More and more in daily life we hear the creep of Americanisms into the English language. Are we reverting to some version of 16th century English spoken in colonial times or is this the beginning of the destruction of our language? No, this language of ours is not “International English” (find software that doesn't use this term) nor is it “British English” it is ENGLISH not American or any other English, just English! Now the BBC have just published a sample of Emails that attack this trend to destroy our language and it is with some dismay that I think we may have already lost the battle! But I will continue to try to win some skirmishes on the way to total defeat. Oh and don’t mention spelling! So many “ize’s” lack of “u” in words. There are even far too many English people who say we shouldn't worry about spelling and grammar “as long as you are understood” !! What utter rubbish from the mouths of teachers is almost too hard to credit.
Here is a link to the BBC page :- "Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples" BBC
Now, I also want to add my own list of words here plus a prayer that we don’t allow a new “patois” to creep into English that has also started to appear in common usage and that is where urban white youths seems to want to emulate urban black youths and what you end up with is an incomprehensible babble of jargon understood only by a small minority of people.
However, that is all another subject so let me just end by adding my list of words and sayings.
OUT
|
IN
| |
| 1. Guys | People | You go to a restaurant or shop and you are greeted as “what can I get you guys” – I’m 65 for Gods sake not a teen! |
| 2. I’ll Have….. | Could I have a ??? please | What happened to please and thank you ? |
| 3. Folks | People | I don’t wear a Stetson! |
| 4. Any word made a verb by adding “ize” | Shudder…… | |
| 5. On the back burner | postpone | |
| 6. Harass (pronounced har – ASS) | Harass without any inflection | |
| 7. Ending a statement as a question .. the raised inflection!! | ||
| 8. Kick the can down the road | Not sure what this means even! | |
| 9. Pre-owned | Second hand!!! | |
| 10. Lay off | Redundant | |
| 11. Ball park figures | Estimates!!! |
Dear oh dear, I have now started to think about some other things that grate on me like is it “aitch” for H or is it “haytch”?
What about holding a tea cup, little finger sticking out! Or the coffee cup or tea cup held in the palm of the hand instead of by the handle!
What about holding a knife like a pen!!!!! Right of wrong?
Wearing hats in restaurants or in doors when eating?
Elbows on the table?
Swearing in public disregarding peoples sensitivities?
Shopping bare chested in supermarkets?
Three quarter length shorts and outsize football shirts worn by pensioners?
Crop trousers/shorts and trainers worn by anyone who is not a Hobbit?
Answers on a postcard please!
No comments:
Post a Comment