Fury as stationery shop’s ‘Americanised’ Mother’s Day cards replace ‘Mum’ and with ‘Mom’
By Chloe Kerr - The Sun
MOTHER’S Day cards saying “Mom” instead of “Mum” went on sale across Britain — sparking fears that the *celebration is becoming Americanised.
Stationery store Paperchase has broken new ground this year offering the alternative spelling alongside cards reading ‘mum’ and ‘mother’.
It is the first British store to introduce ‘mom’ cards.
The move has left linguists concerned that US TV shows are causing a language shift among British children.
Professor Paul Baker at Lancaster University told the Telegraph: “My nephews watch American cartoons and use words from them.
“It could be linked to children’s exposure to American television programmes and hearing the word ‘Mom’ is seeing them using it more.”
A number of people have taken to social media to express their fury at the use of the American term.
Twitter user @avalon_fantasy said: “Mom’s day? How horrible. It’s Mothering Sunday or Mothers Day for the UK. It really isn’t ‘Mom’ or Moms Day; it’s all just highly influenced by American television shows.”
Another, Linda Mitchell, wrote: “We’re in the UK, its Mother’s Day not Mom’s Day.”
However, experts say the term ‘mom’ has been widely used in the Midlands for years.
“It’s refreshing to see that our children can now buy a card with the name they call their ‘mom’ on it,” language expert Carl Chinn said.
Birmingham MP Jess Phillips uses the term and also insists the Parliament Hansard records of her speeches reflect that.
She tweeted: “Of all the things I thought I might become known for in Parliament I never saw the liberation of the Birmingham maternal pronunciation coming.
“Mom is my name, so I know how to spell it. #happymomday”.
Paperchase said the cards were on sale online and it’s in larger branches, alongside its traditional range, to cater for those who use the term.
Clintons cards currently have 15 cards on offer for ‘mam’ but none for ‘mom’.
Reply With Quote
