Thought I'd tickle the sensibilities of my fellow SSers today with a little question. My rather lovely Apple iPhone has become quite a good friend, but today we had a little falling out when I went in to its cupboard. What did I discover? The distinction between 'English' and 'British English'. Naturally, I was baffled by this obvious misnomer. Whatever happened to 'English' and 'American English'? As writers, we all love the English language - what do we feel about this very small detail? A practicality to address an American product in its predominant domestic audience? A simple case of a 'Little Brit'? Or a more fundamental shift?

In the vast, beautiful lands of Australia, I've heard references of speaking 'good Australian', which I always took to be a subtle nod towards a dialect, rather than absurd delusions of grandeur.

All seriousness aside, as users of the Queen's, how do we feel about who the custodians of this great language are?

I believe it's American English and British English.  But being it's North America and South America and the USA isn't the only country in North America yet Americans still say they are from America -- like there's one -- so too do they call their language English.  Fortunately we just speak Strine here in Oz.  

Good points there, Mike. I prefer the Microsoft way of English (US) and English (UK) which makes sense. The Apple way looks odd 'cos it suggests the English English is not the source, so it's just wrong and odd looking.

I had to Google the strine. Never encountered that over there. Ahh, I miss Australia. Fantastic country.