not expecting the queen's English but...

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 13:20

being snowed in today (again!) I turned on the tv to hear the end of a competition, giving the phone number, the last four numbers were pronouned firty free, firty free (3333) What chance does the next generation stand listing to this they will assume it is normal.........cant we make sure that television broadcasters at least speak proper!!!!!!!!!!!

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 13:41

At least it wasn't fir i free. Unfortunately language does develop over time. Did you know that while Shakespeare was alive he was accused of being too common.

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 13:45

yes I had heard that......but I am sure Wills would be horrified to hear some of these Television presenters....

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 14:02

Here in Northern Cyprus there is no 'th' sound in the Turkish language so fat's why you hear firty-free on BRT radio. I fink it's cute!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 14:38

For foreigners the English "th" is possibly the most difficult letter combination to pronounce! I remember from school: "Tip of the tongue behind your teeth" - but I never mastered that... My "th" always sounds like a "d". So "that" is "dat". In another Western European country "that" sounds like "zat". Sorry, sorry, sorry!

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 14:57

I applaud anyone that even attempts to speak or learn a new language......I have a problem with the english speaking english.......incorrectly......I think "th" sounding like "d" is endearing please do not apologise DutchCrusader.....x

swyflot


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 916

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 21:33

Hate it when the letter T is omitted.....e.g. bu er, be er instead of butter and better and cringe when I hear Alesha on "Strictly Come Dancing" say "You WAS great" Aaaaggghhhh !!!

I do not know if pupils are taught hpw to "parse" a sentence correctly these days, but doubt it very much.Such a shame as the English language, correctly spoken and written, is beautiful

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 21:42

Re message 7 yea swyflot I agree with yer



Pe er

swyflot


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 916

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 21:46

Re msg 8, One always gets one !!

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 21:47

programmes like "Strictly Come Dancing" are probally the reason why people are less educated.........

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 22:59

apc2010, how does dancing affect the Queens English?

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 00:57

apc2010 - further to Blackbird's message, what bearing does "Strictly Come Dancing" have on people's education?

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 01:13

What I am suggesting that reality tv (big b,jungle, x--factor,etc) are aimed at the less educated of the masses and are on purely to stop people thinking too much.......hey just my opinion ...

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 01:30

swyflot's message 7 refers to Alesha Dixon's use of the english language in Stricly come dancing, (she is now a judge for those of you who are still a year or two behind with the series).................

MsGarnet


Joined: 04/01/2009
Posts: 989

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 02:15

If one is to speak of programmes being directed at the lowest common denominator, then that must account for 'Loose Women' to name but one - the risible tripe the gaggle of women speak, is appalling - yet it has won heaps of awards and looks to be on our screens for the forseable future - and if I hear ONE more person (English) say "skejoooooooooooooooooool" instead of schedule, I'll scream - we are NOT American (television presenters being amongst the worst culprits).......I could go on and on, but won't!

jimchris09


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 547

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 04:43

I can't stand these people who say drawRing when the word is drawing!

follydog


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 287

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 06:28

A little BRAIN Tease........... ONLY 7letter word in English dictionary with no vowels.......No answer Dutch Crusader youve ad it in 1 of my quizes

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11280

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 08:18

Interesting thread! I like (to try) to speak and write English and I'm learning from the posts here. But do you know that the beautiful English language is not perfect..? In several other languages there are words that cannot be translated or have no translations in English. Example? OK, here's one from my first language, Dutch. Look at your arm and see your elbow (in Dutch a related word, like so many words in English and Dutch: elleboog). Now HOW do you English speaking people call the place in your arm opposite the elbow in your arm? Unless someone knows the answer I'll reply when I get back from todays Famagusta Walk. Enjoy your day! = Prettige dag!

TheScarlets



Joined: 14/04/2009
Posts: 877

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 08:51

Guys



Come to Wales and we'll help you with your speech impediments and as a "brucey" bonus we'll give you a nice soft lilt to your accent. For that there will be no charge!



Ian

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 09:04

Why does everyone refer to the 'queens english'. It is The King's English - a book written in the early 1900's referring to pronunciation and grammar of the English language. Nothing to do with the current Monarch.

swyflot


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 916

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 09:14

Msg 17, I can only think of a 6 letter one, "rhythm ", msg 18, if you mean the inner aspect of the elbow it is called, in medical terms, the "anticubital fossa " or "elbow pit"

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 10:19

maybe then swyflot it could be rhythm with an s on the end?

bigOz


Joined: 29/09/2010
Posts: 1244

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 11:02

The archaic word "twyndyllyngs" meaning twins had 12 consonants! (not in dictionary)

nymphfly would have 8 letters (not in all dictionaries)

and rhythm can be 7 letters with ans "s" as rhythms!

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 11:50

It is getting worse all round. Tony Blackburn used to speak reasonably well. Now I noticed on Top of the pops on Saturday afternoon he has developed the slovenly habit of missing out letters. ie. twen-y or eigh-een. Still I don't suppose it will corrupt young people as they wouldn't be seen dead listening to that programme!

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 12:46

I still struggle with spelling let alone pronunciation. For example "n" twice in "questionnaire" and once in "millionaire". Sad life is it not ?. I have spent a lot of it completing government questionnaires but have never got near to being a millionaire ! At least our children can speak proper like I does.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 12:59

Bad spellers of the world untie !

hilda


Joined: 10/09/2009
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 13:01

Listen to how many say nothink rather then nothing

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 13:06

No 1. Nuffink wrong with that but I hope it does not have to be a Man "united" tie !

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 13:15

Stuart msg 21



Try syzygy for size... if only there were enough Y's in Scrabble....



In Shakespeare's day the vast masses would seldom encounter folk from the next county let alone another part of the globe on a regular basis so I feel that given modern communications one has to put up with errors and quirks of spoken English.



Given that spell-checkers abound, spelling errors on the internet are unnecessarily common....

swannee7


Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 14:40

The use of 'slovenly & sloppy' spoken English has reached the very top. Prince William seems only able to retain his upper-crust accent when communicating orally, and then we have 'Our Dave' Cameron who's GONNA do this or that to change things for the common good, especially the use of common speech! Absolutely everyone has lapsed in this way and the myriad of banal TV programmes that assail us do nothing but promote this degeneration of our wonderful language. Regional dialects have to remain in use or else the rest of the world will finally get to understand us. IMO 'English Language' is a misnomer: it should be revamped and designated 'British Language' (which of course includes 'Estuary English' ). Hey-ho!

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 14:54

Don't you just love common people!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqgXzPfAxjo



Richard

Bilko


Joined: 11/03/2008
Posts: 98

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 18:41

If you an't sed vat I wud ov!