McGrath - I think you picked up my thoughts very well and you found some words I didn't even think of yet: "Second-language idiom" - that's it, very good, and there also is a "second-language pronunciation". I just wanted to point out that there really is something like that, a fact that native english speakers might not be aware of. I even think that there is some complete "second-language english" just becoming very common: kind of a "ghost english" somehow growing 'behind' the real language.

So, you native english speakers: are you sure that you will be able to teach us foreigners better english in the future - rather than being taught by us what we think to be "convenient" english? Believe me: There already is some language like that, and more and more people are learning and using it (in your absence and never worrying if this is real english). Are you sure that YOU know this language? (You know, knowing the enemy...)

;-) but not meant to be a joke

Joerg