How American is your English?

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Kotey 9 years ago

I asked the Gentleman at the hotel to direct me to the lift and he stood there wondering what I was up to.

I was so baffled by the response since I thought at least he owed me that courtesy.At first I thought he was just b ...
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I asked the Gentleman at the hotel to direct me to the lift and he stood there wondering what I was up to.

I was so baffled by the response since I thought at least he owed me that courtesy.At first I thought he was just being racist since he was white but I then realized that we may be on a different wavelength language and communication wise.

That was where it occurred to me to use sign language and it worked.Ohh he said you meant the elevator, at least that word described what I meant so I said ohh we call it lift and we laughed over it.JJC is always an experience isn't it.
Jordys 9 years ago

"But I bet you these frustrations are in no way comparable to the one you experience when you are in a country that is supposed to speak a language that you have a degree in and yet you can't seem to communicate."

Kidding ...
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"But I bet you these frustrations are in no way comparable to the one you experience when you are in a country that is supposed to speak a language that you have a degree in and yet you can't seem to communicate."

Kidding right? Then your frustration will only accentuate with time, but let me tell you kiddo, YOU have a real problem! If I went to America and someone felt repelled by my English, that would be their problem! Because, frankly, I don't care. Would they be able to speak my native language when they come to Ghana?

I met so many francophone natives in the USA who couldn't speak English the way we speak but aren't this complex in the face of manipulation of the language. So asking, why do we create so much problem for ourselves?

Let it be clear, you can't be as good as native language speakers unless you're the gifted type in language assimilation. But that is just one issue. The second is that, even Americans intonation isn't the original because English language didn't start from there, it was brought there.
In conclusion, if we accept American English, Canadian English, Australian English, Irish English, then we should accept Ghanaian English because nothing's going to change it; after all, the essence of language is communication between parties! Ans so long as someone is going to understand what I say, to hell with my intonation or pronunciation. In other words, I don't bloody well care.
Pumpuni 9 years ago

"I have learnt,..."
I do not want to grade your write up. But I can tell you that you still have a lot to learn when it comes to American English. You can't use "learnt" in the classroom. Your Professor will accept "learned" ...
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"I have learnt,..."
I do not want to grade your write up. But I can tell you that you still have a lot to learn when it comes to American English. You can't use "learnt" in the classroom. Your Professor will accept "learned" instead of "learnt".
Joe 9 years ago

The Professor instead of "Lecturer". Better still he may have to consider taking English 101

The Professor instead of "Lecturer". Better still he may have to consider taking English 101
Idiot Mugabe 9 years ago

I agree mate. The author writes: "For the obvious reasons that America is the greatest
nation on earth and the fact that it is an English speaking country should make it easier for me to settle into my new environment".

O ...
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I agree mate. The author writes: "For the obvious reasons that America is the greatest
nation on earth and the fact that it is an English speaking country should make it easier for me to settle into my new environment".

Obviously, he is not perfect and must continue to learn. He should be mindful of those who are singing his praises over his superlative command on Queen's language.
Idiot Mugabe 9 years ago

Again, since when did 'groundnut' become an an American? In fact, groundnut is a generic term for most nuts. For example, 'peanut is a groundnut; 'tigernut is a groundnut etc.

Again, since when did 'groundnut' become an an American? In fact, groundnut is a generic term for most nuts. For example, 'peanut is a groundnut; 'tigernut is a groundnut etc.
Kokuvi Da Togolese 9 years ago

I'm laughing all throughout because I have had similar experiences. That is why the Akans say "brofo ye duru".

I'm laughing all throughout because I have had similar experiences. That is why the Akans say "brofo ye duru".
John Baboni 9 years ago

The kind of writing you've presented here doesn't confirm your boast of being good at English. What village boys like you don't know is that American English wasn't even recognized by the authoritative British English system ...
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The kind of writing you've presented here doesn't confirm your boast of being good at English. What village boys like you don't know is that American English wasn't even recognized by the authoritative British English system until the late 1920's.

What you presented here is too shallow and unrepresentative of what readers need to learn from writers of opinion pieces.

Go back to your village and start with TOEFL before you re-enter the United States.
Henry 9 years ago

Look, the guy is sharing his experience regarding some parts of American culture.You cannot call it shallow because it's a first hand personal experience until his friend even has to come to his rescue.What do you think you k ...
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Look, the guy is sharing his experience regarding some parts of American culture.You cannot call it shallow because it's a first hand personal experience until his friend even has to come to his rescue.What do you think you know yourself? .Give us a break. I had the same experience when I came here in 2002.I walked into a pharmacy & requested to buy paracetamol.The guy told me it's foreign & so could not help me. So what are you talking about!.The import of his message is that ,paracetamol may not be called same in America. You don't need a PHD to get his message! .
carmah 9 years ago

John Baboni. This is not about grammar or spelling. It's about the guy's experiences and frustration with how the English language works in different societies. Could we just enjoy the substance.

John Baboni. This is not about grammar or spelling. It's about the guy's experiences and frustration with how the English language works in different societies. Could we just enjoy the substance.

