Dear Mum... or is it Mom? A mother of a dilemma

Families face Mothering Sunday confusion as Paperchase introduces ‘Americanised’ cards

WITH Mothering Sunday falling tomorrow, children of all ages will be dutifully poring over racks of greetings cards looking for inspiration. But this year they will face an additional, and unexpected choice: whether to opt for one addressed to “Mum”, or “Mom”.

The alternative American spelling of the name is for the first time gaining traction in Britain, and linguists believe US cartoons such as

The Simpsons could be partly to blame.

Paperchase, the gift card retailer, is breaking new ground this year by selling cards featuring the term “Mom”, alongside its traditional “Mother” and “Mum” selections.

Prof Paul Baker, an expert in linguistics from Lancaster University, who conducted a study into the use of American words in the English language, said he was “surprised” by the move and said it could be linked to American cartoons.

“In Britain the word mother is more frequently used. Generally British people are not using the word mom. It is usually mum or mam in the North,” he said. “Mom is an American word and it is very interesting that the card company has decided to adopt it.

“It goes against the grain as most of the changes which are adopted are related to grammar and are more subtle. Over the last 100 years we have seen words such as cop and boss being used.

“But the word mom is a surprise to me, it suggests something quite interesting. 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.”

The term mom is often associated with the American language but it is also a term used in the Midlands.

Prof Carl Chinn, a Birmingham linguistics expert, said he had evidence of mom being used prior to the First World War. “I have memoriums from the local papers in Birmingham which show the term mom being used in the West Midlands prior to people being influenced by ‘talkies’,” he said. “In this area people have been replacing the ‘a’ with an ‘o’ since the ancient medieval times. We see in documents the words ‘hond’ and ‘lond’ instead of ‘hand’ and ‘land’. “It’s refreshing to see that our children can now buy a card with the name they call their mom on it.”

Jess Philips, the Birmingham Yardley MP, uses the term mom and has insisted that Hansard – the verbatim report of proceedings in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords – record her saying “mom” not “mum” when she mentions the word. She previously told Daily Politics on the BBC: “Because I’m from Birmingham, and when I say the word mom, if I talk about my mom or if I talk about being a mom in the House of Commons, they always write it ‘mum’. I am from Birmingham and we spell it ‘mom’.” Paperchase says it is selling the cards in its larger stores. “We offer ‘Mom’ cards alongside our ‘Mum’, ‘Mother’ cards to cater for those who use this term,” a spokesman said. Clintons currently has 15 cards available addressed to “Mam” for Mother’s Day but no “Mom” cards.