For English language people.

[JUDWAK]

Don't get me started with the Americans! Shower of uneducated and insular cretins.

"Eedinebro, how quaint. Look Chuck, they even built the castle next to the railway station..."

"Scatchland, is that in England?" <-- If anyone says that to me I will hit them!

well said
i now see you in a whole new light

[slobodan]

well said
i now see you in a whole new light

Got a new spellchecker?

[TOYOTATONY]

"Scatchland, is that in England?" <-- If anyone says that to me I will hit them![/quote]

Quite right! Insulting as well as ignorant!

Can you imagine how they would react if we asked a similar question of their nation?
These people no nothing of the world outside their own borders and don't want to. What does that say about them?

[Apache]

On my way home from a business trip to the states once, on an American Airlines flight, Captain came on the intercom as we were arriving back over the UK and said "folks, we are about to cross Wales, England..."

I hope there were no Welsh folk onboard.

[da SLUG man]

insert is or are in the spaces.

The balloon ___ green, right, that one's is.

Where ____ Bob and Peter? Is that is or are? or could it be either?

anywhere west of where i live, the correct term would be, "Where is Bob and Peter to?"

them westerners add "TO" after every question!... "where's that to?"

hehehe!!

[fonecrusher1]

The Xbox is a games console that you play games on. It has a feature which allows you to play games with other xbox owners all across the world, kind of like the internet but purely for gaming & you can also talk with whomever you're playing against. Sorry if this sounds condescending but im presuming there are older folks reading this & dont have a clue about what im on about.

I have found that the majority of the Americans i speak/listen to have a very poor grasp of geography. Ive been accused of talking 'funny' even though i go out of my way to speak clearly as most of the online xbox users are Americans.
Even though im Irish they call me a 'brit'?? Ive even heard a guy saying he wasnt sure where Australia was in Europe!!!

[JUDWAK]

Got a new spellchecker?

no
just getting better

spellchecker's are for wimps that dont want to learn

[Sancho]

There is no such thing as British English.

[/B][/SIZE]

Don't get sucked in by the ignorant!

There is a great irony in being labelled 'ignorant' by someone with such a blinkered view of the world. Of course there are varieties of English. Even within England, sentences are constructed in different ways in different regions.

For someone who obviously has a passion for the language, I'm surprised that you can't see the great joy of English, which is its extraordinary versatility. I am all for correct spelling and grammar but I think a region or country's use of language is part of its culture and that its continuing evolution should be encouraged.

Other versions of English are not 'right' or 'wrong', just different. Surely as an English teacher you would have taught Chaucer, Shakespeare - even Coleridge. None of those used 'correct' English as we understand it today but we hold them up as heroes of the language. We don't just label them as 'wrong'.

As for the original question, the point I was trying to make is in here; the first bit under 'Grammar'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...sh_differences

[TOYOTATONY]

Before this descends into a slanging match, let me clarify one thing.
My use of the word 'ignorant' is not to suggest anything disrespectful as can be the case of course, but more in regard to lack of knowledge type of ignorance. I meant no offence ok? That said, please don't make assumptions of my view of the world. This has not been discussed, only the misuse of the English language.
Con't at bottom of your quote...

There is a great irony in being labelled 'ignorant' by someone with such a blinkered view of the world. Of course there are varieties of English. Even within England, sentences are constructed in different ways in different regions.

For someone who obviously has a passion for the language, I'm surprised that you can't see the great joy of English, which is its extraordinary versatility. I am all for correct spelling and grammar but I think a region or country's use of language is part of its culture and that its continuing evolution should be encouraged.

Other versions of English are not 'right' or 'wrong', just different. Surely as an English teacher you would have taught Chaucer, Shakespeare - even Coleridge. None of those used 'correct' English as we understand it today but we hold them up as heroes of the language. We don't just label them as 'wrong'.

The above used the language as had evolved at the time, with a considerable amount of 'poetic license' I might add.

As for the original question, the point I was trying to make is in here; the first bit under 'Grammar'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...sh_differences

I do indeed see the great joy of our language. It is highly complex in many respects as you know. Sentence contruction & dialects are all part of our rich heritage but, when it comes to the 'proper' use of grammer & spelling, English is English. We don't have different dictionaries for different regions & all children are taught the same way of spelling & the same form of sentence contruction. Changes applied, mainly in the spoken word are, as you rightly say, down to regional dialects & cultures. Evolution of the English language is ongoing obviously, like all other languages but, there is only one form of 'proper' English. So you see, our respective views hardly differ at all it would appear. Perhaps it's a typical case of the many subtle and interpretational aspects of English, that lead us to perceive things a little differently on occasion.

As for Wikipedia, I fail to see anything in that article that contradicts what I believe, know & feel, in regard to the English language. In fact they confirm that 'proper' English is here and other countries have their adopted versions, like American English etc.
Other countries versions are not wrong for themselves as you say. My point is that they often insist they talk 'proper' English & we just sound weird and therefore wrong.

At the end of the day, wherever and whomever you are, English is English!
Not American,Indian,Chinese,Black African, Serbian or Martian! Just simply, English!

[Sancho]

Slanging matches are for the children, Tony.

I suppose the point is, ultimately, that Slobodan should visit his daughter's school and ask them whether they are teaching 'proper' Queen's English, any British collocquial version, American, Australian, South African, New Zealand, Pidgin etc. I think he should say that he will only trust them to educate his child if they can give him chapter and verse on what version they are teaching and guarantee that they will point out any variations from Queen's English that are part of that education.

A totally pointless journey, of course, but fun.

[TonyN]

A totally pointless journey, of course, but fun.

As ever, on both counts

[evildwarf]

A totally pointless journey, of course, but fun.[/QUOTE]


does this mean the fun is over!
just as it was getting good

[TOYOTATONY]

Slanging matches are for the children, Tony.

I suppose the point is, ultimately, that Slobodan should visit his daughter's school and ask them whether they are teaching 'proper' Queen's English, any British collocquial version, American, Australian, South African, New Zealand, Pidgin etc. I think he should say that he will only trust them to educate his child if they can give him chapter and verse on what version they are teaching and guarantee that they will point out any variations from Queen's English that are part of that education.

A totally pointless journey, of course, but fun.

Agreed Sancho but, was it really pointless? Is not discussion the foreword to enlightenment?

Anyway...The original thread was concern being shown by a Father for his child's well being & education. That is indeed what is most important in this thread. (My respects to you Slobodan.)

Sorry to spoil it for you Evildwarf but, after an interesting and lively discussion, Sancho & I have unwittingly agreed a compromise on our apparent differences.

Just goes to show, adults need not descend into the depths of guttersniping. We all are entitled to our opinions & all should be respected.
Thank you Sancho for an interesting discussion.
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year to you.

Tony.

[slobodan]

Anyway...The original thread was concern being shown by a Father for his child's well being & education. That is indeed what is most important in this thread. (My respects to you Slobodan.)

The school's English has got to be better than mine..

My kids think that the English for going to the hairdresser is "going to get me barnet sorted"

[TonyN]

Just goes to show, adults need not descend into the depths of guttersniping. We all are entitled to our opinions & all should be respected.
Thank you Sancho for an interesting discussion.
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year to you.

Tony.

I think i'm going to puke.....



Wow, adults, here! Who'da thunk it?



Merry Christmas...