Today, there is also internet English, which is the international
language of for many who speak other languages at home. Someone
remarked at the use of "lense" for "lens" here, but that is becoming
common in many places on the net, as more and more people for whom
English is not their native tongue use it to reach others throughout the
world. This use will affect the way native English speakers on both
sides of the pond (and that bigger pond) use the language -- and that is
a good thing.
Dan M
Bob W wrote:
I'm sorry, but there is such a thing as British spelling, and British
English, and British English is a minority variety (I think Indian English
has the most speakers).
There are also such things as Jamaican English, Australian English, Canadian
English, African American English, Scots English, Estuary English, ... I
could go on. Each of them has its own spelling varieties too. Not only are
there geographically distinct varieties of English (and any other widespread
language) but there are also varieties distinct to each generation within,
and to some extent across, the geographical varieties.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0521629942/102-4625644-4597749
?v=glance
One of the reasons for the richness of English is that nobody has ever
successfully legislated to keep it 'pure', so it just goes its own way.
