america

No... but I love it out there, and almost emigrated to Canada a couple of years back. What part of the States are you from?

A small town in Pennsylvania, with lots of trees, grass and cows. :) I'm not real familiar with the UK...is that part of Europe? Sorry I'm horrible at geography

Yep... we're top left-hand corner of Europe. Find us on Google Earth. Pennsylvania's a nice scenic state, as I remember. I'm more familiar with Connecticut and Mass. Long time since I've been. Must go again...

I should like to point out that the term is The Queens English, as the language native and unique to the British Isles in its origins.

The Americanisation of English came about after the Pilgrim Fathers left Plymouth Sound, therefore I put it to you that it is in fact your spellings that are incorrect and not ours.

Yes we are a part of Europe but to be honest I don't know why, we have the English channel between us and to my Knowledge are separate.

Wouldn't that be like claiming we are a part of The Americas after all it's only the Atlantic that keeps us apart?

Hm. I sometimes think 'thru' and 'color', etc, are perfectly sensible alternatives. They say what they're supposed to. Shaw would have approved.

On the other hand, 'text-speak' brings out the homicidal streak in me. Or maybe that should be murderous.

The Queen's English may be the correct term, but it was around for a lot longer than she's been. Plain old English is good enough for me. The Queen's got plenty of other stuff to keep her amused.

As for Europe and our place in it, Eternal... well, we're well known for our insularity. I don't think we've ever truly recovered from losing our empire. I'm sure that's what a lot of it's about, anyway.

Ha ha ha true Stan but didn't want to be called sexist by the ladies for saying Kings English ha ha ha .
Well true we did loose it once but all that loss made us more determined, we now hang on to our sovereignty with a little more gusto than previously afforded.

Eternal, we are a small insular and introspective island off the coast of mainland Europe. Many of the natives here fear a rabid dog (or rabid human) sneaking through the tunnel and infecting them. As for the queens English how can you justify the discrepancy between 'writing' and 'written"?

I'm not sure I've heard of this 'America' place. Isn't it somewhere near Australia?

No Archie. I thought it was in Europe.

I thought Europe was an American state. I'm sure GWB and Tony Blair thought it was, too...

I always feel sorry for americans, not only are you incapable of coming up with your own language, you can't even copy the english language correctly. Your confusion of the word 'gas' for 'petrol' is just going to lead to trouble one of these days, and as for words like 'pants' and 'fanny', well heaven help us.

As for the spelling, so many 'z's in words like realize, is it just a way of cheating at scrabble?

Hahahaha! There's a certain slang word we English use for cigarette which has caught a lot of Brits out in visits across the pond, I suspect...

Well I feel like I've had a nice history lesson on the UK. :) since my story is getting lots of positive feedback on this site maybe I'll look into publishing it in the UK first.

And our language is a little messed up. There are so many rules to follow. But alas its what I'm used to. Oh and I am a big scrabble fan.

Archie: America is in North America right below Canada.

Blimey, I'm learning a lot today. So, at what point in history did America give the English language to the English?

Blimey...I love that word. :) I think the english language started in england during the anglo saxon period and since has spread to several other countries.

So the UK has parliment? My story might be more realistic to all of you then since it has lots of kings queens and castles.

How is the uk separated by states, territories?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give it it's full grand title. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Southern Ireland, or Eire, is a republic.

Yes... the Palace of Westminster is often referred to as the cradle of parliamentary government - though not the cradle of civilisation!

Cor blimey, guv'nor, and stone the crows... it's now past me bed time. Good night.

Strewth.

....... desperately hoping this is a wind up now. If not:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=united+kingdom

So, what part of Ireland is Denmark in?

That is a question that constantly keeps me awake at night; inbetween bouts of shameful masturbation - exhausted shameful mumblings! I literally have been quite literal with people who say the opposite of what I have said, but still it remains, what part of Ireland IS Denmark in? The truth will be told!

Denmark is in County Cork, along with the Blarney Stone. Everyone knows that!

Did you know that United Kingdom is an anagram of Untied Mod King? The relevance being that Pete Townshend is now happily divorced and living in Ireland with his new Danish girlfriend. Apparently.

The UK is divided into 60 million individual kingdoms, as every englishman and woman has their own castle, complete with moat and duck island. Most castles are bound by their own legislation, rules and punishments, in some castles it is even acceptable to use Americanisms.

That is true for the most part Terrance, except for Cornwall (the Southern most principality) where everyone has sandcastles.

...and in Kent, our castles have aluminum sidings.

I heard the castles in Essex come in Burberry check.

My childhood castle was sandwiched between the slag heaps and the vinegar works.

Now, why does that conjure a lewd image, Scratch?

You dog Stan! "Elsey's Barley Malt Vinegar - There's nobody Else's Like Elsey's" as the strap line used to go. As for slags and vinegar strokes - you ought to be ashamed!

Duly ashamed! ;)

Ahh shame, an uniquely English emotion that.

Ahh shame, an uniquely English emotion that.

Especially in double doses!

Bugger

I must say I have no idea what any of you are talking about anymore. Do you UKians have some sort of secret language? :) and I believe you all are being sarcastic about having so many castles. But u do have some, right? So are u all ruled by the queen of england and prince charles or whoever is next in line?

My wife rules me. I don't know 'bout no Queen.

Oh and Archie, please tell me u were kidding about never hearing of America

Who?

The Queen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth is more of a figurehead now, as most of the actual power is held by Parliment and the elected Government. She does have the power though to Vito any decision they make, until they formulate any plans she actually agrees with. So she in theory still has the last word on how the country is run.
The next in line to the Throne is Charles but many in this country think that it should be William, Charles has far too many skeletons in his cupboard to ascend the throne, Diana and her treatment being the main bone of contention.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion for our American cousins You All ?

