Why can't Americans say "Solder"?

[beany]

I was watching a YouTube video at lunchtime of a chap from across the pond soldering wires onto his model railway track, but eventually had to kill the sound as his persistent word use of "sodder" instead of "solder" was driving me mad (although his talk of "soddering" things made me chuckle very childishly I must admit). I know they recognise the letter "l", they even had a president called Lincoln, which has two "l"s in it, so what's the deal with solder?! Would someone from over there care to enlighten me please?!
Cheers
Al.

[coptermech]

The way "American" English has developed over the years, it's assumed in this case that the L is silent. At least thats the way its taught in school. To us, it's the perfectly normal way if saying that particular word. You'll find this is the case in many instances.

Just look at the state named Arkansas. It's pronounced Ar-kan-saw.

Well, at least that's my take on it. I'm sure there's many more reasons why things are this way.

[ShaunW]

English can be a right load of old cobblers and in some ways could do with being simplified IMHO. Their and there for instance, why? I can't see the point. As for place names, take reading as in a book, pronounced reeding, Reading the town, pronounced redding. However, a trunk is on an elephant gentlemen, a hood is on a coat and neither belong on a car

[jssel]

Heck, Al. We don't talk to one another anymore anyways. The only important thing is to keep our thumbs limbered up.

Last weekend the wife and I were having dinner out and we watched the couple next to us texting the entire meal. Never said a word to one another. Maybe they were texting each other, I just don't know.

Now where did I put my War-chester sauce.

[ShaunW]

It's the same here as well Jeff. People falling down holes or walking into each other because they are totally focussed on their mobile phones instead of watching where they are going. The phones might be smart but the users often aren't so

[JohnRatzenberger]

Al, if we had all these extraneous "L"s as you do maybe we'd be better at it

Here's an interesting discussion on the same subject:
http://english.stackexchange.com/questi ... ord-solder;

[AndrewR]

It's the same here as well Jeff. People falling down holes or walking into each other because they are totally focussed on their mobile phones instead of watching where they are going. The phones might be smart but the users often aren't so

The rumour is that the next generation of phones will include collision avoidance radar

[philp]

However, a trunk is on an elephant gentlemen, a hood is on a coat and neither belong on a car

Well, a boot is worn on the foot, usually in pairs and a bonnet was a ladies hat.

Sorry, just had to be said

The very weird part about English is our ability to still understand each other. Was in England last year visiting relatives and SMW and really had no trouble with the language.

[AndrewR]

The various versions of English are as close as they've ever been because of the impact of television, so we can usually understand each other pretty well. Back in WW2 that wasn't always the case!

[PaulBradley]

...as you know from first hand experience, Andrew......

[DH-Drover]

Try telling an American that his aeroplane has gone us or his altimeter ( al-tim-itter) setting 1304 hectopascals.

Dai

[Ian]

English is the hardest language to learn, thanks to all its nuances.
That must mean that English people (like me) are the smartest in world! Except those who can't speak it correctly. Like those in the North, the South, the East and the West. Oh, and the midlands, of course. And all those colonials too.
Oh well, I guess it's just the Queen, then....
So what do the rest of us speak?

[AndrewR]

...as you know from first hand experience, Andrew......

Thank you Tone...

[AndrewR]

Try telling an American that his aeroplane has gone us or his altimeter ( al-tim-itter) setting 1304 hectopascals.

Dai

That's not just language, that's unit conversion too - no argument that the US are still in the dark ages on that one...

[Eric Mc]

By the 1940s, American English was already pretty well known and understood in the UK. Even if American TV hadn't arrived yet, Hollywood certainly had. You only have to listen to Pikey in "Dad's Army" to understand the cultural impact Hollywood was having on the massive cinema going audiences of the period - especially youngsters.

The reasons why "Yanks" based in England were so popular with English kids weren't just down to the free chewing gum and sweets - it was because all these young American lads sounded like movie stars.