question

It's not so strange, is it? Think of what your reaction would be if you read a translation that reads foreign to you and the translator said "yes, but I'm from the West Indies."

No, I take your point, but it really is that strange. Standard spelling diverged in the mid-19th century, but here we are, 150 years later, and the Brits (as they might say) still get their knickers in a twist about it. All over a cherished silent 'u', an 's' that is pronounced as a 'z', and a handful of other (equally trivial) differences?

And I agree with Vinny: I've never once seen, read or heard an American complain about British spelling. Rather, the general American attitude is that it's a quaint custom that goes with the territory, like milky tea or warm beer. Spelling differences are a nuisance for TEFL students, but why on earth would anybody else care?

I guess it's not strange that they have that attitude (no stranger than tonya's not liking "off of", although he's probably not bothered by French and German speakers saying something other than "off" where he says it) but it's strange that they keep mentioning it. I would have thought that by now British reviewers and readers would be used to the fact that that when a USAnian is translating a book for a worldwide audience of English speakers, it will be in US English. And that many books these days will be translated by USAnians.

Digression: I think there's a distinction in US English between "off" and "off of". Off is location and off of is direction. In Latin "off" would take an ablative and "off of" would take an accusative. They were a mile off Rocky Point. It fell off of the table. I'm not sure of that, though.

Simulpost.

I like milky tea and non-cold bitter, though. (It's not really warm.)

in georgian schools british is the standard as well(we use british IPA)

IPA is 'universal' in that it represents all the sounds known to exist in the world's languages. Different IPA symbols may be used to transcribe the different ways British and Americans pronounce a given word, but there is no 'British IPA' as such.

And I agree with Vinny: I've never once seen, read or heard an American complain about British spelling. Rather, the general American attitude is that it's an quaint custom that goes with the territory, like milky tea or warm beer.

This is true of Canada too. During my three years in Canada I don't think I ever heard/read any negative comments about British English, except sometimes that it could sound a bit 'snooty'. When I heard favourable comments about British English I always felt slightly embarrassed, as I know the British aren't as generous when referring to American/Canadian English. And Canadians use both British and American spellings, so are more relaxed about the whole issue.

I like milky tea and non-cold bitter, though. (It's not really warm.)

For the record, so do I.

"off of" is OK in US English? Who knew? (I have to confess it sounds terrible to me, too.)

OK, Vinny- thanks.

#25 -- Spoken US English only. Often coming out as "offa".

"off of" is OK in US English? Who knew?

I didn't, and I'm right here in the middle of the country. VinnyD's "It fell off of the table" so puzzled me that I looked up "off" in my American Heritage Dictionary (1982 edition).

"Off of" appears only in a note on usage: "Particularly in written usage, off+ should not be followed by +of+ or +from+: +He stepped off+ (not +off of+ or +off from+ ) +the platform.

I was writing #28 as VinnyD was posting his #27. I think that off of+ or +offa may be rarer in this part of the country than out East, but it is heard here.