English Language

[Hagar]

Please don't get the wrong idea Eno. I wasn't accusing you of critcising. In fact I agree with everything you've said.

As an interesting side note to this topic.
It seems that the brain doesn't read everything that is on a page So even in a sentence with lotes if speeling mistkes it still manages to decypher exactly what is being read, as long as the basic context is right.

I think this has been proven in tests. I've noticed that I tend to go word blind, especially when typing E-mails & posts on this forum.

Where I think they (the teaching profession) went wrong was back in the late 1960s when it was decided to ignore spelling & grammatical errors in exams. Why they changed a successful education system I shall never know. I often think these so-called "experts" change things just for the sake of it. The problem with this being that they put the whole future of their pupils at risk.  ::)

[Fozzer]

Posting the link wasn't ment as a critisism.... just an observation after reading the original posting.

As an interesting side note to this topic.
It seems that the brain doesn't read everything that is on a page So even in a sentence with lotes if speeling mistkes it still manages to decypher exactly what is being read, as long as the basic context is right.

Just a quick example above.

cheers
eno

...do what... .....?

LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers eno... ...!

(This is a good, fun subject.....gotta got to keep it going...)... ...!

LOL...!

[Hagar]

(This is a good, fun subject.....gotta got to keep it going...)... ...!

LOL...!

I agree & I could keep this up for as long as you like. I have to be careful or I'll take over this thread & bore everyone stupid. LOL

The problem is that the people who would most benefit from joining in this discussion won't even read it. If they do look at the topic it's quite possible they won't understand the gist of what's being said. Unfortunately, so many people these days cannot appreciate the good old-fashioned pun or other plays on words. As they cannot spell properly the joke is completely lost on them.

[Fozzer]

I often curl up and cringe at some of the American spelling and pronunciations of the English language...
But...
...apparantly the American spellings and pronunciations represent the English spoken language at the time of the emigration of the English speaking people to America in centuries long ago.
...And they have retained these spellings and pronunciations even up until today....!

It seems it's our British spellings, etc, which have altered over the centuries... ...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

...just got to change the tire tyre on my motor-bike... ...!

[eno]

Im getting tyred tired of this. May be we should through a few more subtle ones in.  ;D

[Hagar]

I often curl up and cringe at some of the American spelling and pronunciations of the English language...

I find these differences fascinating & charming myself. Not only spelling & pronunciation but (also) some grammar is completely different. What upsets me is that American English is gradually taking over. I know that language is constantly evolving but so many people in this country are influenced by Hollywood films & TV. I hear Americanisms & even Australian accents creeping into everyday conversations wherever I go these days. I'm sure the people using them don't even realise it. If this continues it won't be long before we're all speaking in some transatlantic accent with no regional variations. I personally think this is a shame but feel it's inevitable.

Of course, the computer has a lot to answer for. I have to use American English when doing almost anything on my PC but I DO know the difference & can keep it separate. I know most people think I'm an awkward old sod but I'll continue my crusade for "proper English as she is spoke" until I kick the bucket - so there.

[Fozzer]

[quote]Im getting tyred tired of this. May be we should through a few more subtle ones in.

[Travis]

Wot yo say is reelly cool, man.
All ma bruvvers an sisters ar impressed wiv youse sayin's, man.
We've all been seein' the light, an' it's reelly cool, man.
Way to go eno...!
Stay cool, man...

Paul.

That's just sickening. :-/  I work with individuals that speak almost EXACTLY like that, and I can tell you it is a royal strain on my nature not to scream at them to "SPEAK PROPERLY!"

[Felix/FFDS]

I often curl up and cringe at some of the American spelling and pronunciations of the English language...
But...
...apparantly the American spellings and pronunciations represent the English spoken language at the time of the emigration of the English speaking people to America in centuries long ago.
...And they have retained these spellings and pronunciations even up until today....!

It seems it's our British spellings, etc, which have altered over the centuries... ...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

A notable culprit for (at least some of) the differences between American and English English was one W. Webster,schoolteacher, who decided that there was no sense in keeping certain unpronounced letters, thus the "u"  was banned form words like "colour"  to form "color" and &.

Of course, my early exposure to English English was from Victorian readings such as "The Pearl"  and the like so my psyche was scarred early on, that a subsquent exposure to Beowulf (matched at the time to readings of "El Cid Campeador"  in its original period Spanish) have left me immune to variations.

