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Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: The Peepmaster on September 10, 2010, 12:46:29 PM

Title: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 10, 2010, 12:46:29 PM
Discuss.

http://comics.com/andy_capp/2010-09-09/ (http://comics.com/andy_capp/2010-09-09/)
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 10, 2010, 12:53:48 PM
No.

That's my view, not a refusal.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Vulture on September 10, 2010, 01:07:04 PM
How can you Americanise 'Andy Capp'?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 10, 2010, 01:53:17 PM
I think it's the source you get the strips from, Nige. They change some of the spelling for the American market.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Feather on September 10, 2010, 03:12:18 PM
I think it's the source you get the strips from, Nige. They change some of the spelling for the American market.

I agree, Roger. If the British spellings were used, American readers might assume the words had been misspelled. Misspelled words tend to make most anything look unprofessional.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Diane CBPFC on September 10, 2010, 03:30:06 PM
How can you Americanise 'Andy Capp'?

Drew Capp?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 10, 2010, 06:37:26 PM
Hmm - do they alter the spellings of American cartoon strips published over here?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Vulture on September 10, 2010, 06:50:25 PM
I think it's the source you get the strips from, Nige. They change some of the spelling for the American market.

I agree, Roger. If the British spellings were used, American readers might assume the words had been misspelled. Misspelled words tend to make most anything look unprofessional.

Yes. I've noticed that whenever I read books written by Americans.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Mince on September 10, 2010, 06:52:00 PM
Hmm - do they alter the spellings of American cartoon strips published over here?

Do I detect a note of disbelief in that question? Are you questioning Roger himself!
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 10, 2010, 06:55:07 PM
I think it's the source you get the strips from, Nige. They change some of the spelling for the American market.

I agree, Roger. If the British spellings were used, American readers might assume the words had been misspelled. Misspelled words tend to make most anything look unprofessional.

But they'd be wrong to assume that though, wouldn't they, Feather? The words would not be misspelled at all. On the contrary, the 'corrections' are the misspelled versions. As for the site that both Peepsie and I get our emailed Andy Capp from, it may be based in the United States, but it flogs these strips to a global audience, obviously. Is it too much to expect them therefore to reinstate the correct English spellings for the UK market? I'm scandalized by this quite frankly.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 10, 2010, 08:03:29 PM
I ought to point out that I'm almost friends with the Dalai Lama, on Facebook.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Joan on September 11, 2010, 01:11:17 AM
I ought to point out that I'm almost friends with the Dalai Lama, on Facebook.

In that case, I'm almost friends with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Robert Downey, Jr, the whole of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and a few other people I won't mention because you'll probably tease me about them.  :)
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 11, 2010, 07:44:54 PM
Back to the original question and I really have no problem with the spelling being changed for American publications. For me, it's much the same as translating the strip into a foreign language---you are simply catering for the market. For example, as Feather said, the use of the word "colour" in America would most likely be construed as a misspelling of "color" and it makes absolutely no sense to me to insist on the original. Language evolves constantly and I can understand completely why Americans have decided to simplify the spelling of certain words.
Diane, how do Canadians approach this? Is it "colour" or "color"?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Diane CBPFC on September 11, 2010, 07:58:17 PM
Canadians are a pretty tolerant bunch - we are the only nation I know of that can co-exist with the French.

At home it's "colour" - when dealing with Americans we may often chose to go with their spellings.  Except of course when they insist on calling campgrounds something like Kozy Kottages - that just gets annoying.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Feather on September 11, 2010, 11:34:06 PM
Back to the original question and I really have no problem with the spelling being changed for American publications. For me, it's much the same as translating the strip into a foreign language---you are simply catering for the market. For example, as Feather said, the use of the word "colour" in America would most likely be construed as a misspelling of "color" and it makes absolutely no sense to me to insist on the original.

There are many Americans who may not realize there is a difference between British English and American English in terms of expressions and spellings. These people would see the word "colour" as a misspelling. I believe, Roger, you once had the issue of using "vest" and "pants" to describe undergarments but learned that Americans would see this as part of a three-piece suit.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Mince on September 11, 2010, 11:49:04 PM
When Feather and I toured Britain it took a few days before I realised that a lot of the phrases she used did not actually mean "Fuck off!".
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 11, 2010, 11:54:53 PM
As I understand it (and I'm bound to be corrected here), American spelling has generally maintained the original spelling that was around in the 1600/1700's (with the ecption of new words originated in the USA).  They then saw no need for superfluous letters.

We in the military have had a 'superior' attitude to the 'correct' spelling of english words in military papers. This is evident in the past of 'correcting' the "z"'s for "s"'s.  Naturally, there is a NATO procedure for spelling and the Oxford English Dictionary is the deciding factor (with some French one for the other official NATO language).  I have to side with our ex-colonials however, when I pointed out during a meeting that both spellings using zeds and esses were acceptable, and in most cases the zed ('zee' for you Americans out there) is the first spelling in the dictionary.   
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 11, 2010, 11:55:33 PM
When Feather and I toured Britain it took a few days before I realised that a lot of the phrases she used did not actually mean "Fuck off!".

