Thread: Another Language Virus

Even the English language has it's roots in other languages https://www.englishclub.com/english-...ge-history.htm .

If an English dialect is spoken quickly with a heavy/thick accent I find it near impossible to understand what is being said. That has happened to me in any country I have been in where English is the working language. That includes Canada too.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Even the English language has it's roots in other languages https://www.englishclub.com/english-...ge-history.htm .

If an English dialect is spoken quickly with a heavy/thick accent I find it near impossible to understand what is being said. That has happened to me in any country I have been in where English is the working language. That includes Canada too.

Bob

I was born in a City who accent and sayings make it pretty hard for even the most hardened Englishman to understand.........Liverpool!

lernin' yerself scouse - the language of Liverpool

Originally Posted by Thug

I was born in a City who accent and sayings make it pretty hard for even the most hardened Englishman to understand.........Liverpool!

lernin' yerself scouse - the language of Liverpool

I recognize a few slangs in there but not too many.

From some of the best people in Canada Newfinese 101: Words and Phrases You’re Likely to Hear on The Rock | Encounter Newfoundland .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqLuIXwsLDw

Bob

As an editor, I frequently cringe at people's writing, and there are plenty of cringeworthy examples in this thread. However, my general opinion is that formality of writing should be dictated by the circumstances. Texting is the least formal, and typing on a phone despite technological advances is still difficult. Therefore, leeway can be given for most abuses there. "Movie tonite?" is perfectly acceptable, despite "Shall we see a movie tonight?" being proper.

Forums like these are conversational in nature, most of the time. It's an informal situation, and the emphasis should be on clearly communicating your point rather than perfect grammar and punctuation. I would hold informational/how-to type posts to a somewhat higher standard. It isn't particularly critical if someone writes it's rather than its, or there rather than their. It is replacing conversation, and if someone were speaking, you wouldn't know if the speaker used one version of the word or another. Grammatical and usage slips are much the same. With the Internet, people are writing more than they have in decades unless they had a job that required it. Perfection isn't necessary or expected.

Writing a cover letter for a job application, writing for business, or writing a book, for example, should all use perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Except dialog in a book, there is no quarter given for errors in these cases. Most people know they aren't grammarians and should have someone who is look over their writing when it matters.

Just my two cents.

"Texting is the least informal" ??

Originally Posted by nipper

"Texting is the least informal" ??

Does that make it the most formal?

I checked out The Mother Tongue from the library this afternoon. Thanks for the tip UKRob. I've been reading The Elements of Styleby William Strunk a page at a time. I discovered in Strunk's paged that I have been using the word that too much.

Originally Posted by nipper

"Texting is the least informal" ??

He meant the 'least formal' or 'most informal' and mixed them up, judging by the paragraph he wrote. Slip of the brain, I guess.

Originally Posted by Pithor

He meant the 'least formal' or 'most informal' and mixed them up, judging by the paragraph he wrote. Slip of the brain, I guess.

Yup, I am sure that is what he meant to say but it just goes to show that even editors make mistakes.

Bob

Like it or not, language is ever evolving. A well educated gent from 300 years ago would have trouble deciphering this thread, now I have trouble interpreting a text... Some words have a totally different meaning from even 50 years ago. Bad is good, "Brilliant" is often used sarcastically.
40 years ago, to be gay meant to be merry and happy,,, is it still cool to say "cool"..?
Read a very interesting book a while back called The Power of Babel, about language, how it has changed and why English is one of the hardest to learn. 10 years old though, so probably could do with an update...