America has been blamed this week for the deterioration of the English language.

A study by Lancaster University and Cambridge University Press disclosed that spoken English is being replaced by Americanisms and new technology.

Awesome, for instance, is replacing marvellous.

Language expert Professor Tony McEnery at Lancaster University said: “These very early findings suggest the things that are most important to British society are indeed reflected in the amount we talk about them.

“New technologies like Facebook have really captured our attention to the extent that, if we’re not using it, we’re probably talking about it.

The rise of ‘awesome’ seems to provide evidence of American English’s influence on British speakers.”

Shock, horror. Will the land of Shakespeare ever recover?

How would our Will cope with Google, online, smartphone and tablets? Probably very well.

The researchers say it has been happening for the last 20 years but I recall using the Marshal Sam McCloud catchphrase “there you go” back in the 1980s.

They also say British words such as fortnight, pussycat and marmalade are becoming defunct.

How can marmalade become defunct? It’s in my kitchen cupboard and on every hotel breakfast bar in the civilised world. And if it isn’t, the place is not civilised.

Cheerio is on the way out – which is hardly surprising – and being replaced by cheers or see you later. Alligator is optional. Or did that Americanism die out back in 1960?