Incorrect hyphernation? about babel

[eg9]

If I launch an interactive session of LaTeX, I get

> latex
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.20 (TeX Live 2019) (preloaded format=latex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.
**\relax
entering extended mode
LaTeX2e <2019-10-01> patch level 3

*\makeatletter

*\language\l@british

*\showthe\language
> 21.
<*> \showthe\language
                     
?   

*\showhyphens{significant}

Underfull \hbox (badness 10000) detected at line 0
[] \OT1/cmr/m/n/10 sig-ni-fic-ant

*\language0

*\showhyphens{significant}

Underfull \hbox (badness 10000) detected at line 0
[] \OT1/cmr/m/n/10 sig-nif-i-cant

So the British hyphenation you get is expected. With American English hyphenations, it's a different matter. Anyway, it's not a babel problem.

[albertnetymk]

Yes, you are right; this is British hyphenation.