Hey YouTube: UK = GB, and both are English

Sometimes I see help messages that just leave me speechless. This message from YouTube about my automatically-set language preferences goes above and beyond anything I've seen in a long time because it has two big "WTF moments":

YouTube language preferences message

The problems?

  • The red circles: The suggestion that English (UK) is different from English (GB). Psst. They're the same thing. It's an exceptional reservation in the ISO standard.
  • The black circle: The whole message is apparently not in English because the link at the bottom right corner gives me the option to view it in English. When I click it, I get the same message, but instead of suggesting English (UK), it suggests just plain old English. And oh, it gives me the option to change my language to the real English of English (US).

Hey, I have news for you YouTube: English, English (UK), English (GB) and English (US) are all freakin' English.

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4 Responses to “Hey YouTube: UK = GB, and both are English”

  1. Reuben Yau Says:

    Actually I think you’ll find that “English (US)” is actually “American” ;-)

  2. Kimota Says:

    There are a great deal of differences between English(US) and English (UK) so I would understand having those as changeable preferences as it would influence search results. I mean, jeez, Americans just took all our spelling and stuffed it up. I always switch to english (UK) or English (AU) depending on where I am (Australian english accepting a wider range of spellings from both sides of the Atlantic).

    As for a distinction between english (UK) and english (GB), wtf?

  3. Pierre Says:

    @Kimota: Languages evolve over time, and no nation or people own a language (heck, even English is not from the British Isles…). No one stuffed up anything, IMHO, but they are different as you say and I accept they need to be in the preferences.

    As for UK & GB? Yeah, exactly, WTF?

    Pierre

  4. Yura Says:

    Just got greeted with this message, too:

    Welcome to YouTube!

    Suggested Language (we have set your preference to this): English (UK)

    To change your language preference, please use the links next to the YouTube logo at the top of the page.

    Click “OK” to accept this setting, or click “Cancel” to view the site in English.

    Whatever I click, I’ll still be viewing Youtube in English and my IP is Russian. WTH, YT.

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