Just two examples, 'away from,' and 'ought.' President Clinton started 'ought.' Ought he have used it for 'should?' It drives me a little coo-coo, how about you? Then can't we get away from 'away from?' There is the grammer problem, that I know is unresolvable as 'me and youse' is the common vernacular, and the way language devolves.
Is proper English even being taught, or have popular songs set the standard, and no matter what is taught is ignored? Does it matter? Is the short hand language making communication unclear, or is it a democrazation making understanding more efficient?
Will the dictionaries or 20 years hence be 60 pages?
Has the general reading, writing, editorial profit structure producing trash books completely destroyed literature, been a factor in language diminishment?
I know there are people who will understand my question, but will you even see it?
2007-05-18 01:49:35 · 5 answers · asked by peter s 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I hope some of the critical answerers return for my follow-up. First, see my response to question on this site, 'Why webster has changed the english grammar so much?' I know British English devolved. Second, I left 'grammer' to check your answers, and more importantly, your ignoring the mistake, and/or your courtesy. SC didn't catch it, and it 'should have!'
2007-05-18 02:10:59 · update #1
Have you seen the way people phrase their questions in this site? I guess that most people haven't been taught, or just decide not to speak English the way it's supposed to be used
2007-05-18 01:55:23 · answer #1 · answered by hackwilson76 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are way too severe. Languages evolve fast. No one writes or speaks 19th century English any more. Shakespeare is sometimes difficult to understand and as for Chaucer --- forget it. English is becoming more diverse and more complex every day as more and more people speak it.
It is worthwhile to have standards for written English so that as many people as possible will understand a piece of writing, but it is pointless to complain about regional accents. Clinton did not start "ought". It is a word that has been in use in English for hundreds of years.
(By the way, if you are going to complain about slipping standards of English, you should make sure your message is spelled correctly -- "grammer" should be "grammar")
2007-05-18 09:01:05 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy G 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Would that I were one of the people who understand your question.
I like your use of "hence" at least. You ought to be proud.
2007-05-18 09:11:06 · answer #3 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Americans do NOT speak 'ENLISH'... they speak AMERICAN... and there is a huge difference"
Americans speak English, d*cksh*t.
2007-05-18 14:52:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Americans do NOT speak 'ENLISH'... they speak AMERICAN... and there is a huge difference
2007-05-18 08:57:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