Forum:US/UK English

Forums: Index > Rin's Travel Agency > Archive > US/UK English

I fervently adhere to the credo "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." This refers specifically to the conflict between usage of US or UK English, or any other variant for that matter. Though apparently, the policy is to use US English, I would like to make the point that

BOTH USAGES ARE CORRECT.

Now, were this a specifically English or American site, I would not be making this argument. Final Fantasy, however, is not specific to any country and therefore is not subject to a particular spelling convention. In fact, this is similar to debates over Aeris/Aerith, Cain/Kain, Tella/Tellah, etc. They are all correct with respect to different versions. I would therefore like to make the point that it is a massive waste of time to go around editing spelling because it doesn't comply with the version you're used to. In fact, you'll just end up pissing off other users. I'm no admin, but I would strongly discourage editors whose mission is to change one correct spelling to another on pain of being reverted.

Just saying.

--Haveanicedays 22:22, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Wasn't it agreed that the Wiki use American English, because the series are first localized for NA? ^BLUER一番 22:28, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

...Yeah. We've had this policy for awhile now. - +DeadlySlashSword+ 22:29, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, but it really doesn't matter, they're both correct versions of English. It's not constructive at all. --Haveanicedays 22:35, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Have a look of this: Project:About. I'm a British person, yet this site uses American English as its main language. Jeppo (Talk | contribs) 22:37, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Yes, our official language is American image, which is important in cases like "List of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Armor". Yes, it is rather an odd idea to make it one's mission to Americanize spelling across the wiki, but if someone wants to do it... no one's stopping them. Remember to leave userspace, walkthroughspace, and user comments alone, though. 8bit BlackMage 22:41, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

I'm American myself, I just happen to think that it's an epic waste of time, given that such edits aren't constructive and emphasize form over substance. As someone who writes to and addresses Brits and Americans interchangeably, I don't care anymore. Then again, if I'm alone in my opinion, then by all means, continue. --Haveanicedays 22:44, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

I'm neither American nor British, and have used both English interchangeably before the policy was stated like so, in the beginning nobody cared about these details as long as the articles are written. Now that they are, people nitpick on more finer stuff. This is the result. ^BLUER一番 22:53, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

I couldn't agree more. --Haveanicedays 22:58, August 12, 2010 (UTC)

Well, I don't go around changing proper English spellings to US spellings for two reasons: Firstly, I sometimes don't even know that there is a US variation of the spelling (and, because of this, I am guilty of using proper English spellings on the wiki) and the second reason is that every time I do it, a part of me dies. Even so, I do believe that we should keep to one language, even if I have to concede that we use US English, rather than proper English. Jeppo (Talk | contribs) 11:21, August 13, 2010 (UTC)

		Werefang - "I am already dead. Where this body drops and rots is of no matter." TALK - 13:28, August 13, 2010 (UTC)- Abyss
		Actually H.aN.D. each language is only correct in their respective countries. I type "arse" in my American computer and I get a red underline. "Armour," "colour" and a number of other "proper" English terms are also wrong in American English. The fact is, the English language versions of the game goes through America first. I don't know if the language is further localized in the UK, Jeppo may need to inform us if "Iron Armor" is officially "Iron Armour" in the Kingdom, (I find that unlikely since Diablo, an appearant Scot, has expressed dislike for American accented Dalmascans, suggesting that the English translation is not uniquely different between the US and UK, though that isn't the best example considering that Archadians are already English) but American English seems to be the more official version used in the FF franchise (though if you are looking for a truely official language, it would be Japanese). Anyway, that's just my reasoning on the issue. All arguement is superfluous considering that the rules state that American English is the official language of this wiki. If someone has an issue with that, feel free to make an English English FF wiki, since they are in fact different languages in spite of how similar they are.

To answer Werefang's question, the spellings vary by game. In FFVII they didn't make any attempt to change the spellings from American to English. In FFVIII and IX, they made some attempt in changing the spellings for the PAL release, but it was, as us Brits say, a half-arsed job. They didn't change them all. In FFX, all the written words were changed, but the spoken words were not (I have heard Tidus say "Mom" instead of "Mum" a few times). Square's best attempt at localising was in FFXII. I haven't seen any American spellings at all. But in FFXIII they fell into old habits and didn't attempt to localise it for us Brits at all. Jeppo (Talk | contribs) 16:18, August 13, 2010 (UTC)

Honestly, I think all dialects of English are acceptable on this wiki. People are talking about how we should stick to one language: we are. British English, American English, Canadian English, and others (such as Malaysian) are all one language. They are simply dialects with minute differences. If I were to spell a word in the British, Canadian, or American way every speaker of English would understand what they are talking about with only a few slang exceptions (we shouldn't use slang on the wiki anyways). I could say "center" or "centre", "Americanize" or "Americanise", and even change those quotations to the English format and it would still be readable for everyone. Without question, this wouldn't be a wiki for everybody if we excluded certain types of English. ScatheMote 18:20, August 13, 2010 (UTC)

TacticAngel TALK 02:21, August 16, 2010 (UTC) We use American English. For those people who would seek to say proper English, as though there is something inherently more correct about the English way of spelling anything, I will offer you some enlightenment. The United States gained independence (1776-1783) prior to any attempt to standardize spelling in the English language, and while the efforts were more-or-less contemporary (mid-19th century) with one another, there was no easy method of exchange, especially with a country that was not always considered our ally. There is nothing more sacred about British English versus American English where spelling is concerned.