User:Evropaios

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm a European editor, interested in European topics and the English language.

I care very much about grammar, punctuation and spelling. I adore British English.

Why British English?

Eight reasons why British English is a great choice:

1. ORIGIN

The English language originated in England (that's why it's called "English"). Of course, all the other varieties of English, like American English or Australian English, are equally correct. But the place where it all started, the "birth place" of the English language is the UK.

2. CULTURAL BACKGROUND

The way you speak and write tells others something about your cultural background. Therefore, especially for Europeans, British English is a very good choice. It's the variety of English that originated on their home continent.

3. EUROPEAN ENGLISH

With the process of European integration, British English has become the standard for pan-European organisations and associations like the European Union, the European Space Agency and Europol. British English is taught at most schools across Europe and is used in European courts. Companies that focus on the European market use British English.

4. BE DIFFERENT!

Nowadays, American English is more dominant than British English in many areas, which is due to the large population of the United States and its economic and military power. But wouldn't it be very boring if there was only one standard of English spread across the world? By using British English or another variety of English, you can contribute to more linguistic variety and make English more interesting as a global language.

5. INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR

British English is often considered more international than other varieties. The reason: As far as spelling and usage are concerned, the majority of the English-speaking countries (Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand...) follow British conventions. Even in Canada, spellings like "centre", "neighbour" and "traveller" are preferred by newspapers and the government. Most international organisations use British spelling for their house style, examples include the United Nations, the OECD, the World Trade Organization, NATO and ISO. Note: For international purposes, the suffix -ize (like "organize") is often preferred. Both -ise and -ize are correct in British English.

Most international treaties are written in British English, for example The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Kyoto Protocol.

6. VARIETY OF ACCENTS

Most people associate the term "British accent" with a Southern English accent like Received Pronunciation (RP). But in fact, the British isles offer a great variety of beautiful accents, e.g. Scottish, Welsh and Irish.

7. SPELLING

To a great extent, modern British English spelling is based on Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language, whereas American spelling was standardised by Noah Webster. It should be noted that in many cases American spelling seems more logical, but British spelling is often regarded as more aesthetic. It also preserves historical influences, especially from the French language (examples: "manoeuvre", "kilometre"). Even in American English, spellings like "theatre", "grey" and "glamour" are very popular.

8. SOUND

The British accent (especially the Southern English accent) is often described as very "crisp" and "clear". Many people, including Americans, find it "pleasant to listen to". Films like Harry Potter, Pirates of the Carribean and Lord of the Rings owe some of their popularity to the extensive use of beautiful British accents.