Why are British English and American English so different?

[Tambourine]

Thank you for showing that you have no understanding of the importance of preserving Sanskrit as the language of Hinduism and how seriously it’s taken, and how it’s done. Or anything about the language, really. Go find a Sanskrit class and learn.

Touchy subject, is it?

 

[Jainarayan]

Touchy subject, is it?

Only when someone doesn’t know what they’re talking about, trying to show they know something and disparages someone else’s religious traditions.

Shubhamastu kalyanamastu ca.

 

[Stevicus]

Three centuries is a long time in language - use, spelling, meaning, accents, dialects...
I suspect (with no evidence whatsoever) our dearly beloved emigrants wanted to create as much "difference" as possible between the two.

American and British English Words List (A to Z)

One entry in that list I found interesting was that the British use the phrase "knock up" to mean "awaken someone."

In American slang, "knock up" has a completely different connotation.

Some of it seems a bit off. We use "chest of drawers" in America; it's more common than "bureau," which is what they say the American term is. There seems to be a few other questionable entries on this list.

 

[Tambourine]

Only when someone doesn’t know what they’re talking about, trying to show they know something and disparages someone else’s religious traditions.

Shubhamastu kalyanamastu ca.

Is it important to your religious tradition that modern people sound exactly the same as people from 2000 years ago?

 

[Estro Felino]

One entry in that list I found interesting was that the British use the phrase "knock up" to mean "awaken someone."

In American slang, "knock up" has a completely different connotation.

Some of it seems a bit off. We use "chest of drawers" in America; it's more common than "bureau," which is what they say the American term is. There seems to be a few other questionable entries on this list.

Not to mention what queer means ...in AE and in BE...

 

[Secret Chief]

One entry in that list I found interesting was that the British use the phrase "knock up" to mean "awaken someone."

In American slang, "knock up" has a completely different connotation.

Some of it seems a bit off. We use "chest of drawers" in America; it's more common than "bureau," which is what they say the American term is. There seems to be a few other questionable entries on this list.

I agree. Probably shows how quickly some things can changed. "Knocked up" also means got pregnant in the UK (assuming that was your allusion).

 

[Wandering Monk]

Two nations divided by a common language.

 

[Jainarayan]

Is it important to your religious tradition that modern people sound exactly the same as people from 2000 years ago?

Yes, it is extremely important.

Ordinarily at this point I would say this is why you should not speak on what you do not know. I would say go do some homework, and I would walk away. Because instead of asking this question at the outset, what practicing Hindus believe was challenged and virtually mocked by someone who barely knows the religion, if at all. But for the benefit of others who are not so confident in their “knowledge” I’ll explain.

In Hinduism sound is energy.

Shabda Brahman or Sabda-brahman or Nada brahman means transcendental sound (Shatapatha Brahmana III.12.48) or sound vibration (Shatpatha Brahmana Vi.16.51) or the transcendental sound of the Vedas (Shatpatha Brahmana Xi.21.36) or of Vedic scriptures (Shatpatha Brahmana X.20.43).Nada Brahman or Shabda Brahman.

We communicate with our Gods through this sound energy... mantras, other Vedic hymns and chants. They must be chanted exactly as they were revealed to the rishis (sages) and perceived. A mantra has no effect if it’s not pronounced as originally received. There is some wiggle room because everyone has their own individual accent.

Even when an appliance doesn’t receive the full voltage from the electric grid, e.g. a brown out or faulty connections, it will still work to a degree, though not fully or as intended. The same holds true for Sanskrit. In liturgical use if Sanskrit is pronounced incorrectly or not as closely as possible to its original sound it creates a faulty connection. It may even do damage. Just like a faulty electrical connection.

If Sanskrit is used as a mundane spoken language, like any other language, near perfect pronunciation is not necessary. Nor is following the rules of sandhi in prose. Writing down sacred writings it is required. For personal use it’s not as important.

So yeah, it’s important in our religious tradition and why great care is taken to transmit it faithfully from teacher to student for liturgical purposes.

 

[MNoBody]

Yes, it is extremely important.

Ordinarily at this point I would say this is why you should not speak on what you do not know. I would say go do some homework, and I would walk away. Because instead of asking this question at the outset, what practicing Hindus believe was challenged and virtually mocked by someone who barely knows the religion, if at all. But for the benefit of others who are not so confident in their “knowledge” I’ll explain.

In Hinduism sound is energy.


