On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 16:38:15 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:

We speak English, not an adaptation
of it

I beg to differ!

I don't think the word "Hi" is English yet it's the ubiquitous
greeting in the US (and unfortunately over here in the UK also).
Why do Americans write "meter" for "metre", " thru" for "through",
"dove" for "dived" , "I've gotten" for " I've got", etc, etc?
Somehow I don't think the Pilgrim Fathers brought all that over from
the Old Country!

Americans speak American and we speak English ... 'nuff said!

Peter, G3PHO