Briar vs Bruyere, Center vs Centre, those damn English spellings..how come?

[zekest]

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

 

[kcghost]

"There even are places where English completely

disappears. In America, they haven't used it for years!"
Prof. Henry Higgins

 

[phred]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose... :D
Language evolves and changes as it grows, and grammar mavens have been complaining about how the kids are ruining language with their new slang since the days of "23 skiddo!" and "the cat's pajamas".

 

[plateauguy]

After the tea was in the harbor, the only thing left on the dock was tobacco. Our founding fathers would never abuse tobacco in such a fashion so it was decided that we would ruin the English language instead.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
It's just not the English - it's east coast, west coast, south and mid-west. It's a wonder any of us can communicate with each other!

 

[boudreaux]

OK and while we are at it who the hell started calling a FARMACY a pharmacy?

I thunk it wuz da phat guy in da back row wit da pipe, cuz...

:nana:

 

[Perique]

Having an English wife, we have compiled a whole list of what we call "transatlanticisms" - phrases and words where the language differs, sometimes to humorous and/or confusing result.

 

[petergunn]

Actually "bruyere" is just French for "briar", Mr. Fry

And here I thought it just Dunhill speak