I am noticing an increasing error in people's use of the language, and this is not from our fellow members overseas, but mostly British contributors and not just confined to Freel2, I'm seeing/hearing this everywhere.
I regularly see people incorrectly exchanging 'have' for 'of'. Example: "I could of bought an XS cheaper".
I know this isn't a catastrophic issue but I do worry about the rapid erosion of the English language. As funny as Ali G was, I don't want to have to talk like him to be understood in my own country.

unfortunately what you see on this forum is nothing compared to other forums and real life.

and the sad thing is that the younger generation are the worst offenders, not on purpose, but due to poor education and modern ways of communication.

with the result they cannot speak or write the English language properly.

I have a friend who frequently interviews job applicants, and some of the stories he tells re applications/cv's and interviews, etc are frightening.

Iain

ps and these are the ones with some qualifications !!

AndyT wrote:

I am noticing an increasing error in people's use of the language, .

Who cares, languages evolve that's why we are not ugg ugging and pulling the Mrs around by her hair and carrying a club  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

The wife is French, but she also speaks English and Italian (also, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, German), she speaks and writes like royalty in English and Italian. She loves watching Eastenders and picking up on style they talk. However, one of the best things about English is that over the last 800 years it has changed so often, would you feel the same if all the kids started talking like the way Shakespeare plays are written. It think it would be cool, but stepping backwards for a language which has the ability to change. HSE, Auto, Colour - Yes

Languages are progressive and mercurial, they are not obdurate or intractable; they evolve reflecting both what is customary now and what was so in the past. One can observe however that this mutable toolset is frequently mishandled.

By all means be fashionable if that is your desire but in pursuit of "cool" it still pays to mobilize the correct usage of a language's lexicon and grammar. It does not matter if your linguistic inclination is "native", "indigenous" or "aboriginal" provided that it is correct.

Have pride in your application and don't be indolent: be neither idle or lazy. Be creative not dumb, your words are textual (or verbal) colours full of hues and tints, so go on, paint your own Hockney or Picasso, but do please ensure its precision.

Athelstan - the air you are in is too thin!!

Lose some altittude fast!!!  There's always a way forward!

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npinks wrote:

Who cares, languages evolve that's why we are not ugg ugging and pulling the Mrs around by her hair and carrying a club

its my accent, innit

what i can't understand is why some people pronounce the word ASK, as what sounds like AXE  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

That seems to originate from LA gang culture, and is perhaps even more irritating than the 'have/of' confusion.
It seem that younger generations think being poorly educated is cool.
This country is in trouble....

I have firefox spell checker, then atleast most my spelling is correct, grammer,punctuation etc is a different matter

I managed to get 10 'O' levels at school, dont know how English being my worst subject, English lit was a real struggle it didnt help that I got caught burning my books ( Romeo and Juliet and Chauchers prologue) a month before the exams Still I find if you sit an exam not stressing whether you pass or fail makes it easier to get a result.

Being young for my year I did most of my O level just before my 16th birthday and my RE O level when 14 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Their, there, they're. Your, you're. They don't have a bloody clue.  We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

If my darling daughter (Who has just left school with 9 'O' levels B grade and above) gave me 10 pence for everytime she said the word 'like' in a spoken sentence, I would be about £2 pounds richer with every brief conversation. Oh and when I went to school (Many moons ago ) anything more than one was considered to be plural and therefore should have a 'S' added at the end of the word, it seems that this is no longer the case as when she talks about buying a pair of shoes ''they were £35 pound'' and the bus fare was £3 pound''.....where has the plural bit gone

npinks wrote:

Who cares, languages evolve that's why we are not ugg ugging and pulling the Mrs around by her hair and carrying a club

Unless your name is CG  ______________________
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Dave wrote:

npinks wrote:

Who cares, languages evolve that's why we are not ugg ugging and pulling the Mrs around by her hair and carrying a club

Unless your name is CG

but true  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race