"Get out of here"?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Malc on September 11, 2010, 11:56:31 PM
Quote
I realised that a lot of the phrases she used did not actually mean "Fuck off!".
except the phrase "fuck off!" itself of course, which remains unambiguous.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 11, 2010, 11:58:14 PM
p.s.  What happened to Feather' lovely picture (avatar)?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 12, 2010, 09:50:26 AM

 Americans would see this as part of a three-piece suit.


What, like an armchair?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 12, 2010, 01:20:22 PM

 Americans would see this as part of a three-piece suit.


What, like an armchair?

e, bah gum.  Thee appears to have missed the silent 'e' on the end of 'suit'.  Oh, no - Feather didn't put one there.  She must have meant clothing, not furniture.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Feather on September 12, 2010, 02:46:59 PM
When Feather and I toured Britain it took a few days before I realised that a lot of the phrases she used did not actually mean "Fuck off!".

Get out of here"?

"Whatever." "I don't care." "I don't want to talk about it." "Thank you."

Ask Mince about his own "fuck offs."
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 12, 2010, 04:14:27 PM
Sounds like you both had a wonderful time.  :-\
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Vulture on September 12, 2010, 04:19:09 PM
Sounds like you both had a wonderful time.  :-\

Yes. They did. You'd never believe it was over two years ago!
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Mince on September 12, 2010, 04:36:38 PM
Whatever.
  intended meaning - I'm easy either way. I'll enjoy either.
  received meaning - Do as you fucking please. I'm too pissed off to be interested.

I don't care.
  intended meaning - Neither puts me off, and I'm okay with both, so you choose.
  received meaning - You can drive the car up your own backside for all I care.

I don't want to talk about it.
  intended meaning: I think talking about that will just cause arguments.
  received meaning: Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!

Thank you.
  intended meaning: Can I politely ask you to leave me alone for a while?
  received meaning: C*%&!

DISCLAIMER: The above is meant to be humorous, not accurate. Thank you.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: The Peepmaster on September 12, 2010, 04:46:26 PM
So, when's your next meet-up planned for?
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 12, 2010, 04:47:48 PM
Whatever.
  intended meaning - I'm easy either way. I'll enjoy either.
  received meaning - Do as you fucking please. I'm too pissed off to be interested.

I don't care.
  intended meaning - Neither puts me off, and I'm okay with both, so you choose.
  received meaning - You can drive the car up your own backside for all I care.

I don't want to talk about it.
  intended meaning: I think talking about that will just cause arguments.
  received meaning: Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!

Thank you.
  intended meaning: Can I politely ask you to leave me alone for a while?
  received meaning: C*%&!

DISCLAIMER: The above is meant to be humorous, not accurate. Thank you.

It is plainly ludicrous to suggest that this has anything whatsoever to do with geographical location. It applies equally as well (and precisely) to female natives of Walsall.  :(
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Mince on September 12, 2010, 04:54:16 PM
So, when's your next meet-up planned for?

Less of the sarcasm, thank you!
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Roger Kettle on September 12, 2010, 04:58:35 PM
I've searched YouTube in vain for a video of this trip.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 12, 2010, 05:59:35 PM
If I recall my perusal of the original posts, there were many pictures of scenery, none of Mince (unless he was the one drowning in the sea), and one of Calypso gazing out to sea, looking for someone to save her.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Vulture on September 12, 2010, 06:34:07 PM
So, when's your next meet-up planned for?

Please! I have one foot in the grave already - let's hope the next meeting is after I put the other foot in!
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Feather on September 13, 2010, 04:35:27 AM

So, when's your next meet-up planned for?

Mince, by his own admission, is too lazy to add pictures and stuff to this website and that's easy compared to a meet-up.

I've searched YouTube in vain for a video of this trip.

It was banned.

As for Mince's definitions, the intended meanings are correct. Alas, I am not at liberty to reveal Mince's "Fuck off, Feather" moments.  ..0
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Bilthehut on September 16, 2010, 01:49:40 PM
I must be bored (or am trying to avoid doing what I should be doing), but something made me look up American English on the web.  Naturally, Wikipedia (taken with a pinch of salt) mentioned this ...

Differences in orthography are also trivial. Some of the forms that now serve to distinguish American from British spelling (color for colour, center for centre, traveler for traveller, etc.) were introduced by Noah Webster himself; others are due to spelling tendencies in Britain from the 17th century until the present day (e.g. -ise for -ize, although the Oxford English Dictionary still prefers the -ize ending) and cases favored by the francophile tastes of 19th century Victorian England, which had little effect on AmE (e.g. programme for program, manoeuvre for maneuver, skilful for skillful, cheque for check, etc.).

Fascinating - I thought the US just kept the old english spelling but Webster, in creating his dictionary, specifically changed (or simplified) some words to promote his dictionary.  I still say it is aluminium though.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on September 16, 2010, 02:32:33 PM
I'm all for simplification of just about anything, but if you're going to change the word colour to a simpler, easier-to-get-right version, then surely it should have been 'culler', and not something that should be pronounced 'koh-lawr'. I reckon Webster was just being arsey.
Title: Re: Should Andy Capp have American spellings?
Post by: Fyodor on September 17, 2010, 10:13:25 AM
Shagspere must be turning in his howsyerfather.