Bill Bryson makes some interesting comments, in several of his books, on the differences between UK and US use of the English language. Many "American" terms and words are actually phrases which were brought from Britain and have subsequently fallen out of use in Britain. "Gotten" is an example.

However, the point is surely that all languages change and develop at different times, in different ways and at different rates. The English language is hugely open and hospitable to words changes and new words - probably more so than any other language in the world. Change in it is inevitable. This thread is about the "taking over" of the UK version of English by American terminology. I would suggest - if you look at our younger generations, particularly in cities, that there is a much more interesting change to the language which comes from Caribbean and Asian influences in the community. There was a similar set of additions to the language here when my father's generation came back from foreign places after WW2.

So my Dad came back saying "let's have a shufti" for "let's have a look" (Arabic shufti=look) and I"M off for a charp" when he meant I'm off for a nap (Hindi charpoy=day bed). Whether these have stayed in current use really depends on your age group.

Now I'm off to change my chuddies.