Dr Mike wrote:Gotten, I agree, it sounds ugly and sounds SOOOO american---its actually old English--as is Fall for autumn.
One of the most readable books on the language is Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson, who documents all this.
Agreed...however it is quite unusual as I sometimes say "ill-gotten gains"
In the English language, there is still much ambiguity as to why many things are said in a certain way. This also applies to many grammar rules too as their origins are unclear and still being investigated as to why it's the way it is, the answer in quite a few cases is that we just don't know. I also agree that common usage slowly changes the language too.
There's 'correct' English and there's everyday English and slang. It's the old ESL debate about accuracy vs. communication.
To me the language is what the people speak on a daily basis. I don't like to see/hear people murder a great language but no doubt Chaucer would have thought that of Shakespeare if he hadn't croaked 200 years before.
As incorrect as it may be(And it is COMPLETELY incorrect) I'd rather hear of Children going up in the treehouse than children going dowin in the treehouse......
and to clarify: In Yanklish "Do you want out" would imply out of a particular situation, not a locational issue.
bcrglobal wrote:As incorrect as it may be(And it is COMPLETELY incorrect) I'd rather hear of Children going up in the treehouse than children going dowin in the treehouse......
and to clarify: In Yanklish "Do you want out" would imply out of a particular situation, not a locational issue.
Agree, but I have heard it used for locational situations quite often, like people talking to pets as one example.
richard wrote:A word that makes me cringe is 'gotten'
How about begat and no doubt the past tense would be begatten !
No relation to "Got in himmel" then? (excuse the spelling and lack of germanic tone markers) ha, ha and I do concede its not English??
I always James Boland "when the boat comes in" for "fishes" now I know it was a stuttering King James.
As for American English -says it all, yet another oxymoron!
an ex was a Londoner, don't get me started on British misuse of English and all she "et" food wise.
Always told her no, is like the number after seven, and ate/eight food.
At least with Americans, their pronounciation makes it at least understandable.
And NO.. I will NOT have fries with that...at least the poms know how to make real chips
Quitters Never Win & Winners NEVER Quit........
Trying To Talk Sanity To The Insane, Only Drives You Nuts........
How Many Social Workers, or Psychologists, Does it Take To Change a Light Bulb ?.....
Only One....But The Light Bulb Has To Want To Change & Admit It Has A Problem.....GRIN
Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
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prcscct wrote:Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
'too' is used by people who can write English correctly. Many can't.
prcscct wrote:Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
'too' is used by people who can write English correctly. Many can't.
I have to check my daughter's Oxford Press readers again as she comes home with them. I swore I also saw 'to' in there instead of 'too' which got me thinking initially about the use of 'too' in British English. Some forum usage just reminded me of it. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
