Subject: Grammar, Grammar, Grammar!
Posted by: Lochalsh
Date: Sep 07 10
What error in grammar disturbs you most, gives you a fingernail-across-chalkboard sensation? For me, it's "for you and I." Would a person ever say "Oh, is it for I?" No? Then why would that same individual say "for you and I"?
Stop me before I start in on the nominative vs. accusative stuff! :)
Posted by: Lochalsh
Date: Sep 07 10
What error in grammar disturbs you most, gives you a fingernail-across-chalkboard sensation? For me, it's "for you and I." Would a person ever say "Oh, is it for I?" No? Then why would that same individual say "for you and I"?
Stop me before I start in on the nominative vs. accusative stuff! :)
295 replies. On page 6 of 15 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Cymruambyth 
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Re "upside the head". It is indedd a common phrase in North America. However, there are many common phrases in North America which do not conform to the rules of grammer or the rules of correct English. Regionalisms and colloquialisms are best used verbally rather than in written English. For instance, the Welsh, when speaking English, have a habit of ending sentences with "is it?" (e.g. I am going shopping, is it?") In the verbal context it is much the same as the American 'huh?' or the Canadian 'eh?' and can be defined as filler. Another colloquialism that has no place in written English is the use of 'folks' instead of 'people', and I'm guilty of that, I know. Bad grammar is bad grammar and I note a distressing (to me) tendency to the use of 'I seen' instead of 'I saw', 'he has went', instead of 'he has gone' and other such errors. Reply #101. Sep 27 10, 12:14 PM |
Lochalsh
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Cym, there's nothing ungrammatical about "upside the head," with its preposition and definite article, and its noun used as object of the preposition. Certainly, it may be uncivil in content, but it's not against the laws of grammar. I defend Jazmee's use of it; she was trying to make a dramatic point by going for the unusual phrase. There's nothing wrong with stepping out of the ordinary and speaking in quotes when you know your audience will likely understand the various uses of social register. _____ Maybe we should talk about the use of semicolons. I know I sin in that area. ;) (Just look at that wink, would ya?) Reply #102. Sep 27 10, 2:39 PM |
mjws1968
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This might have been said before and I am sorry if this is the case, but how come the vast majority of our transatlantic cousins seem physically unable to say the word "nuclear"? I would be very disturbed to be wiped out in a "nucular" strike. It drives me mad, and I just yell the word "nuclear you cloth-head" at the screen every time this blatant mistake is made. Would love to know who started the whole trend, my betting is a Republican politician of limited intelligence. Narrows it down not a lot. Reply #103. Sep 29 10, 5:11 PM |
| mjws1968
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There is also a quantifier used here in the Welsh valleys called "now just". If you do something "now just" it means you do it in the near future, not now but nearly now. Also drives me mental, as even my grandmother, who has lived here in the Rhondda for 66 years, does it, rather than practice the liguistic inconsistencies of Wiltshire, where she spent her formative years. Moonrakers are a strange bunch, might be the inbreeding lol. Reply #104. Sep 29 10, 5:15 PM |
| Lochalsh
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The vast majority? I'd like to see those statistics, please. I know of no one but George Bush who says that. Of course, I do hang out with people in the language profession... Reply #105. Sep 29 10, 5:54 PM |
| Lochalsh
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That would be "George W. Bush," but I think you knew that. :) Reply #106. Sep 29 10, 5:56 PM |
lesley153
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Goodness, even I knew it was Dubya! :D Reply #107. Sep 29 10, 6:11 PM |
Anton
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I've met a couple people who can't pronounce nuclear. Yes, I laughed, and no, that is not the vast majority. Reply #108. Sep 29 10, 6:23 PM |
daver852
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I have no difficulty pronouncing the word "nuclear." I am, however, mystified as to why the English cannot pronounce "schedule" correctly. Reply #109. Sep 29 10, 8:07 PM |
| lesley153
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Shedyool versus skedyool, and leff-tenant versus loo-tenant? This is fun. :) Reply #110. Sep 29 10, 8:48 PM |
| Lochalsh
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It's fun, but is it grammar? ;) Reply #111. Sep 29 10, 8:54 PM |
george48
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Just how do you pronounce nuclear? Nuke-clear? Reply #112. Sep 29 10, 9:33 PM |
leelee63
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Yes - Nuke Lee er - is correct. GW says nuke you ler. Which is spine chilling. Referring to the Marine Corps (Core) as a corpse is just, if not more, spine chilling. Reply #113. Sep 29 10, 10:18 PM |
| Lochalsh
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George, in the International Phonetic Alphabet, the most agreed-upon pronunciation is /ˈnjuːkliːər/. or, perhaps, nyoo-cli-er. That last vowel is a schwa, a sound close to "uh." Reply #114. Sep 29 10, 10:18 PM |
| Lochalsh
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That was *not* a grammatical sentence (I'm very tired). Restated: I gave you the pronunciation as it is represented in the IPA. Reply #115. Sep 29 10, 10:21 PM |
| Lochalsh
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Maybe someone would like to start a thread on variants in pronunciation? :) I've taught phonetics and phonology, but I prefer other areas in linguistics. To tell you the truth: I value poetry above all! Reply #116. Sep 29 10, 10:27 PM |
| Lochalsh
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One more comment: I keep thinking now of Pres. Jimmy Carter. He can pronounce 'nuclear,' *and* he's a nuclear engineer by training! :) Reply #117. Sep 29 10, 10:30 PM |
| daver852
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One construction that differentiates American English from English English is the use of "gotten" versus "got." Many Americans would say "I've gotten my flu shot," while Brits would say . . .well, who knows what they would say, but probably something along the lines of "I've got my flu shot." Reply #118. Sep 29 10, 11:04 PM |
| Lochalsh
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I lived in Illinois for a decade and never got over "I'm going to the store--want to come with?" I kept waiting for an object of a preposition that never appeared. Reply #119. Sep 29 10, 11:25 PM |
romeomikegolf
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No daver, we'd say 'I've HAD my flu JAB'. *daver852 I have no difficulty pronouncing the word "nuclear." I am, however, mystified as to why the English cannot pronounce "schedule" correctly. Reply #109. Sep 29 10, 8:07 PM Delete - Edit* We do pronounce it correctly, it's Americans that don't :) Our pronunciation is because of the influence of French in our language from the time of the Normans. The American way is taken from a Greek derivation decided on by Webster (he of the dictionary) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schedule Reply #120. Sep 29 10, 11:47 PM |
295 replies. On page 6 of 15 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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