Windows spelling and grammar

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

Capodecina
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It's becoming increasingly noticeable [to me, at least], that the spelling and grammar in all the Windows OSs is so Americanised that a lot of people must be picking it up. To an extent it must be teaching people bad English, taking into account how many spend loads of time in front of their PCs.

Examples -

-In IE6 when you stop a page load you'll get a window saying ACTION CANCELED - not ACTION CANCELLED

-Also notice your FAVORITES folder in IE6 and IE7, not your FAVOURITES folder.

-On the XP defragmenter, the colour green doesn't denote immoveable files, no - they're UNMOVEABLE files apparently!

-When you have activated your copy of Vista, you're not told that "Windows has been activated", but that "Windows is activated", which is terrible grammar [or American grammar anyway].

Hopefully there won't be a line in the System Properties of Vienna that says "Anyhoo, your copy of Windows is, like, totally activated".

Anyone else noticed this?
 
Don't you mean 'Has anybody else noticed this'?

But yes, some of us have. Linux is none too good on the grammar front either, Linus Torvalds (I have no idea how to spell his name) must be turning in his grave. Bill Gates on the other hand turns around in his big pile of money laughing like a freak.
 
It annoys me a little, if you select English UK then it really should be English not USglish! My spelling is pretty atrocious anyway so when I get red lines under words that I know are spelt correctly it's more annoying as there's probably been times that I've corrected a word and trusted the dictionary to correctly correct it but its actually changed it to be incorrect instead and therefore teached me the incorrect spelling!

Bit confusing that, sorry. :o
 
Nefarious said:
Linus Torvalds must be turning in his grave.
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Maybe he would be.

If he was dead.

;)


Most grammar doesn't annoy me. Unless it's something insanely obvious (I'm fine with splitting infinitives or ending sentences with prepositions) then that's fine.

However, Americanized (sic) spelling gets on my nerves.

They could at least have the decency to call it American, rather than English.
 
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It does irritate me that even when you choose British English as your language of choice, you still have American English forced down your throat on a regular basis by Windows! Why? :confused:
 
the-void said:
What does it matter if we start to use Americanisms?
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They don't so much speak English, so much as chew on it and spit it out.

That's what's wrong with it and why it matters!
 
dirtydog said:
We're not American.
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So what about all the French and German words we use in our language.

After all, English is defined by common use of words, which dictionaries and academia record, not the reverse.
 
Jono said:
They don't so much speak English, so much as chew on it and spit it out.

That's what's wrong with it and why it matters!
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What about the local dialects and colloquialism's in England. Geordie and Scouse immediately spring to mind.
 
What does it matter!!!!???

Have you ever been to Cornwall? I can barely understand them, the same goes for Texas (tippified by Boohower). If we degenerate into a language without laws how the hell are we supposed to know what eachother are talking about?

Language is evolving true but that does not give us carte blanche to make a hash of it. There is a difference between natural evolution and downright peversion and bastardisation!
 
I'd say that there was a difference between regional accents, using colloquialisms and just getting basic spelling and grammar wrong because of apathy.

Affect and Effect. To and Too. Have and Of.

Similar words that have a different meaning when used incorrectly.

Schools should be making more of an effort to teach these skills in the first place, that way, American wouldn't be such an insidious language. If people are getting more exposure to language through Hollywood than through the British education system, it's no wonder that skills are slipping.
 
Nefarious said:
What does it matter!!!!???

Have you ever been to Cornwall? I can barely understand them, the same goes for Texas (tippified by Boohower). If we degenerate into a language without laws how the hell are we supposed to know what eachother are talking about?

Language is evolving true but that does not give us carte blanche to make a hash of it. There is a difference between natural evolution and downright peversion and bastardisation!
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I thought the discussion was about introducing American grammatical rules and spelling into the English language.
 
Mr.Clark said:
Schools should be making more of an effort to teach these skills in the first place, that way, American wouldn't be such an insidious language. If people are getting more exposure to language through Hollywood than through the British education system, it's no wonder that skills are slipping.
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The thing is Mr Clark that it is common use that defines English spelling and grammar and not dictionaries and academia. So if Americanisms start to be used commonly in England it is the dictionaries that need to change.
 
What I find amusing about the English/American English debate is the fact that American English is actually closer to the original English language than our own!!

However, I still find it absolutly infuriating that M$ and other American companies give us the option to install in English (American) but not English (British)!! Can you imagine the uproar if they didnt include someone else's language, such as French or German?!
 
swfblade said:
What I find amusing about the English/American English debate is the fact that American English is actually closer to the original English language than our own!!
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Absolutely.

swfblade said:
However, I still find it absolutly infuriating that M$ and other American companies give us the option to install in English (American) but not English (British)!! Can you imagine the uproar if they didnt include someone else's language, such as French or German?!
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Perhaps they are trying to maintain our standards for us and not let us be so influenced by Europe? ;)
 
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