AMERICAN ENGLISH [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—My article
on this subject, under the title of " Yep 1" may be open to much criticism, as Mr. F. Venning states, but it certainly has not received any of value from him. Mr. Venning describes as a " decided exaggeration " my statement that " the English language, as we know it, is not the English language as millions of Americans know it " ; but surely this is a mildly-stated fact ? There are 110 millions of people in the United States, of whom an immense number are semi-illiterate immigrants from various parts of Europe. If Mr. Venning does not realize that thew. people are forming or controlling in some degree the language of their adopted country, then Mr. Yenning still has a good deal to learn about America, despite his frequent intercourse with " well-educated Americans, mostly of good social position."
He must pardon me when I tell him that he is talking plain nonsense when he says that " the literary language of the two countries, i.e., that of the books and most of the newspapers, is practically identical." If that is so, why did Mr. Sinclair Lewis fmd it necessary to print a glossary with one of his novels ? I did not say that "well-educated Americans, mostly of good social position," habitually say " Yep 1" or " Yah " when they mean " Yes," but I do say that the great mass of Americans do. I myself know an American publisher, a man of English birth, who always says " Yah," and I have heard Englishmen, on their return to this country, after a stay in the United States, frequently use it also.
I suggest to Mr. Venning that he consults his American
friends before he writes letters to the• Press on a matter of which he is manifestly ignorant. Mine tell me that they are deeply perturbed at the misuse of English in America.—
I am, Sir, &c., ST. JOHN ERVINS, 181 Whitehall Court, S.W.1.
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