Debate: American English as a Universal Standard?
Should the sun never set on American-English?
How do you feel about American English being adopted as the standard for the English-speaking world?
Well, The Economist often hosts online debates with two well-known experts arguing for and against a motion proposed by the magazine. Right now, (or rather, beginning yesterday) the editors put forward this motion: “This house believes that the English-speaking world should adopt American English.”
Interesting, right? So check it out for yourself:
Opening statements are good place to get the gist of the arguments.
I suggest you be fair, and give both the Pro and the Con an honest chance to win your opinion … then come back here and comment to let us know what you think.
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Thank you, Nate. I will try to follow this.
seana
July 6, 2010 at 11:35 am
Just read the debate at http://economist.com/debate/days/view/535 – have to admit that the proposer’s arguments didn’t convince me at all.
I just can’t see how American English could be possibly enforced as a standard. A possibility of a common school English language curriculum is remote, let alone the different spoken Englishes!
Robby
October 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Robby,
Agreed. As flattering as it is (maybe?) that my personal dialect might be a standard, I just don’t see it as practical or even desirable.
Nathanael Green
November 12, 2010 at 4:13 pm