Over the weekend, my wife and I visted the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont. We wandered around the museum and welcoming center, then did an easy hike through the forest where the fort once stood, over 200 years ago. There isn't much left to see of it, since it was razed to the ground by the British after they finally succeeded in driving the rebel Americans away from the shores of Lake Champlain. There are remnants of bunkers, though, and stone foundations are visible in many places.
One of the aspects of the visit that I found most interesting was the language. In the museum and on exhibit descriptions, excerpts from soldiers' journals and letters were on display. In some cases, reading their accounts was like reading a strangely familiar yet foreign language.
"...went with ye Qr. M. Genl. and laid out a large gardin at ye foot of the Mount..."
It is strange to think that the language spoken in this country has changed so much in a mere two centuries. Without having given it all that much thought before, I admittedly hadn't thought that it would have evolved so fast.
We no longer speak British English in the States, though. Sometimes I have difficulty understanding anything some Brits say, depending on the dialect.
And yet on paper, we all speak "English". Fascinating.
Posted by steve at June 22, 2004 12:25 PMWit ya sayin mon? Wuz aal talk reet clear, like.
I met a bunch of American basketball players from Chicago once. I had to get them to repeat everything they said to me about three times. I just couldn't understand a word of what they were saying.
Posted by: Jez at June 23, 2004 09:32 AMEven on paper, we are different, my friend. Just think of what passes for "English" in India, for example.
But even minor differences between UK and US English are reflected in the written language as well: e.g., in the UK, people would come knocking at your door, whereas Americans prefer to knock on the door.
Brits have various activities to indulge in AT the weekend, and Americans do stuff ON the weekend.
So, yes, a great people divided by a common language ...
Posted by: Werner George Patels at June 26, 2004 07:21 PM