA I have ever met.  I'm willing to bet he never once suggested that a discussion be taken "offline" in order to find a "way forward" after considering "stakeholder input". etc.  No he just effectively managed his business and earned his own millions without Korporate Amerika.  What a concept.