John Baboni 9 years ago

The word is "village" and not the "viullage" that showed up.

The word is "village" and not the "viullage" that showed up.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Quite interesting.

I enjoyed reading your piece.

Funny though.

Quite interesting.

I enjoyed reading your piece.

Funny though.
Henry 9 years ago

Hahaha Kwame ,interesting! .I love your American experience.A lot more to learn maybe about names & the pronunciation of some words.E.g,Peter which would sound as PITA in Ghana is "Piide" in America.
Don't forget, Americans ...
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Hahaha Kwame ,interesting! .I love your American experience.A lot more to learn maybe about names & the pronunciation of some words.E.g,Peter which would sound as PITA in Ghana is "Piide" in America.
Don't forget, Americans have their own English full of "jargons".
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Sam 9 years ago

We were taught the "ORIGINAL ENGLISH" from England/Great Britain. The Americans have their own bastardized version of it called "Americanism".
Rudyard Kipling, had this to say about American English.

"The American has no ...
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We were taught the "ORIGINAL ENGLISH" from England/Great Britain. The Americans have their own bastardized version of it called "Americanism".
Rudyard Kipling, had this to say about American English.

"The American has no Language. He has dialect,slang,provincialism,accents and so forth".
KOFI YESU 9 years ago

Mr Kwame Yeboah,please come back with Part 2 of this nice article .If you have never left shores of Ghana,you won't understand all that has been written but for those of us who has been in the writer's shoes,this is a well ar ...
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Mr Kwame Yeboah,please come back with Part 2 of this nice article .If you have never left shores of Ghana,you won't understand all that has been written but for those of us who has been in the writer's shoes,this is a well articulated funny piece.I like it.We all have similar stories.I laugh enter my branded Okada.....am still laughing.
cdes 9 years ago

I can't stop laughing

I can't stop laughing
Loving 9 years ago

A non-been-to can hardly appreciate the nature of linguistic frustration the writer is lamenting over until you you have experienced it first hand.
I was once a victim; nor have I overcome it yet.
True is the observation o ...
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A non-been-to can hardly appreciate the nature of linguistic frustration the writer is lamenting over until you you have experienced it first hand.
I was once a victim; nor have I overcome it yet.
True is the observation of George Bernard Shaw that the British and the Americans are two different people divided by a common language
Rev. Kofi. U.K. 9 years ago

Write a book on this topic...it will sell.

Write a book on this topic...it will sell.
Out of American dillemma 9 years ago

Any body wanting to get a quick handle of American English may want to buy a copy of 'The American Heritage Dictionary,' fifth edition. This dictionary gives crisp definitions, pronunciations, and etymology. You can't go wron ...
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Any body wanting to get a quick handle of American English may want to buy a copy of 'The American Heritage Dictionary,' fifth edition. This dictionary gives crisp definitions, pronunciations, and etymology. You can't go wrong with this.

Kofi 9 years ago

OED is a fat lot better than any American crap on the English Language.

OED is a fat lot better than any American crap on the English Language.
Out of American dilemma 9 years ago

The title of the article was "How American is your English", with emphasis on the word American. Regardless of how crappy you think other dictionaries might be (relative to the Oxford English Dictionary) you may want to brows ...
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The title of the article was "How American is your English", with emphasis on the word American. Regardless of how crappy you think other dictionaries might be (relative to the Oxford English Dictionary) you may want to browse through the American Heritage Dictionary if you can lay hands on one...you may change your mind. It is a classic for all students of the English language. Don't trash a book you probably haven't seen or read even a single page.
Nigger 9 years ago

Carpet in ghana is rag in US, in Texas you have to paid attention to differentiate' for and four', these people -them folks

Carpet in ghana is rag in US, in Texas you have to paid attention to differentiate' for and four', these people -them folks
SOD 9 years ago

Couldn't stop laughing esp. if you've experienced the situations described.
Laughter is indeed a medicine.
Thanks Doc.

Couldn't stop laughing esp. if you've experienced the situations described.
Laughter is indeed a medicine.
Thanks Doc.
Haile K 9 years ago

You are absolutely right. Back home we think we speak English even after we graduated from College. But when we come here(in America),people particularly African-American can't understand us. However, when money involves, the ...
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You are absolutely right. Back home we think we speak English even after we graduated from College. But when we come here(in America),people particularly African-American can't understand us. However, when money involves, they understand our broken English easily-Money minded society. This is what happened to me when I was new for this country,Police gave me a ticket for not using pedestrian crossing line.
Dee Young KD 9 years ago

Yea! All the comments here seems about right. One thing which i also find interesting is not to say lectures. Rather, say class. It appears that all classes from grade school level to graduate level are called class.

Yea! All the comments here seems about right. One thing which i also find interesting is not to say lectures. Rather, say class. It appears that all classes from grade school level to graduate level are called class.
maame 9 years ago

funny im also a victim right now. hmmmm USA

funny im also a victim right now. hmmmm USA

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