Thanks clive. :) so its kinda like america where the president has the final say and can veto, but each individual state is lead by representatives, senators and a governor and only really "big" decisions involve the president.

So you said elected officials...does that mean u vote for them? Are you a democracy?

Oh my.

Yeah... we're a democracy, Eternal. Every time we have a general election, all those of us eligible to vote go to the ballot box... and the result is decided by a few thousand voters in the marginal constituencies.

Something like your Iowa caucus, I imagine.

Oh dear... I feel an attack of cynicism coming on...

I am amazed at you asking that question, but I know that the American education system is geared up to have it's students believe, that the USA is the centre of the Planet .
Sorry to shock you but that's untrue, the USA was not the Birthplace of Democracy either also untrue. But I am not going to be a know it all I am going to let others enlighten you, I am also a little curious to see how many know the answer.
Like Stan the man says often the results are decided by the marginal constituencies (what you would call States we call Counties ). But that is only because far too many people do not bother to vote on Polling day,
Believing there meagre mark would not change anything, and they are right if it's not used it won't.
That's why for years we have been Govern'd by a two party system, because apathy is Great Britain's biggest enemy.

I used to be apathetic, Clive. Now, though... I simply can't give a toss...

Seriously, mate... you're dead right.

All hail The Daily Mail! It tells the masses what they think they need to think!

(That's The New York Times to you, Eternal)

Here are a few other facts that Americans seem to get confused about .

Marconi did not invent Television, That was John Logi Baird a Scotsman.

Frank Whittle invented the Jet Engine and was not American He was British Luttterworth, England.

The very first moving picture were invented by William F Green a British inventor in Cambridge England, he also invented the first fast celluloid film too.

The list goes on Vertical take off aircraft, the hovercraft, and so so many other things.

But you did invent Star Trek even if the best actors in it were British .

I hope u don't think other americans are as dumb as me. I can write but I never claimed to be good at world history or geography. I also don't know if we are the birthplace of democracy but we are "the land of the free" :)

As for things being invented by americans don't you know we let other countries invent things then we take the credit. Even today, hardly anything is american made, I'm sure all my clothes were made in asia somewhere.

And what is "I don't give a toss?" Is that like "I don't give a crap" ???

Well... I guess I'd just have to add, in their defence, they did produce Steinbeck, Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Cheever, Raymond Carver, Hemingway, Joseph Mitchell, Don DeLillo, Larry Brown, Toby Wolff, Richard Ford and Alice Walker. But then, we produced Dickens and Shakespeare and Sterne and Jeffrey Archer, so I guess that about evens it out. Hang on a minute... did I just say Je...?

No, England is not a democracy. We burn people in wicker effigies if they don't give the king enough goats. And we eat mud.

I don't think you are Dumb Eternal, maybe a little miss informed but not dumb.
I would take a second look at saying you are the Land Of The Free, like any other country your Government tells you what is and is not acceptable, and you can not do as you please as neither can any of us.

I think that may be a now outdated concept, and maybe George Orwell was right after all. You do have the NSA, CIA, and countless other clandestine secret organisations attached to your Government as do we.

I am beginning to think that none of us are truly free any more. With CCTV on every corner Phone Tapping, an other countless methods of watching us, we are all potentially in some ones cross hairs ?

Also you are spot on with the translation of I don't give a Toss, and yet over here Toss means something quite different?. Typical of English language say one thing, mean another most confusing really .

Archie way too many late night Hammer Films LOL

Stan True they do have some of the genius's of literary to boast,but I was talking of those that actually made a difference to our ways and standards of living.

They also had Charles Manson, Bundy, oh and who could ever forget Sarah Pallin and Monica Lewenski ( sorry Monica if I miss spelt you name but Polish is not my strong suit )Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson , Al Capone, Benedict Arnold ( No Stan that's Not Tom Arnold's Brother, and no Archie none of them had a wicker man or ate mud except possibly when they died).

But we had the Yorkshire Ripper , The Krays, Ronald Bigs, Jack The Ripper, Dirty Den ? so I guess we are even there.

Margaret Thatcher?

"I don't give a toss" means "I don't care one jot". "Toss" is slang for masturbate.

So, let me get this straight.

The Queen can be seen dunking Peak Freans
in Darjeeling tea on the Mile End Road
just by Loch Ness where John Maynard Keynes
turned that Danish monster into a toad
or a packet of wine gums, or was it some beans?
He killed the Irish anyway (that much I knowed
from school) and he stopped them from wearing their greens
or eating them or something. The thistles that growed
in the paddy fields were their only food when it snowed!

It was at Stonehenge that wenches spilt
the blood of Jack the Ripper and his mom,
revenging Benjamin Israeli’s kilt
at a ceilidh in Rayleigh, which was some
Australian immigrants’ thing they built
by Bannockburn, near the English Channel,
out of thousand-year-old Piltdown silt,
dragons’ phlegm and Henry the Sixteenth’s flannel.
If you want a can of coke you’ll have to haggle.

Where Joan of Arc shot an orange over Shakespeare’s head
Boadicea sho did see a spider burning cakes
and politicians cared about what all the people said,
democracy would flourish fecund as the District Lakes
so that it didn’t matter how an Englishman was bred,
and Robin Hood said “Touch me, Monty” when he was shot dead.

Am I right?

Dam Archie what You ON ? whatever it is I WANT SOME LOL

What do you mean? Is that not an accurate and full history of the British Isles?

You left out Boadicea shooting William in the eye.

Just William?

Just Jack