Should Andy Capp have American spellings?

[The Peepmaster]

Discuss.

http://comics.com/andy_capp/2010-09-09/

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

No.

That's my view, not a refusal.

[Vulture]

How can you Americanise 'Andy Capp'?

[Roger Kettle]

I think it's the source you get the strips from, Nige. They change some of the spelling for the American market.

[Feather]

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.

[Diane CBPFC]

How can you Americanise 'Andy Capp'?

Drew Capp?

[The Peepmaster]

Hmm - do they alter the spellings of American cartoon strips published over here?

[Vulture]

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.

[Mince]

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!

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

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.

[The Peepmaster]

I ought to point out that I'm almost friends with the Dalai Lama, on Facebook.

[Joan]

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. 

[Roger Kettle]

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"?

[Diane CBPFC]

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.

[Feather]

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.