When was the letter "t" dropped from the English lanquage?

Question

Is basic grammar syntax and spelling being taught in schools? I am appalled when I read some of the literature that is written by teachers, and I'm in awe that businesses spend thousands of dollars on advertising with misspelled words. Classic boners that irritate me: (1) using apostrophes when making a noun plural - cat’s and dog’s (2) using “to” and “too” – “You are to funny” (3) “Me and him went to the store” (4) “There is some shoppers in the store” (5) “I don’t have nothing” (6) “My wallet was tooken” (6) “I drug the garbage can out to the street.” But my main complaint is ENUNCIATION. TV and radio reporters, advertising spokespeople, politicians, teachers, etc. constantly do not pronounce the letter “t” – innerview (interview), winner (winter), innerject (interject), innernet (internet), counny (county), sennence (sentence)…Are we that lazy to not put in that little effort to enunciate words? Are you guilty of this?

Answer 1

Well.. it's actually a matter of accent. American accent tends to do that.

The part about the huge grammar mistakes you pointed out are much more annoying, because that's murdering the language.

When I hear people saying "we have went" or "he done it".. I feel like crying.

I feel so sorry for the English language. It's such a lovely language and some people are really slaughtering it.

I must clarify, English is not my native language, but I love it and have studied it for many years.
.

Answer 2

Ok i agree with you on the“My wallet was tooken”
But When there is a 't' after the 'n' you cant always hear the 't' properly i very much doubt that all TV and radio reporters, advertising spokespeople, politicians and teachers say those words incorrectly but i must admit SOME people do and i don't find it that irritating. Just be thankful they aren't spelling it incorrectly!

Answer 3

I agree that schools are guilty of not stressing proper grammar. They are more concerned with phonics these days.
And it's interesting that you should mention the omission of a "t" in American English. I was just thinking of this today when I saw a sign on a truck with a Mountain goat on it. I notice that we Americans never say, "mounTain goat" (pronouncing the "t"); we say, "Moun'n goat". (With a pause between the "n's"). I don't think we ever really stop to think how complicated English can be until we have to teach it to a foreigner. We just take it for granted. It's even weirder when you have to teach them how Americans pronounce things. However, if you did, the foreigner would sound more natural.

Answer 4

I share your pain! If I didn't know better, I would swear that I wrote your question. I think it is the fault of the parents who do not teach correct enunciation and grammar to the children, possibly because they were never taught themselves. I think there are a lot of people who actually have no idea what words they are using, but simply repeat the sounds of the phrases they have heard.

The only thing I can suggest is to make sure we teach our children how to speak correctly. Sometimes I even correct people if it bothers me enough. But I try not to let it bother me too much because I know I can't really change it globally. I can only maintain correctness in my own home. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I try not to be guilty of this.


And to answer your question: "Is basic grammar syntax .. being taught in schools?" - no. My best friend is a teacher, noticed problems in that area, discussed with other teachers to do a bit of grammar work in her classes... they flat open told her not to.

Shocking, yes. Grammar is being "taught", or let´s say: grammar acquisition en passant, in schools in Germany, France and basically all Eastern European countries, and I have absolutely no idea what could be so wrong about doing so...

Answer 6

The "t" hasn't been dropped from just English. I know this happens in Japanese too. For example, if a word ends in "ta" some areas in Japan (the northern parts, I believe) will pronounce it "da."

Answer 7

Thank GOD!!!
Someone else who's picked up on this!!
I host a radio show and my paycheck is based off of my enunciation and ability to speak clearly...

This is my BIGGEST pet peeve...it drives me nuts to see how lazy people have gotten.

The other thing...is when people use words that are OBVIOUSLY above their head....

I had someone tell me that they had a problem with self-defication

And I overheard some other mental midget exclaiming that they were "just barely kicked out of _______" I sat there and for the LIFE of me could not comprehend how someone could cheerfully be that stupid....

Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Answer 8

Some people do pronounce the "t's".

The thing that irks me is when people try not to use "me and him" because they know that the word, "me," is used incorrectly much of the time.

What they'll do instead is say, for example, "He went to the store with Fred and I." (!!!) People on television do that all the time, and I don't get what's so difficult about learning that particular grammar rule.

Then there's, "She's taller than me." (!!!)

Answer 9

The "mistakes" you mention are features of non-standard English dialects. The "t-dropping" is a common feature of North American English called intervocalic alveolar flapping.

Answer 10

No, I am not guilty of this.
And, yes, it is horrible!!!
I think it is partially regional, and partially TEACHERS not properly teaching kids in grammer school. They need to start in kindergarten and earlier.

I think that it won't improve anytime soon. Unfortunately. = (

I'm originally from the South, and when I travel people are amazed I speak without an accent.

One of the worst is people who say axed for asked!! ugh!