Why do Americans use English so poorly?
- Thread starter Fenrari
- Start date
Fenrari
Prince of Wolves
I know this applies to some people; but it often doesn't apply to everyone. While taking classes for the 4 different languages that I worked with; I often noted individuals who seemingly purposefully fucked up the foreign langauge for their own benefit :/
Digitalpotato
Rants like a Gryphon
bcuz we made twitterese & spk that. kthx.
Nah nah nah. Honestly there's no reason to be language purists here.
Nah nah nah. Honestly there's no reason to be language purists here.
Grimfang
Well-Known Member
The way I've learned to use English -- very casually. When it comes to school or work, be proper. Otherwise, stupid words start polluting my sentences. Like.. man.. dude.. all the bad language..
Grew up on the edge of the south, and I used to hate the bad language and accent. I honestly miss the casual and friendly exchanges with people I don't even know.
I've read that the English accent was a newer development, and that Americans (or some) actually speak closer to what the language was long ago. I just don't know how the hell that could be verified.
Now I want to look that up again, and find out exactly how that claim can be supported.
And man, just returning to FAF after so long, it's somehow heart-warming to see Thatch and Roose like this. I'm glad we're all okay (except for the dead that I've already forgotten).
Grew up on the edge of the south, and I used to hate the bad language and accent. I honestly miss the casual and friendly exchanges with people I don't even know.
I've read that the English accent was a newer development, and that Americans (or some) actually speak closer to what the language was long ago. I just don't know how the hell that could be verified.
Now I want to look that up again, and find out exactly how that claim can be supported.
And man, just returning to FAF after so long, it's somehow heart-warming to see Thatch and Roose like this. I'm glad we're all okay (except for the dead that I've already forgotten).
Kitutal
cute newbie kitten
Having used english for the last 21 years, I've gotten very comfortable with it and often twist or manipulate it any way I want, but that's nothing like the same as the sort of bad grammar and spelling and mispronouncing and everything that you get from some people, seems like they just can't care.
Pretty much, only in contexts where it's preferable by social convention should it become mandatory. I speak spanish "correctly" in comparison to many of my peers, but that just means my use is closer to the standarized forms, and even then I insert my own variations and patterns because I'm aware of a certain set of rules that govern my language and twist or employ them to my convinience and liking. This means that, essentially, a variant is a variant, the way the speakers adopt those rules in their context, and, in practice, none is more valid than the other. That there are Academies and Dictionaries is a different matter, though they're necessary for establishing a common ground of communication in certain contexts. I'm refering, of course, to native speakers.
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Digitalpotato
Rants like a Gryphon
I've heard the same thing about Quebec french too.
Not so much latin spanish, that's more Spanglish and Nahuatl.
What do you mean?
The pronunciation that characterizes the so called "latin spanish" actually comes from AndalucÃa, also from where most Spaniards migrated to America during the Colonization, and it was generally viewed as "inferior" to the spanish from Toledo, which closer to modern pronunciation in Spain. That is, if memory doesn't fail me. As for the lexic, it comes from latin, greek, french, english (in modern times particularly), arabic, hebrew, african languages and, of course, indigenous languages.
Sarcastic Coffeecup
Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Idk if it's a shame. Most people don't butcher the mother tongue, but pick a dialect. I did so. Language by-the-books is boring. People just wanna be more personal
Ad Hoc
THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS
Native speakers can break the rules of their language and still be confident that they'll be understood. They also learn it by growing up in it instead of learning the specific rules, etc., stuff that's already been said.
In the end, as long they are able to communicate effectively, the necessary result has been achieved. It's all good.
Even the "best" English speakers tend to have wonked-up grammar if you actually take the time to write it down and try to punctuate it, though. You learn that pretty quick in court reporting--we actually have a modified set of punctuation rules because so much of the spoken word is just about impossible to punctuate traditionally. Folks don't notice it when they're talking or listening because strict grammar rules are a lot less important than one might imagine. I dropped all pretenses of being a grammar "Nazi" (outside of transcript work) after learning this. As long as it's understandable, it's all good.
In the end, as long they are able to communicate effectively, the necessary result has been achieved. It's all good.
