Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#1

Post by the-enemy » Wed, Aug 25, 2021, 5:46 PM UTC

Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague
laphamsquarterly.org

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#2

Post by psychometry » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 7:57 PM UTC

Probably a good thing, considering how generally useless and obnoxious the Académie Française is. English speakers around the world have no need for a bunch of snooty, self-appointed busybodies trying to police language.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#3

Post by tobylane » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:29 PM UTC

If there was one, who’d follow it? York, New York, Melbourne (Ireland) and Melbourne (Australia) all have their variants from what London speaks.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#4

Post by rarec » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:31 PM UTC

English being a mess may be one of its charm points. Many languages in a trenchcoat, full of flavor and exceptions to its own rules and a headache to learn.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#5

Post by BitwiseFool » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:31 PM UTC

I like to think that, by definition, the only person who speaks English properly and without an accent is The Queen.

Edit: I am only joking.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#6

Post by HenryKissinger » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:33 PM UTC

tobylane wrote: post #3

If there was one, who’d follow it? York, New York, Melbourne (Ireland) and Melbourne (Australia) all have their variants from what London speaks.

Americans, for one, would never recognize the authority of a foreign body over their language.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#7

Post by SllX » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:37 PM UTC

HenryKissinger wrote: post #6

tobylane wrote: post #3

If there was one, who’d follow it? York, New York, Melbourne (Ireland) and Melbourne (Australia) all have their variants from what London speaks.

Americans, for one, would never recognize the authority of a foreign body over their language.

We wouldn’t even recognize the authority of a Congressionally-chartered organization over our language.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#8

Post by BitwiseFool » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:38 PM UTC

HenryKissinger wrote: post #6

tobylane wrote: post #3

If there was one, who’d follow it? York, New York, Melbourne (Ireland) and Melbourne (Australia) all have their variants from what London speaks.

Americans, for one, would never recognize the authority of a foreign body over their language.

As an American, I don't even recognize the authority of the Chicago Manual of Style over my use of English.

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#9

Post by neither_color » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:38 PM UTC

HenryKissinger wrote: post #6

tobylane wrote: post #3

If there was one, who’d follow it? York, New York, Melbourne (Ireland) and Melbourne (Australia) all have their variants from what London speaks.

Americans, for one, would never recognize the authority of a foreign body over their language.

But each English speaking country could form its own academy and work together, which is how Spanish speaking countries do it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Academies_of_...

Re: Why isn’t there an English Academy? Blame the plague

#10

Post by Grustaf » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:40 PM UTC

Because when you have a Royal Society, you don't need an Academy...