Thread: Another Language Virus

I'm not sure I can discuss this in a gentlemanly fashion. I'm not sure I can even discuss it coherently.
Disclaimer: I do not speak perfect English.
I do see language as a live organism so to speak, constantly changing. This seems pretty normal to me, but occasionally, what I consider a virus infects the organism, you know, like, infects.
The latest one sends me into spit flying rage and SWMBO is sick of my rants. So I turn to my fellow gents to unload in the hope that someone knows what I am talking about.
Has anyone noticed the how the use of the word had has changed? Logically it's taken some time and now appears to be at critical mass.
Here is an example: Yesterday I had went home around 5:00. I have heard this across socio-economic lines, so let's not infuse the conversation with that one. Well, perhaps there is a cultural origin for this grammatical construction, but the point is that it is becoming widespread, at least to my defective ears.
I feel better now.

My mother, who was a teacher, taught me that often your first impression was your appearance (neat, clean, decently dressed) and the second impression came when you opened your mouth and spoke (or in modern times, wrote something).

I used to think she was being overly critical of me. Then I realized she was just trying to teach me basic social skills and the social "facts of life". Now, when I watch TV news or read what allegedly "professional" journalists write, not to mention the drivel people put in emails or write in business correspondence, I realize she was right. I understand people from different places and different backgrounds may have different standards, and that's fine; however, when people who should be models for our youth (and society at large) get by using bad grammar and "street talk" in their professions, we're headed down a slippery slope.

I'm with you!

Thanks for the thoughts!
I am of an older generation, schooled by menopausal penguins, and find many of the words in US English have changed meaning and usage. I have a developed a distinct aversion to some of the modern writing, even in genre I enjoy. I am now reading mostly authors from my generation, and the generation since.
The use of computers and cell phones has and will change the written language further; to my sadness.
Vise ( work holder) vs vice ( poor habit) is one that gets me every time.
I find that many of the non-US posts are better written in the English language than native ones.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Thanks for the thoughts!
I am of an older generation, schooled by menopausal penguins, and find many of the words in US English have changed meaning and usage. I have a developed a distinct aversion to some of the modern writing, even in genre I enjoy. I am now reading mostly authors from my generation, and the generation since.
The use of computers and cell phones has and will change the written language further; to my sadness.
Vise ( work holder) vs vice ( poor habit) is one that gets me every time.
I find that many of the non-US posts are better written in the English language than native ones.
~Richard

u b rite ..........

LOL........

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

u b rite ..........

I'm with you Bill!
The decline of proper spelling, grammar, and general linguistic integrity is a sad thing in modern times.
I hoped with the birth of the internet back in the early 90's that the increased usage of the written, or typed word, would be a good thing for the masses. Spell check, auto correct etc would, through constant correction, improve the general quality of people's language skills.
Then along came acronyms, emoticon's, and abbreviations that nobody could have predicted.
Thing's do not bode well for the future of the Queen's english.
I offer the below public address message.

Wat r u guyz goin on about?

Der nuthin wrong wit the youth of today or da way dat they speek.

Haha people that grow up in North America, that were born and went to school here have no excuse for improper grammar and spelling. I graduated high school in 2012. I know.. I know.

It started to notice it happen when Facebook and texting took off a few years before that lets say 2008 when I was 14. I would always text people the way I would speak and I would get replies that seemed like they came from a ghetto. Hard to hold a conversation with someone who can't even spell in English... Who has been studying it for 12 years!!

I'd like to say that hip hop is probably another cause of this language decline. Youth everywhere idolize idiots who think gang banging and hustling coke will get you respect and women. They aren't educated in most cases so kids think why should I? Then give up trying in school. I have seen that happen firsthand to many kids.

A prime example from my everyday life is my girlfriends little brother. He's 18 and has 10 highschool credits. That's what a 14 year old would have.. He's spent the last 4 years of his life listening to rap in his moms basement smoking bowls of "kush." You can't even have a conversation with the kid because he literally knows 15 words and 5 of them are curse words which are used pretty much after every word he says.

It's quite sad that this is what it has come to but I have hope one day something good will influence our youth proper language and education will become a thing to strive for.

In regard to Geezer's comment about non-US members posting in better English than native members, I noticed in high scholarship that exchange students from western Europe spoke English more grammatically correct than we did. I spoke to a German student about it and found out she had been studying English for about ten years. Her English study was centered around the classroom so her exposure to slang and poor English was minimal. I really think the constant exposure to bad English makes is why many Americans struggle with speaking and writing properly.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

It's quite sad that this is what it has come to but I have hope one day something good will influence our youth proper language and education will become a thing to strive for.

Ending a sentence with a preposition?

I know of what you speak!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ending a sentence with a preposition?