Even the "best" English speakers tend to have wonked-up grammar if you actually take the time to write it down and try to punctuate it, though. You learn that pretty quick in court reporting--we actually have a modified set of punctuation rules because so much of the spoken word is just about impossible to punctuate traditionally. Folks don't notice it when they're talking or listening because strict grammar rules are a lot less important than one might imagine. I dropped all pretenses of being a grammar "Nazi" (outside of transcript work) after learning this. As long as it's understandable, it's all good.
Finnish cannot be butchered. It simply translates to Estonian. :VIdk if it's a shame. Most people don't butcher the mother tongue, but pick a dialect. I did so. Language by-the-books is boring. People just wanna be more personal
Oh, you do, do you? :V
I disagree:
Funny how you're the only one making an issue out of my comment.
Hey, wouldn't be fun for me if I didn't have a challenge or two... glad to see you back, Grim.
Heh:
And this should be entertaining: http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20000917mag-onlanguage.html
Randy-Darkshade
Bike riding squirrel thing.
I agree. Though a lot of the time it is down to accents. I'm British so I expect people would think I'd speak perfect english right? Wrong, my accent makes me sound weird, I don;t pronounce words properly due to my accent. Accents play a big part in how people speak. Personally I type out far better English than I do when I am speaking verbally to someone. When my french friend visits I have to speak clearly otherwise she doesn't know what I am saying.
But yeah in short, I think it just boils down to ones accent.
But yeah in short, I think it just boils down to ones accent.
Randy-Darkshade
Bike riding squirrel thing.
Maybe when typing they do. But do remember on a cell phone you have a character limit, hence text speak. Text speak also makes writing texts faster. However if you are using a laptop or PC there is no excuse really to use text speak. also don't forget some people are dyslexic, which isn't just a black and white case of someone who can't read or write because the level of Dyslexia in people varies greatly. I have a friend who can read smaller, easier words but really struggle to read big long words.
Leadbelly
Close Enough
It would be, if that sentence actually made sense.
sunshyne
Member
...And yet that didn't stop an English person from actually yelling something like that at a bewildered friend of mine once. Which I why I used it as an example.
Eventually he deciphered that the guy was asking him to grab a flashlight out of the trunk.
Leadbelly
Close Enough
I suppose if he was from Essex it would explain it. People there have a slight problem when it comes to talking like a normal human being.
Catilda Lily
May all your bacon burn.
Americans Y U NO USE CORRECT ENGLISH?
Grimfang
Well-Known Member
Today, I heard myself say "That's about as nough as I can-- ..."
I had to stop right there, since it was a bit of a shock to hear myself say something like that. Then I thought about this thread, and realized that I'm one of them, the ones being discussed in this thread.
:[
I had to stop right there, since it was a bit of a shock to hear myself say something like that. Then I thought about this thread, and realized that I'm one of them, the ones being discussed in this thread.
:[
Kitutal
cute newbie kitten
I got into the habit recently of saying things like 'a whole nother problem'
Actually I want to learn to be fluent in this internet speech thing so I fit in with all my friends, not going too far but a few abbreviations and emoticons and so on perhaps. I'm just not used to it, I always type things out fully and clearly, years of trying to write books rather than text messages done that to me.
Actually I want to learn to be fluent in this internet speech thing so I fit in with all my friends, not going too far but a few abbreviations and emoticons and so on perhaps. I'm just not used to it, I always type things out fully and clearly, years of trying to write books rather than text messages done that to me.
LouyieBlu
Contemplative Nitwit
Proper English is definitely more slurred or spoken differently in the south than in other places. English is my first language, yet I am already fluent in another, and starting on my third, my point is that not all Americans slurr, mess up their words, some actual arent racist, but there are those people who do those things and sometimes it can be offense, sometimes it was just the way they were taught to speak an they dont actual mean offense.
As for shortening of words like..well FAF Fur Affinity Forums or FWA; Furry Weekend Atlanta, I think that people shorten words because it is easy to communicate in a conversation, its much easier to type or say FAF than Fur Affinity Forums, yet they mean the same thing.
Sadly humans will always go for the easier way out, probably related to survival instincts and such.
Americans may do it a bit more than others, but I have seen slurring or shortening in other cultures too.