I am mourning

[mainly tailfirst]

I believe that back in the early 20th century American spellings of various words like 'color', 'labor', 'honor' etc were used interchangeably with the British spellings by various newspapers.

I do think that Australian English is more influenced by American English than most people realise.

Obviously been reading the Murdoch papers for while then. I often wonder if he is on a single minded crusade to get Australia to adopt the Webster as its national dictionary. For a laugh read a Farifax article and a News Ltd. article on the same overseas event (esp. anything in Indonesia) and check out the different spellings of place names, religious meanings and surnames. It can often be quite a laugh.

Then you get to the reporting style, but I digress...

mt

 

[JohnK]

I do think that Australian English is more influenced by American English than most people realise.

I do not see that influence at all. If that were the case then most words ending in -ise would be replaced with -ize or other examples like -our / -or, -re / -er, -ce / -se.

Then there are words like traveller and traveler, flyer and flier, tyre and tire, kerb and curb, aluminium and aluminum, draught and draft, cheque and check, pyjamas and pajamas, aeroplane and airplane, etc.

 

[oz_mark]

I do not see that influence at all. If that were the case then most words ending in -ise would be replaced with -ize or other examples like -our / -or, -re / -er, -ce / -se..

One of Australia's contribution to the standardisation of spelling is the -ise/-ize thing. Australia us much more consistent than either the US or UK.

 

[Keith009]

I do not see that influence at all. If that were the case then most words ending in -ise would be replaced with -ize or other examples like -our / -or, -re / -er, -ce / -se.

Then there are words like traveller and traveler, flyer and flier, tyre and tire, kerb and curb, aluminium and aluminum, draught and draft, cheque and check, pyjamas and pajamas, aeroplane and airplane, etc.

British English does predominate but all I'm saying is there's a certain degree of American influence - eg words like truck as opposed to lorry, freeway etc.

Going back to politics - when our founding fathers wrote the Constitution they did have the American political system in mind. Thus the existence of a representative Senate (in theory anyway ) elected by and from common people. Our political system is commonly referred to as the Washminster mutation/hybrid.

And who can ever forget those famous words of John Curtin:

Without any inhibitions of any kind I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free from any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom.

We know the problems that the United Kingdom faces. We know the constant threat of invasion. We know the dangers of dispersal of strength, but we know, too, that Australia can go and Britain can still hold on. [FONT=&quot]

We are, therefore, determined that Australia shall not go, and we shall devote all our energies towards the shaping of a plan, with the United States as its keystone, which will give to our country some confidence of being able to hold out until the tide of battle swings against our enemy.[/FONT]

 

[simongr]

As a Pom living in Oz for about 7 1/2 years now I am stunned by the amount of americanism here - both in the language, government, food and recreational activity. AFter I had been here about 18 months or so it really dawned on me how the US culture had influenced here.

 

[serfty]

Try writing software and getting syntax errors for words like DISC and COLOUR. :shock:

 

[NM]

Try writing software and getting syntax errors for words like DISC and COLOUR. :shock:

or try writing documents for global audiences - which spelling to use . Sometimes I just use both throughout the same document so as to ensure I offend everyone the same amount .

 

[simongr]

I have defaulted to using the US spelling and apologising to the Oz audience - the US audience determine whether I get my bonus...

 

[Platy]

As a Pom living in Oz for about 7 1/2 years now I am stunned by the amount of americanism here - both in the language, government, food and recreational activity. AFter I had been here about 18 months or so it really dawned on me how the US culture had influenced here.

Also as a Pom living in Oz, but now for 17 years or so, I like to maintain one or two bastions of English civilisation despite inhabiting Terra Australis. These include using English spelling. I might reconsider if the monarchy is ever replaced by a republic.

Americanism needs to be challenged, culturally speaking, whether in the UK or Australia.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Americanism needs to be challenged, culturally speaking, whether in the UK or Australia.

Or even here in the LOTFAP. It's even more fun when you throw in a mannerism or two.

mt

 

[JohnK]

I have defaulted to using the US spelling and apologising to the Oz audience - the US audience determine whether I get my bonus...

I for one am glad that you do not use US spelling on your AFF posts though.

 

[Platy]

I voted for the best economic managers that this country has ever seen.

Perhaps history will provide perspective on that particular mantra

Howard's record of complacency | smh.com.au

 

[Reggie]

And to those who're still thinking that the sky will fall in with Labor's election, kindly consider that:
- Labor abolished centralised wage-fixing in favour of enterprise bargaining agmts
- Labor reduced trade tariffs
- Labor privatised Qantas and the Commonwealth Bank
- Labor floated the Australian dollar

And they sorted out that whole no child living poverty thing to. Didn't they?

 

[dragonman]

And they sorted out that whole no child living poverty thing to. Didn't they?

Hey would that be the equivalent of "we guarantee interest rates will not rise"? Or was that not a core promise?

Either way I prefer it to "They are throwing the kids in the water." That is not a promise you cannot keep - its a blatant lie.

 

[Reggie]

Hey would that be the equivalent of "we guarantee interest rates will not rise"? Or was that not a core promise?

Either way I prefer it to "They are throwing the kids in the water." That is not a promise you cannot keep - its a blatant lie.

Um it wasn't a promise it was an infactual statement of fact, which at a much later stage was proven to be a big communication error due to lack of clear CDMA coveragae by Telstra.:mrgreen:

Now where are my Antique french clocks and that pig farm I dont actually own?

 

[dragonman]

Not mourning cheering

Um it wasn't a promise it was an infactual statement of fact, which at a much later stage was proven to be a big communication error due to lack of clear CDMA coveragae by Telstra.:mrgreen:

Now where are my Antique french clocks and that pig farm I dont actually own?

Can you see the difference Reggie? Tampa was a deliberate lie to win an election. if we continue with the pigs lets talk about wheat and Iraq and the AWB - not so keen eh reggie?

 

[serfty]

Why do people get so upset about politics - supporting one party or another like it's a footy team.

I actually think very little of any politician - if they were any good they would be earning Millions more managing large organisations. Not to mention the amount of "backstabbing" required. :evil:

I do my bit every election by making sure NO mainstream party (or any that are like to get more than 4% of the primary vote) get my votes. This save the federal govenment around $5 every election.

 

[Keith009]

I see politics as a football game. Number crunching is addictive, like managing FFPs.

 

[Platy]

I see politics as a football game. Number crunching is addictive, like managing FFPs.

...yeah, and QF (like the government) changes the rules to suit itself as it goes along...whilst the top few give themselves big pay rises and benefits...

 

[drron]

Well reggie I wouldnt worry too much yet.I think this might turn out to have been a good election to lose.with the turmoil in the US credit markets an economic downturn is a distinct possibility.If the US and Europe go into a tailspin who will the Chinese export to?If they slow down australia will be in the middle of it as well.None of this will have been 07's fault but try selling that to the electorate.
JohnK.Dont give up mate.I once stood as a liberal in one of Australia's safest electorates.At the end of counting on election night the pundits had it as a doubtful seat though I knew I had fallen short.Dont worry QF009 in 1972 I was an ALP booth captain in Billy big ears electorate.You know the story that at 17 if you are not a socialist you have no heart but if still one at 30 you have no brain?
To those that express the opinion that this result heralds a return to truth and dignity then they certainly did not know paul Keating.Having run foul of him(see para 2) my opinion is that he was what he called others and seeing him talk about decency makes me want to puke.