Grant Barrett on American English

American lexicographer Grant Barrett has written a riposte on the BBC website to a piece it published recently (and which I commented on) regarding Americanisms in British English. Barrett says that the 'mongrel bitch' that the British gave to the Americans is getting on very well in America. He turns the tables on journalists like Matthew Engel, who wrote the original article, and says that much of the comment about language that is published in the press is dominated by 'carpers, whiners and peevers'. Barrett knows what he is talking about; the radio show he hosts in the US gets about 10,000 phone calls from listeners, and "a small but keyboard-happy minority" ring to complain. He wishes that people would ask 'why?' and seek out explanations, rather than simply say 'I hate this word' and leave it at that.

 

Here is the piece by Grant Barrett.

Comments

[CharlesKelsey@Learn English]

I think that is right instead of complaining why not seek into it and find reasons to like it.