Visiting England for the first time, the young American tourist walked into the lobby of his hotel and pushed the button for the elevator.

Said the clerk who was watching him, “The lift will be down presently, sir.”

Said the tourist, “The lift? Oh, you mean the elevator.”

Said the clerk, “No, sir, I mean the lift.”

Said the tourist, “I guess I should know what it’s called. After all, a man from the United States invented the elevator, and I’m an American.”

“That may be true, sir,” replied the hotel clerk, “but somebody from England invented the language.”