Why Ou Instead Of O?
<div class="IPBDescription">I'm an American with a question...</div> Ok, pretty simple... In Britain, or other places[I don't know], why do you put ou instead of o like in words like Color/Colour and Favorite/Favourite? Is there some History behind it or something? Thanks for the read. No flaming[Funny coming from me eh?].
Comments
colo<b>U</b>r foreva!!
[EDIT] From this: <a href='http://www.musicalenglishlessons.com/spelling-diffs.htm' target='_blank'>clicky</a>.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->EXPLANATION (by Bibi Baxter)
Many American spellings differ from English spellings. The original settlers to New England taught English Webster's spelling-rules which omitted 'U' in words ending in 'OUR' (eg: honor/honour & color/colour, etc) and also promoted single consonants instead of double consonants in 2nd syllables, (eg: traveler/traveller, etc)
The influence of multi-cultural immigrants to the US, has also meant that American spellings have gradually evolved over the centuries, becoming more phonetic than British spellings.
American spellings are now becoming more universal as Microsoft software defaults to American spellings and often does not recognise British spellings. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
On the other hand, our quaint British spellings are a product of history, influenced by Shakespeare, Chaucer, Claxton, et al.
Both types of spellings are acceptable, but my advice is to be consistent, i.e. either use all British spellings, or all American ones. (If you are taking an English exam, check in advance which spelling rules you should use.) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Theoretically, the pronounciations are the same (discouting things like accent). Ive never heard anyone say col-our here. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
I say "Co-lore" not "Col-our." Hmm... Pretty interesting... *Reads up*
Why do we spell it "colour" and "armour"? Because that's how it's spelled. My turn: why do you spell it differently? The entire English speaking world, except for America, spells these words with "ou". <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
The Site SpiderMonkey posted says Canadian spells tons the same way at America too...
Is it "metered" or "metred"?
(There is a logic error in the previous statement. 5 points for the first one to notice it)
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Thank you for getting my point across better than I did, you made it that much more understanble even to me! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
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Yankee can be a derogatory term.
Just a heads up to all of you non-Americans.
The Site SpiderMonkey posted says Canadian spells tons the same way at America too...
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I've always wondered how the British spell the past tense of "to metre".
Is it "metered" or "metred"?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As far as I understand, "metre" is only the unit of measurement. I'm not sure. I think "meter" as in "gauge" is actually how it's spelled. I could be wrong. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Isn't Canada "the expansion pack for the US"? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
I'd like to think of Canada as more of a vastly superior version. With a less crowed player count, more area to explore, less polution for the most part and lower PK rate. Not to mention that Canadians are much more likely to accept other cultures in general. Not to say that Americans are less multi-cultural, but.. some areas in the states can be just that.
But aside from my pro-Canada biased speech, to my knowledge Canada uses the british spellings, not the American for pretty much every word short of Aluminim.
Brit's use Through (Thruff)
I mean, how did you end up with that one? that's just trying to cheat at scrabble!
Ahh, Eddie Izzard. Thanks for the memories.
When North America was colonised, some of the language simply froze. This was during the 1600s. Since this time, British English has moved on due to its interaction with the world (industrial revolutions, technological revolutions, protracted war, the British Empire, proximity to Europe).
This is why Shakespeare spells it 'labor', not 'labour' ...
Scroll to the bottom for some examples: <a href='http://www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm</a>.
colour="kuller"=RIGHT
color= "ko-lore"=WRONG
the extra "u" drops the first vowel.
And don't even get me started on what you did to al-yu-min-yum
oddly funny.
Another spelling difference i've noticed over the year is
in words like "defence". The American spelling would be "defense".
There's a few other words out there will similar alterations
but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
(I'll probably think of some in work later and edit this post a little.)
EDIT_01: Center and Centre are another one.
He was also not well liked, all he talked about was his money and his Jaguar (car).
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Yankee can be a derogatory term.
Just a heads up to all of you non-Americans. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Particularly to Cubs fans I would assume? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
gaol not jail
met<b>re</b>
umm
other stuff
mum
mom sounds weird :S .... and looks weird
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Yankee can be a derogatory term.
Just a heads up to all of you non-Americans. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Particularly to Cubs fans I would assume? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually, it was particularly derogatory for Dutch-Americans.
You realise we don't actually use 'gaol' right?
Please say yes.
I'm sorry you feel that way. All my inflamatory comments in this thread have been in good fun, not meant to offend.
...
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Of course, Americans use Thru (Throo)
Brit's use Through (Thruff)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You've lost me. Nobody pronounces it "thruff". Yes, I realise that's the same spelling as "tough", except it has a "hr" inserted after the "t". That's English for you <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
...
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Another spelling difference i've noticed over the year is
in words like "defence". The American spelling would be "defense".<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not entirely certain, but I think they may both be words. I mean, both words in use in the same country. Like the difference between "practise" and "practice". <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Er... that's as specific as that example's going to get, because I'm not entirely sure what the difference between "practise" and "practice" actually is. *loops sheepish*</span>
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->You say 'erbs, we say herbs, because there's a f**king 'h' in it<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the real question is why don't you spell the words as they originally are in English as opposed to the American bastardisation.
Only olde worlde places trying to be quaint use gaol.
SoulSkorpion: thruff was another Izzard quote.
Talking of olde worlde Britain - has anyone been to or heard of Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem ? That's my local !
I read Fantasy alot
MANY MANY Fantasy writers are Brits
Thus I can't spell worth **** (I am american)
SCREW YOU WORD!!! (won't pick up my spellings those bastds)
colour, armour, and aparently me need to put in 2 consenants(SP? thats just me sucking) IS THEIR FAULT ALSO!!!!!
(so ,yah all of you who see me calling it the armoury now know that I am a stinkin american <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->)
I'm bias to British-English, especially with lexis such as "Aluminum" and "Nite" that I just can't stomach.