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by evadanit on January 31st, 2007

evadanit

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If Americans speak English, why do they say words differently? ie, Freeway, Leash, etc.

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  • by ChrisDG on January 31st, 2007

    ChrisDG

    It's natural for different communities speaking the same language to produce different words to mean the same thing. If you are brought up saying one thing you may tend to use that rather than an alternative that someone brought up elsewhere uses. Even within countries, we often use different words for the same thing, depending on area, social background, and personal views - compare couch, sofa, settee. All mean the same thing but which do you say? When you factor in slang terms it becomes even more diverse - girl, lass, gal, babe, bird, chick,honey etc.

    So for different countries that speak the same language, it is obvious that the paths will diverge. Don't forget that the language of English was taken over to the Americas before many modern inventions were invented, so rather than the word motorway being taken across, the word freeway developed over there independently. BTW, to me it's stupid because there's always traffic on it and you have to pay a road tax over there I think, so how it is 'free' is beyond me.

    To me, this is one reason why language is such an amazing thing. Though if I have to state I use America English one more time.....

    Comments

    • It's natural for differing communities that are isolated to develop their own vocabulary. There are some striking examples in parts of England too (indeed my employers offer a course for people moving to Northern England to aid their understanding of clients). My colleagues have gotten to grips with my tendency to drop the odd Canadianism for example.
      Some terms just cannot be understood at the literal level such as "Freeway" or in England "Public Schools" which are private. You need an understand of the system to 'get' what it means.
      Vive la difference.

      PinkPantherFan

      by PinkPantherFan on May 18th, 2008

    • Just to clear it up we say freeway because its free of traffic lights and stop signs ext. and we don't pay to use them we pay to use toll roads but then again we have interstates and highways but you can be on an interstate and a highway at the same time it could even be a road and a street its cuz we have been heavily influenced by immigration

      AmEyouKnowme

      by AmEyouKnowme on January 23rd, 2011

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