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MariaB -> RE: I don't get it (11/13/2013 6:18:24 AM)
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Blame it on Mr Webster, who preferred the phonetic spellings.
American English will usually use 'se' at the end of a word when the British English use 'ce'. The British often use a double 'L', example travelled instead of traveled and 's' instead of 'z' paralyse-paralyze. We also use a lot more 'U's in British English, neighbour, humour, flavour and so on.
Spelling wise, American spelling is far easier than the British but French words with the same spelling and the same meaning will really keep you on your toes!. Take the word 'equivalent' 'équivalent', same spelling apart from the acute and same meaning but pronounce it in French and it sounds as 'ah-kiv-oh-lon' and 'direction' would sound like 'dee-reck-syion'.
I know there was a huge influence in British English from the Celts, the Romans and the Saxons but the biggest influence on the British language was from the French. In fact, we all once spoke French in England and that still shows in much of our spelling.
The English language uses about 7,000 French words. I think its something like a third of all English words come directly or indirectly from French, which means, even if you can't speak French, you already know about 15,000 words!
American English has just evolved (fairly quickly), and clearly, British English, especially things such as tabloids and books are starting to borrow from Mr Webster. The linguists hate the fact that we are adopting American English and will do everything to discourage it. The way I see it is, it will change because we can't stop evolution.
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