[Hagar]

[quote]A notable culprit for (at least some of) the differences between American and English English was one W. Webster,schoolteacher, who decided that there was no sense in keeping certain unpronounced letters, thus the "u"

[Bazza]

An interesting thread...

I agree with most of the comments on it, but have tended not to comment over past years because I am aware of the fact that I am probably considerably older than most of the people who frequent the forum - Fozzer aside.

I spent over 30 years needing to commit all my work to reports and the "English" language was my tool in trade.    I help family with homework and at one stage had about 6 schoolteachers as close friends.      About this stage I began to despair of the standard of written work, now my main problem is the spoken word.      Sometimes I feel like I'm on another world then I log into African/America......?

Nice to know I'm not alone out there......

[eno]

Nice to know I'm not alone out there......

You aint aren't alone Bazza  ;)

[Hagar]

I spent over 30 years needing to commit all my work to reports and the "English" language was my tool in trade.

I think this is still true in any senior position. In my day, A-level English & Maths was a primary requirement for RAF aircrew & I suspect for civil commercial pilots. I often wonder how some of the would-be pilots & engineers we have here will cope without being able to express themselves properly.

[quote] I help family with homework and at one stage had about 6 schoolteachers as close friends.

[Politically Incorrect]

I was giving the new guy the typical SimV welcome in the other thread
If he couldn't handle it oh well

But I'll be the first to admit my spelling isn't the greatest and that my typing is mostly the blame for my many errors, I had never typed a word until about a year ago. This is also the reason I don't use IM, I can't keep up with others

Hagar mentions the constant mis-spelling of "remember", this is also a word that everytime I type it I spell as "remeber" LOL!!! I think it has something too do with reflexes in the fingers because I have yet to figure out why it happens.
I'm almost thinking that I might be the one that Hagar speaks of when he metioned the use of the words "Too" and "To", I have often mis-used these ever since school, never know the correct time or place to insert the different variants, LOL!!

Most times I read a post quick enough not to be hindered by improper spelling, I usually can figure out what is being said. But this "computer shorthand" that seems to plauge the forums is something that I can't understand.

Especially in many cases it will take one or two more keystrokes or some unusal finger bending just to type this "code".
Many times I think it is just plain being lazy,  how much time is really saved by typing "pls" instead of "please" ?
As a matter if fact it takes me longer trying to shorten the word than to type it correctly, it isn't natural too what I have learned to remove letters in the middle so I end up with "plea", "plas" etc...
Same with "two" the actual number itself is in a odd location making me have to look down to see where it is placed, or having to backspace to remove the "1" or "3" that I accidentally typed, in this time I could have saved all the hassle just by typing "two".

But I guess there might be a good side to all this.
If language is going to be shortened more and more or turned into code we will end up with a few possibilities.

1) it will be shortened so much you'll have nothing to say.

2) it will be in a code that no one understands so you'll never be wrong.

[Hagar]

I was giving the new guy the typical SimV welcome in the other thread
If he couldn't handle it oh well

HI Jeff. I'm not pointing the finger at anybody. In fact, although it might have started it, I thought your comment was very witty.

Hagar mentions the constant mis-spelling of "remember", this is also a word that everytime I type it I spell as "remeber" LOL!!! I think it has something too do with reflexes in the fingers because I have yet to figure out why it happens.

I don't think we're alone. I still can't figure out why I do it either.

I'm almost thinking that I might be the one that Hagar speaks of when he metioned the use of the words "Too" and "To", I have often mis-used these ever since school, never know the correct time or place to insert the different variants, LOL!!

You aren't the main culprit. I've noticed you usually get them the wrong way round for some reason (even in your reply in this topic) but at least you're consistent.

Most times I read a post quick enough not to be hindered by improper spelling, I usually can figure out what is being said. But this "computer shorthand" that seems to plauge the forums is something that I can't understand.

I think this "Internet Shorthand" originated in chatrooms & instant messaging. It became generally popular with texting on mobile phones where you're charged according to the length of the message. It's now been developed into a language of its own.

I was reading an article in the paper only this morning where some youngsters used this new language in exam papers instead of conventional written English. Not only that but they passed the exams with an A grade. I find the fact that this is even allowed very worrying.