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 #2 (permalink) Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:49 am A little problem of spelling |
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| teufelchen53 wrote: | Dear Allan,
may I say Allan?
I have got a little problem.
Our English teacher told us that British people write
organisation
und American people write
organization.
My dictionary only says that both, British and American people, write it with
a "z". Please, can you tell me what's right.
Thank you very much for your help.
Best regards
 teufelchen53 |
Hi Teufelchen,
Thanks for your note - yes please call me 'Alan'. Incidentally what a delightful name you have given yourself. It sounds much better in German.
But to your question. I have no wish to intervene between you and your teacher. It is quite true that British English would usually use 's' instead of 'z' in the word you quote but both forms are used nowadays. This also applies to words like: (using American English spelling) finalize, standardize, idealize and so on. The tendency in British English is to use 's' in words like: organise, realise, recognise and so on. In this area I don't think 's' or 'z' is a big problem. Other American spellings such as for example using 'or' in 'labor' as opposed to British English 'labour' as well as the use of single consonant/double consonant in a word like 'travelled' or 'traveled' present other problems. In those cases it is probably best to be consistent rather than switching between the two spellings. If you're interested in American/British spelling I suggest you log on to say www.washingtonpost.com and read some of the articles.
Hope this helps
Best wishes
Alan
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Teufelchen53
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Nov 05, 2003 22:37 pm A little problem of spelling |
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Hi Teufelchen,
I hope you got the full answer in my message because it seems to have appeared twice. By the way I think the word you want is 'nickname'. As for 'gimp', I must admit I had not heard it used before in that sense and I would translate 'Teufelchen' as 'Little devil', which has an affectionate connotation as well. To me the word 'gimp' means a silk or cotton trimming around some other material. I had to look up the other meaning and apparently it means 'a clumsy person', which I'm sure doesn't apply to you. So I have learnt a new word too. A mixture of devil and angel - sounds an interesting cocktail to me!
Best wishes
Alan
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Nov 06, 2003 22:49 pm One standard spelling? |
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Hi, it is very good you are mentioning the different versions of spelling because it shows how diverse English as a language can be. For example, Canadian English uses elements of British spelling (for example 'centre') and US spelling (for example 'labor'). This is very good because we English learners can always refer to the fact that there are so many spelling variations when we make spelling mistakes 
What do you think - will there be one standard spelling someday or will the little differences prevail? After all, those differences are just minor, aren' they? |
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Kievstar
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Teufelchen53
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| #7 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:54 am Global language |
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Hi Teufelchen, I don' think that it's important whether or not the countries using English as a means of communication are different or not. They are more similar than they are different. And so is the English they use. I do think that because of the internet the spelling differences will become smaller with the time. English is after all, a global language.
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Teufelchen53
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| #9 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 15:50 pm Congratulations! |
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Hey Teufelchen, Congratulations on your LCCI exam! How are you going to celebrate this achievement?
As for the spelling question - I think such institutions as LCCI are very well established which means on the one hand they have a solid basis of experiences and expertise - on the other hand it's a huge hierachry with many posts and takes a long time to adapt to changes and keep up with the latest developments... |
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Kievstar
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
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Teufelchen53
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Location: Bonn, Germany
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Alan
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| #12 (permalink) Wed Nov 19, 2003 21:32 pm Yes Sir :) |
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Dear Alan,
Yes, I don't forget this side.
By the way I like this forum and I think I will be a regulary visitor.
Best regards
teufelchen53 |
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Teufelchen53
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
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Posts: 39
Location: Bonn, Germany
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| #13 (permalink) Wed Nov 19, 2003 23:01 pm LCCI? |
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@Teufelchen:
Hi, I was just wondering which of those LCCI exams you took. As far as I know there are various English language certificates LCCI provides. Also, could you please explain how the German education system works, what are the requirements to get state funded training? Thanks. |
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Kievstar
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| #14 (permalink) Thu Nov 20, 2003 20:06 pm LCCI? |
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| Kievstar wrote: | @Teufelchen:
Hi, I was just wondering which of those LCCI exams you took. As far as I know there are various English language certificates LCCI provides. Also, could you please explain how the German education system works, what are the requirements to get state funded training? Thanks. |
I must explain that LCCI is not a part of our education. I am 38 and unemployed at the moment. I had the chance to learn it at the Euro-Schulen. That first.
But look at the answer to Andrea in the topic English Magazines. There I explained which exam I did.
Best regards
teufelchen53 |
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Teufelchen53
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Posts: 39
Location: Bonn, Germany
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