Spelling and Grammar

blckbrd

perplexed.com wrote: »

Liked that one, thanks!

While I'm here: Why, oh why is "could of" instead of "could have" so popular?

Poor diction is at the root of it. Could have, could've, could of.

thorsoak

Juicyloo wrote: »

If teachers are so good and worth their pay, why can nobody spell nowadays and why is English grammar taught so badly? It is a fundamental right as an English person to be taught there x own language surely?

should that not be their ????:rolleyes:

PolishBigSpender

perplexed.com wrote: »

While I'm here: Why, oh why is "could of" instead of "could have" so popular?

I really don't know. It must be an accent issue, because non-native British speakers don't make the same absolutely horrible mistake.

If I see "could of, should of" on a forum - instantly I assume that the poster is an idiot.

andygb

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

I really don't know. It must be an accent issue, because non-native British speakers don't make the same absolutely horrible mistake.

If I see "could of, should of" on a forum - instantly I assume that the poster is an idiot.

Unfortunately a lot of people see absolutely nothing wrong with writing or typing something exactly as they would say it, despite the fact that it may be grammatically incorrect. This has led to "text speak" and fake Jamaican Patois being seen as acceptable among many people (mainly young?).
As PBS has pointed out on this and many other occasions (and been criticised for it by some :rolleyes:), the standards in this country are falling, and far from being worried about it, certain people seem to think that it is unimportant, or worse still something which they are proud of.

jackieblack

This one always makes me smile at the supermarket

'Ten items or less'

euronorris

LucyTheDwarf wrote: »

I live in the UK, I just visit NL often, and want to learn Dutch, as I hope to live there in a couple of years.

I love NL! Don't get me wrong, I miss my friends and family dearly, but I can't imagine living in the UK anymore. The lifestyle here suits me much better. If anything, the OH and I might move to Belgium in a few years, but that's it.

If you're interested in a short language course, check this out: http://www.dutchandsuch.nl/ I did a short course with Nick (the tutor) in June/July time last year and it really helped me to get the basics down and understand some of the grammar rules and construction of sentences etc.

euronorris

andygb wrote: »

Unfortunately a lot of people see absolutely nothing wrong with writing or typing something exactly as they would say it, despite the fact that it may be grammatically incorrect. This has led to "text speak" and fake Jamaican Patois being seen as acceptable among many people (mainly young?).
As PBS has pointed out on this and many other occasions (and been criticised for it by some :rolleyes:), the standards in this country are falling, and far from being worried about it, certain people seem to think that it is unimportant, or worse still something which they are proud of.

I see your point, however, language is always evolving and it always will be.

So, whilst we may not like it, it is inevitable. And one day, some of those changes will possibly be taught in schools.

Just a different way of looking at it. Scary thought though!

Quasar

I remember a user in the Arms (not DT) once using the word "obfuscation", and was mocked by another user who felt the use of such words was nerdy, and was proud of the fact he had no idea what it meant.

Instead of a quick dictionary check to find out and thus broaden his own vocabulary, he chose to sneer. When it comes to linguistic competence, people CAN self-educate, and it is very worrying that so many prefer to belittle others for having the ambition and interest to do so.

andygb

euronorris wrote: »

I see your point, however, language is always evolving and it always will be.

So, whilst we may not like it, it is inevitable. And one day, some of those changes will possibly be taught in schools.

Just a different way of looking at it. Scary thought though!

My fear is that quite a few of these changes are caused by laziness, or a kind of warped pride in doing/saying things which go against the establishment. Take for instance "Gangsta rap", the language is deliberate, challenging, agressive and used by many who we may label "Chavs". Many people on Facebook, Twitter and other internet forums, use language composed entirely of swearing and slang/abbreviations. Go out into the streets and you will hear people using this language, and I think that it is a bit like fast food. Everyone knows that over consumption of Big Macs is bad for you, but some people are quite proud that they virtually live on the stuff. Likewise with alcohol, a whole generation proud of binge drinking and the attendant yobbish behaviour.

Quasar

andygb wrote: »

My fear is that quite a few of these changes are caused by laziness, or a kind of warped pride in doing/saying things which go against the establishment. Take for instance "Gangsta rap", the language is deliberate, challenging, agressive and used by many who we may label "Chavs". Many people on Facebook, Twitter and other internet forums, use language composed entirely of swearing and slang/abbreviations. Go out into the streets and you will hear people using this language, and I think that it is a bit like fast food. Everyone knows that over consumption of Big Macs is bad for you, but some people are quite proud that they virtually live on the stuff. Likewise with alcohol, a whole generation proud of binge drinking and the attendant yobbish behaviour.

I agree. The natural evolution of language is towards greater articulation, and throughout history literature, the province of the educated, has been the bearer of such evolution.

Nowadays we are at a unique point in history where the uneducated are given a vast voice by the mercenary media (tabloids and TV), who propagate illiteracy and innumeracy (ie, the antithesis of education) for the sake of selling more and more, and thereofore we see an involution of language from articulate to less articulate and from precise to less precise. Thus, instead of the media assisting in the education of the masses, we are seeing quite the opposite.

Language (well English, at any rate) is certainly changing fast, but not for the right reasons and not in the right direction.