The general poor standard of written and spoken English.

sledger · 14-07-2009, 09:15 AM

I know this is something that Mitchell and I have touched on before, but I was thinking today, how awful the standard of English (in England anyway, no idea what it's like elsewhere in the world) is in places absolutely appalling, it really winds me up no end.

The worst of which I could think of being highlighted below..

Examples;

1) "I would of gone home".

No no no no no, this does not make any sense whatsoever, why people can't say "would've" or "would have" like they should is beyond me.

2) "Get off of the chair".

Dire again, why people feel the need to add the "of" on the end really baffles me.

3) "I saw a red coloured car"

Again, dire, no need to say coloured, it is a red car ffs, it isn't red coloured.

4) "it was like quite sunny today"

How the hell was it "like" sunny? It either is or it is not. The amount of people who say "its like this" with any number of topics when it is totally unnecessary really gets my goat.

5) "I met/spoke with Dave"

No, you do not speak with someone, you speak to them ffs.

This probably seems pretty petulant on my part, but these are all very basic grammatical errors that are commonplace amongst English speaking people. I know it's not the end of the world, but it's something that I find intensely annoying, and imo raises questions about the teaching of general grammar in schools. I have a Malaysian friend who refuses to believe me when I say he speaks better English than the majority of English people, but i'm not kidding.

And yes, I'm aware I'll get a ribbing if there are any spelling mistakes etc...in there.

cover drive man · 14-07-2009, 09:20 AM

Didnt have much of a problem with them apart from the fourth.

sledger · 14-07-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cover drive man

Didnt have much of a problem with them apart from the fourth.

They are all grammatically incorrect.

Athlai · 14-07-2009, 09:22 AM

I love you.

cover drive man · 14-07-2009, 09:23 AM

Interesting. Edit:what sledger said not athlai!

sledger · 14-07-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athlai

I love you.

Wub u 2.

Adamc · 14-07-2009, 09:27 AM

The last one is pedantic and probably not correct. If you're having a conversation with another person it's perfectly acceptable to say you're speaking with them. If it's a one-way conversation then you're speaking to them.

Uppercut · 14-07-2009, 09:28 AM

Poor English only annoys me when it's written. Little problems in speech such as the overuse of the word "like" aren't that bad. (Except that one where someone makes a statement then follows it up with "so it was" e.g. "it was sunny so it was." That one gets my goat.)

Poor written English seriously ****s me off though. I used to work in a bar for someone practically illiterate, and it was just embarrassing.

sledger · 14-07-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamc

The last one is pedantic and probably not correct. If you're having a conversation with another person it's perfectly acceptable to say you're speaking with them. If it's a one-way conversation then you're speaking to them.

Well no, because if you take the meaning of each word in the sentence it generally doesn'wt work. Maybe I am pedantic to an extent, as like you say, it's not something that would bother most people, but if you were having a conversation with Dave, you would speak to him, and he would speak to you, you would not, speak with him.

Athlai · 14-07-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sledger

Well no, because if you take the meaning of each word in the sentence it generally doesn'wt work. Maybe I am pedantic to an extent, as like you say, it's not something that would bother most people, but if you were having a conversation with Dave, you would speak to him, and he would speak to you, you would not, speak with him.

Na disagree on this one, nothing wrong with speaking with Dave. Dave is a good bloke.

sledger · 14-07-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athlai

Na disagree on this one, nothing wrong with speaking with Dave. Dave is a good bloke.

DWTA.

Adamc · 14-07-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sledger

Well no, because if you take the meaning of each word in the sentence it generally doesn'wt work. Maybe I am pedantic to an extent, as like you say, it's not something that would bother most people, but if you were having a conversation with Dave, you would speak to him, and he would speak to you, you would not, speak with him.

Speaking 'with' doesn't literally mean speaking at the same time. If you try to interpret all sentences literally you'll have a hard time understanding anything. It's just a common and acceptable usage that has developed over time.

Athlai · 14-07-2009, 09:40 AM

He might be a wooden in ring presence and rubbish with the mic but anyone holding a lone ranger lunch box is clearly a good guy.

dontcloseyoureyes · 14-07-2009, 09:51 AM

Don't be stupid, she speak good and everything.

BoyBrumby · 14-07-2009, 10:02 AM

My spoken English is quite shocking at times. Routinely use "me" when I should say "my" and have developed the infuriating verbal tic of starting sentences with "Yeah, no..." which is as close to meaningless as makes no odds.

Also, being from the Fens, instead of saying "treated" as the past participle for "treat" I tend to say "tret". & obviously park my car in a garridge not a gar-rahge.

14-07-2009, 09:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,076	The general poor standard of written and spoken English. I know this is something that Mitchell and I have touched on before, but I was thinking today, how awful the standard of English (in England anyway, no idea what it's like elsewhere in the world) is in places absolutely appalling, it really winds me up no end. The worst of which I could think of being highlighted below.. Examples; 1) "*I would of* gone home". No no no no no, this does not make any sense whatsoever, why people can't say "would've" or "would have" like they should is beyond me. 2) "Get off of the chair". Dire again, why people feel the need to add the "of" on the end really baffles me. 3) "I saw a red coloured car" Again, dire, no need to say coloured, it is a red car ffs, it isn't red coloured. 4) "it was like quite sunny today" How the hell was it "like" sunny? It either is or it is not. The amount of people who say "its like this" with any number of topics when it is totally unnecessary really gets my goat. 5) "I met/spoke with Dave" No, you do not speak with someone, you speak to them ffs. This probably seems pretty petulant on my part, but these are all very basic grammatical errors that are commonplace amongst English speaking people. I know it's not the end of the world, but it's something that I find intensely annoying, and imo raises questions about the teaching of general grammar in schools. I have a Malaysian friend who refuses to believe me when I say he speaks better English than the majority of English people, but i'm not kidding. And yes, I'm aware I'll get a ribbing if there are any spelling mistakes etc...in there.

14-07-2009, 09:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
cover drive man International Captain Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 7,049	Didnt have much of a problem with them apart from the fourth. __________________ Everyone wants to change the world, noone wants to change himself. -Tolstoy

14-07-2009, 09:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
Adamc Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in the wind, so to speak Posts: 9,128	The last one is pedantic and probably not correct. If you're having a conversation with another person it's perfectly acceptable to say you're speaking with them. If it's a one-way conversation then you're speaking to them. __________________ "Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me."

14-07-2009, 09:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
dontcloseyoureyes BARNES OUT Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WILDCARD, BITCHES Posts: 27,702	Don't be stupid, she speak good and everything. __________________ The one, the only CW Black Code: 47.3 W Coppinger to Heads Smacked the ball straight into the groin of Iwuajoku who has fallen over, miraculously with the ball still caught in his scrotal area! Out! TO OUR FOREFATHERS

14-07-2009, 10:02 AM	#15 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,619	My spoken English is quite shocking at times. Routinely use "me" when I should say "my" and have developed the infuriating verbal tic of starting sentences with "Yeah, no..." which is as close to meaningless as makes no odds. Also, being from the Fens, instead of saying "treated" as the past participle for "treat" I tend to say "tret". & obviously park my car in a garridge not a gar-rahge. __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

14-07-2009, 09:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
cover drive man International Captain Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 7,049	Interesting. Edit:what sledger said not athlai!

14-07-2009, 09:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
Athlai Request Your Custom Title Now! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wellywood, NZ Posts: 26,001	He might be a wooden in ring presence and rubbish with the mic but anyone holding a lone ranger lunch box is clearly a good guy.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode