English Impatience: Iraqis Rush to Learn American

Reuters ^ | July 29, 2003 | Cynthia Johnston

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You watching all of the language threads?

LOL!

[ICX]

Am I the only one that visualizes a world united under the language of Hmong?

And since when is American a language?

[ken5050]

Just curious...anyone know what the US military's rules are regarding getting married while in a foward combat zone?....

[Xenalyte]

I wish I spoke Iraqi so I could go over there and teach proper English to them.

[xtorpedoman]

wish there was a little more of that going on here in the states.

[xtorpedoman]

dealing with Iraq, i don't know ,but i am sure it requires lots of paperwork.

[armed_in_sydney]

Is there a difference between 'American English' and regular English besides the spelling(gaol/jail,colour/colour etc)?

[armed_in_sydney]

*that should read 'color/colour'

[A_perfect_lady]

I know, I thought the same thing! Then I saw the requisite negativity later in the article, and my world became predictable again.

LOL! You too, eh?

[ellery]

:-)

[ellery]

Great question -- are there any freepers here who can clarify?

[Trailerpark Badass]

Is there a difference between 'American English' and regular English besides the spelling(gaol/jail,colour/colour etc)?

Apparently, since Oxford publishes a dictionary of American English. I would be willing to bet, though, that more English folks than Americans acknowledge the difference .

[piasa]

Was the electricity and water any better under Saddam?

Probably.... his thugs weren't trying to cut lines and blow up power stations then.

And from what I've heard, the power never failed during a torture session with a live wire or cattle prod.

Being a Reuters article, they had to include the gimme gimme stuff even if no one had voiced any such thing- just as they twisted that American correspondant's story on Jessica Lynch out of recognition by adding things to it she had never written, and deleting anything positive.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

It was MORE of a positive article than a negative one, but leave it to the press to try to show it as less than positive. OVERALL.. I'd say it bode well for our troops.

They want to help us help them!!!

[kuma]

**"I want to help them help me."**

Jaafar got it right!!! Hopefully as time passes their will be more and more Iraqis thinking just like this guy. This kind of thinking is exactly what will lead to their own self-suffiency.

[kuma]

It is American English not just English. In the 1700's Webster decided that Americans needed their own brand of English and Dictionary in order to fully separate from "mother" England. If you look in an "English" dictionary you will not be able to find some American words. They are unique to our immigrant past from many different countries melted into a distinct American English.

Many people from foreign countries will complain that if they learn proper English it is difficult to understand Americans.

That is all for your history lesson today.

[Howlin]

OMG>..........ROFLMAO!

[lainde]

bttt