We communicate with our Gods through this sound energy... mantras, other Vedic hymns and chants. They must be chanted exactly as they were revealed to the rishis (sages) and perceived. A mantra has no effect if it’s not pronounced as originally received. There is some wiggle room because everyone has their own individual accent.

Even when an appliance doesn’t receive the full voltage from the electric grid, e.g. a brown out or faulty connections, it will still work to a degree, though not fully or as intended. The same holds true for Sanskrit. In liturgical use if Sanskrit is pronounced incorrectly or not as closely as possible to its original sound it creates a faulty connection. It may even do damage. Just like a faulty electrical connection.

If Sanskrit is used as a mundane spoken language, like any other language, near perfect pronunciation is not necessary. Nor is following the rules of sandhi in prose. Writing down sacred writings it is required. For personal use it’s not as important.

So yeah, it’s important in our religious tradition and why great care is taken to transmit it faithfully from teacher to student for liturgical purposes.

a good explanation, thank you for being rational and providing that insight, which is indeed a very important matter, despite what modern mindsets assume are unimportant....but it is understandable given how language has been assaulted over the millennia ..it erodes the meanings away.
example:

 

[Tambourine]

Yes, it is extremely important.

Ordinarily at this point I would say this is why you should not speak on what you do not know. I would say go do some homework, and I would walk away. Because instead of asking this question at the outset, what practicing Hindus believe was challenged and virtually mocked by someone who barely knows the religion, if at all. But for the benefit of others who are not so confident in their “knowledge” I’ll explain.

In Hinduism sound is energy.


We communicate with our Gods through this sound energy... mantras, other Vedic hymns and chants. They must be chanted exactly as they were revealed to the rishis (sages) and perceived. A mantra has no effect if it’s not pronounced as originally received. There is some wiggle room because everyone has their own individual accent.

Even when an appliance doesn’t receive the full voltage from the electric grid, e.g. a brown out or faulty connections, it will still work to a degree, though not fully or as intended. The same holds true for Sanskrit. In liturgical use if Sanskrit is pronounced incorrectly or not as closely as possible to its original sound it creates a faulty connection. It may even do damage. Just like a faulty electrical connection.

If Sanskrit is used as a mundane spoken language, like any other language, near perfect pronunciation is not necessary. Nor is following the rules of sandhi in prose. Writing down sacred writings it is required. For personal use it’s not as important.

So yeah, it’s important in our religious tradition and why great care is taken to transmit it faithfully from teacher to student for liturgical purposes.

Okay, thank you for finally letting me know that this debate was a waste of my time. Take care.

 

[Estro Felino]

 

[Stevicus]

Never heard of "capsicum" for bell pepper.

And the American speaker said "french fries" when everyone knows it's "freedom fries."

 

[Estro Felino]

Never heard of "capsicum" for bell pepper.

And the American speaker said "french fries" when everyone knows it's "freedom fries."

Imagine that in Italian we have the same term for French fries and chips. So it is pretty confusing...

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Never heard of "capsicum" for bell pepper.

And the American speaker said "french fries" when everyone knows it's "freedom fries."

I thought it was "Cheese-loving surrender monkey" fries

 

[Estro Felino]

I thought it was "Cheese-loving surrender monkey" fries

@Revoltingest knows it

 

[Hildeburh]

I mean...they sound like two completely different language....so many differences as for phonology...how is that possible? I mean...only 3 centuries separate the English from the Pilgrim Fathers.

Lol have you ever visited Britain? I was born in Derby in the Midlands and can only understand the Northumbrian dialect because my aunt was born there, my husband struggles. English as spoken in Great Britain is dialectical and a result of historical influences, time and linguistic drift, as is all language

 

[metis]

The irony is that I can much more easily understand the Irish dialect than many of the British dialects, especially Cockney. Even the Scottish dialect I sometimes struggle with.

 

[metis]

Imagine that in Italian we have the same term for French fries and chips. So it is pretty confusing...

Question: Do you know the difference between a French man and an Italian man?

Answer: A French man is like an Italian man but with far more brains.

[btw, just by coincidence, I'm roughly half French]

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Okay, thank you for finally letting me know that this debate was a waste of my time. Take care.

And that's on you. I learned something from @Jainarayan and am thankful for it.

 

[Tambourine]

And that's on you. I learned something from @Jainarayan and am thankful for it.

Was there a point to this post other than a personal attack?