Why oh why, do Americans (and I mean ALL Americans without exception) not know that the object pronoun is not 'em. It is 'them'.
From George Walker Bush down to all echelons of American society, do they use this abomination of English grammar.
You hear it in American movies, on TV and just everywhere. We know that they know it is wrong, because in the printed word they spell it properly.
2006-10-27 06:37:28 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Emm, emm, I think you have a point there, Luggerbug, but I must say that from this side of the Atlantic, the spelling and grammar of (whom I suspect to be) Americans is appalling. I can forgive those whose first language is not English, but you Americans......
However, as for text messaging and its abbreviations that are now creeping slowly into all forms of written word, that is even worse..............
2006-10-27 06:45:54 · answer #1 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm an American, and I can think of at least three different ways that I pronounce this word at different times. I suspect that if you recorded your own natural speech and listened to it, you would find that you also have varying pronunciations for this word. I often tell people that I have gained a lot of insight from listening to recordings of my own speech and I think everyone should do it. And who ever said that variation in pronunciation was bad anyway?
2006-10-28 03:08:59 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English itself is a so-called "abomination" of a variety of languages--Greek, Latin, German, French and others.
Also, all languages, including English, continually evolve by virtue of its usage by people over a long period of time in various regions and cultures. This usage of "them" is an example.
As far as it being good or bad, who knows? It just happens.
I wouldn't however, cite George Bush as a standard for the usage of language. He really get's tongue tied, doesn't he?
2006-10-27 14:01:09 · answer #3 · answered by AJGLaw 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a life long American, so far, The only time I use "em" is when talking to my dog and I say, "Sic 'em boy" and even then its more like "Sic'm boy" I haven't had a dog in ages, so i hate to ruin your theory.
And as other have stated, everything is a corruption of Latin, and all languages are evolving and adapting, so get used to it.
2006-10-27 18:24:59 · answer #4 · answered by janssen411 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It`s habit and a very lazy form of speaking. My pet peeve is when they drop the g from the end of words.
2006-10-27 13:41:20 · answer #5 · answered by Hamish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usage preferrence. Don't worry, you'll live.
2006-10-27 13:40:03 · answer #6 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You forgot "ya'll" and "ain't."
2006-10-27 13:38:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