by Thu Nguyen

Created on: August 18, 2010   Last Updated: August 20, 2010

That would not be a good idea as there is no way an American should be considered speaking American. That would mean the root of the language would have came from the Native Americans whom Christopher Columbus thought were Asians. You see, the digging of heritage and family trees will show that America’s language was educated upon the semantics of the English language. Over time, Americans have created their own lingo which have smoothed out the slurs and foreign twangs which came from the roots of French, Spanish, Greek and Latin. Where did they come from? Ask the English.

So when an English person voices themselves, through the sound of their accent, they aren’t American, they are English. Yet when an American speaks English, they are still American because there is this demeanor about them which gives away their identity. Moreover it is this identity factor that is the underlying theme which American movies has been popularly marketing.

In a land where the young rules and the old votes, let’s take a look at some of the modern American movies which has Americans speaking their English and not the other way around.

~ American Pie ~

Losing your virginity is considered one of the rites of passage in this comedy. Characters of diversity are portrayed here as they adjust themselves to being American. Thus, what you see is through confidence and standing up for yourself, that’s the spirit of being American. That is also heard in the language as the freedom to break free as a young man becomes pitched back and forth. It’s English but more descriptive, American English where life in frat parties, getting laid and so on rules.

While sex was the medium used for disclosing the underlying identity issue here, man vs thought becomes the language of American English in this movie. It really doesn’t matter who you are in the end, we are all the same.

~ Harold and Kumar Goes to White Castle ~

Now you’re wondering what do two minorities have to do with the English language? Think again. This popular American comedy portrays another aspect to college life as the English language is merged into the cultures of these two young men. Their adventures through the fast food joint, White Castle involves overcoming fear, girls and identity.

Once again, if Americans were to speak American, why not point the finger at who is truly speaking English? We don’t see the characters as who they look like but what they say. Truly, they are Americans who speak, act and behave like young America. Thus, the language which they use to convey their emotions are reminiscent of American English as well.

~ Austin Powers ~

This choice was meant to be a pun on the English but here you can see the main character, who is an American speaks English in a comedic way. There is no doubt that his accent is not genuine however we get a kick out of his improvisation.

Along the way, we see Dr. Evil, Austin Power’s arch-nemesis who speaks perfect English yet, we don’t say he's speaking American because he seems out of this world. Point is anyone can speak English but it doesn’t mean they’re American. Actors in particular have to change their speaking sometimes to sound American yet they’re speaking English.

So no, the United States should not be changing their language to be called American. With it’s melting pot, American is an identity. English is the language and not the  nationality. The same can be said anywhere else.

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