Re: Why does the meaning (and spelling) of words change?

--- Michael Poxon <m.poxon@...> wrote:
> There's nothing especially archaic about these in
> British English - it's the
> perfectly standard way of spelling these, and many
> other,
> words. For one thing, it allows for greater
> understanding in the written
> tongue. To a brit "program" is a perfectly good word
> - but
> is only used in the context of "set of instructions
> for a computer". This
> contrasts with the usual "programme" which is used
> in all
> other contexts.
<snip>

I'm sure I have seen many, many instances of "computer
programme".  A Yahoo search on the exact phrase
"computer programme" turned up over 63,000 pages using
that spelling.

I don't doubt that "programme" is also a perfectly
good word in the same sense that "publique" and
"towne" are perfectly good words.  In fact there is a
shopping mall where I used to live called "old towne
mall".  I'm only suggesting that "programme" seems
either "quaint" or "French-ified" (putting on airs) to
the American reader.

I once heard the story (somebody tell me if this is
true or not.  I suspect it's BS) that about a thousand
years ago in Great Britain, the French language and
culture was much admired and to speak french was
considered the mark of good breeding.  Those who
didn't speak French, however, not wanted to be thought
too backward, adopted French-like spellings of English
words to give their writing an air of culture.  Thus
words like "colour", "cheque", and "programme".  These
spellings, so the story goes, were a kind of
poor-man's toy French.

--gary

Replies