English Language Joke

My pastor sent me this joke and thought I would pass it on to you:

An American visiting in England asked at the hotel for the elevator. The portiere was a bit confused, but then smiled when he realized what the man wanted.

“You must mean the lift,” he said.

“No,” the American responded. “If I ask for the elevator I mean the elevator.”

“Yes, of course,” the portiere answered, “but over here we call them lifts.”

“Now you listen,” the American said, rather irritated, “someone in America invented the elevator!”

“Oh, right you are sir,” the portiere said in a polite tone, “but someone here in England invented the language.”