Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea
How is language intended? Languages evolve, especially if groups are separated by large distances. A good example is Dutch vs Afrikaans. The original Dutch settlers took their language with them and separated from the original stock and influenced by other languages Afrikaans took a different road.
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Much the same thing has happened with British vs. American English. American English has retained many old words and grammatical constructions that have fallen out of use in Britain. A good example is the past participle of the word "get", "gotten". British people will say:
"I've got to go home at 8pm"
and also:
"I've got a new car"
whereas Americans will say:
"I've got to go home at 8pm"
but:
"I've gotten a new car"
Most British people would regard "gotten" as an "Americanism", but it's a grammatical construction which has simply become obsolete in British English, but which is still used perfectly correctly in the USA.