If aliens ever visit earth, Americans will be at a distinct advantage over countries

[Bucky]

We already speak the same language as other intelligent species--English

[Wilsonator]

1. English?

I don't really understand this thread, but as an Englishman, I would question the validity of what you say.

You speak American, which is a breed apart from English if the Americans I've met are anything to go by

[athena]

2. That's really very insulting.

Just as insulting as when the French print, on the back of an American novel, "Traduit de l'américain par ..."

Your comment is as offensive as if a Frenchman said that the French spoken in, say, Senegal or Canada, was not real French. For your information, we also respect, love, and study the English language in the United States. We also write literature in English. We also study Shakespeare. In fact, we have one of the best Shakespeare theaters in the world in Staunton, Virginia. You might want to visit sometime.

I could be wrong, but I thought the DU rules of politeness and consideration applied in the Lounge as well as elsewhere.

[OriginalGeek]

3. Well, he did use a winky face at the end

perhaps his accent was too thick?

[athena]

4. Some of us love the English language

and are a little touchy about the idea that the language we love is not really English.

I wonder what people call Margaret Atwood's language. Perhaps they call it American, since it seems closer to "American" than to "English", at least to their ears. Or perhaps they call it Canadian, in which case I wonder how they distinguish it from Gabrielle Roy's language.

(I think perhaps I don't belong in the Lounge. I'm much too serious.)

[sharp_stick]

5. Oh no, you belong in the lounge

You are far too serious for your own good and the lounge does wonders to make you "unserious".

[athena]

8. I really need some of that medicine.

I'll stick around and try to be a little less self-serious.

[OriginalGeek]

7. Athena, you have no idea how much we need you

[Bucky]

11. (*pssst, it's a joke thread*)

We need to be nice to the British, if nothing else, then out of historical gratitude. If it weren't for them, we'd all be speaking Iroquois now.

[Major Nikon]

18. Some Canadians also think they are the only ones who speak real French

The French they speak tends to be more traditional than the French spoken in France.

The reality is that all language evolves and it evolves differently in different regions. The English spoken during Shakespeare's time and place would hardly be understood by any English speakers today and if you go back that much farther in time it would seem like a completely different language.

[Bucky]

10. I beg to differ.

I've noticed through a careful and thorough review of several tv shows that Americans speak regular English, unaccented, and other localities are only able to speak the language with accents.

[Major Nikon]

16. I take it you've never seen the movie "Fargo"

[Major Nikon]

15. I doubt if Bucky actually speaks "American". Most Americans who aren't Native Americans don't.

Most Native Americans don't even speak "American", and for even those who do there's a very wide variance of dialects.

I suspect what you really mean is Bucky speaks US English, but I could be wrong as I'm just assuming you are trying to express that meaning in a less than fully literate manner while simultaneously implying Americans are generally subliterate.

[malthaussen]

6. Reminds me of the story of the British sailors...

,,, their ship had just taken a French vessel, and the French crew grumbled to them, "How come you guys always win?"
"Well," the explanation went, "we pray before every battle."
"But we do that too!" the matelots protested.
"Yes, but we do it in English."

-- Mal

[Bucky]

9. So God AND aliens speak English.

That's a win-win

[malthaussen]

12. There's a definite pattern, there.

So, either this god-thing is an alien, or aliens are gods. Or both. Or maybe neither. Or maybe sometimes one, sometimes the other.

-- Mal

[yuiyoshida]

13. Ahem...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018896327

speaking of Aliens and language.

[Kaleva]

14. Florida Man's reputation is keeping the aliens at bay

[Major Nikon]

17. They'd like to come and meet us, but are afraid of blowing our minds

Sometimes I can pick them up on channel 2.

[frogmarch]

19. ETs can't get here because

of all the space debris, so what Earth language they'd favor doesn't matter.