[Melbourne-pm] Internationali[sz]ation

[Peter Machell]

On 29/05/2008, at 3:16 PM, Simon Taylor wrote:

> We moved effortlessly to the metric system because of our culture,  
> (even
> if we spell 'metre' the French way), and the US
> has not manged this transition because of theirs.

I don't understand this argument. Nor do I think we moved  
effortlessly. I'm 36 and was taught metric at school, but still think  
of small distances in feet and inches and long ones in kilometres, a  
result of the culture I was raised in.

> But no matter how you dice it, their spelling is better....

My opinion is better than yours? Color and Mom are horrible and don't  
make phonetic sense without the US accent (not that their aren't lots  
of similar English examples). I can't help but correct Program every  
time I see it, not to mention almost anything with a z in it.

Anyway I agree that our culture wouldn't suffer much if we all  
submitted to the US way, but isn't the ultimate end of that line of  
thinking complete Americanizzzation?

regards,
Peter.