Grammarians UNITE!

[momofdrew]

Quote:
You must be cold or embarassed a lot.

for Opa

 

[JennsPeeps]

Imagine my delight when I logged onto BYC this morning and saw that my grammar rant had been joined by an entire troupe of like-minded people!

Like begets like. When you see poor grammar and poor spelling throughout society, it engenders more confusion about proper usage.

 

[English Chick]

It is I believe exceptionally simple to sit and post about the English language and therefore pontificate about it's vocabulary and it use and/or misuse, however to understand the English language is not that simple, it is after all, made up from many languages, ie French, Greek etc., many words have many meanings....there, their, where, were, so on and so forth....however there will be many amongst us....particularly with dyslexia who find "English" very difficult.......there are many modernisms ......English is a beautiful language it has complexities and contradictions..not all of them apparent to everyone........The Oxford Dictionary ( English) accepts and prints into English, the many modernisims of the language itself......and no doubt will continue to do so...does that make it wrong..many languages evolve over time. whether we like it or not.....for me personally, are the times and writings of the then English language of William Shakespere...I find it exceptionally eloquent..........but then thats me.....not everyone in the modern day of the 21st centuary would understand.....or appreciate the complexities of the Olde Worlde language in the times of cyber talk and clipped txt messages........ I shall for one, appreciate with interest the many replies which shall ensure.....(hopefully)

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
You have a different, and perhaps better, perception on this since you
are actually English. I know many may disagree with me on this. There
are also several "accepted" forms of the English language around the
world.

I personally find historical English to be more eloquent and interesting
than the modern form. For me the letters of the Founding Fathers of the
U.S.A. are wonderful. I'm also amazed by the letters written home from
simple soldiers in the many wars we have engaged in going back further
than the Revolution.

I'm not a fan of Shakespere but recognize his brilliance. My wife, being
an avid reader, loves Shakespere.

In the modern world we have had a few great writer and speakers and
some poor ones too. George Bush lacked the command of the language.
Ronald Reagan mastered it, both in writing and speaking. Read the
letters of Reagan. Many are masterpieces. I haven't read anything
by Obama yet but I plan on it.

*Steps Down*

 

[The Chicken Lady]

PC, I agree with you. It's wonderful to read the work of authors who understand that even prose can be rhythmic and musical.

To me, words are components of art as much as paints and brushes are. The right words, chosen with care, can bring alternate realities to life. Words have the ability to create, to build up, and to tear down. They are a powerful force indeed.

 

[English Chick]

Quote:
You have a different, and perhaps better, perception on this since you
are actually English. I know many may disagree with me on this. There
are also several "accepted" forms of the English language around the
world.

I personally find historical English to be more eloquent and interesting
than the modern form. For me the letters of the Founding Fathers of the
U.S.A. are wonderful. I'm also amazed by the letters written home from
simple soldiers in the many wars we have engaged in going back further
than the Revolution.

I'm not a fan of Shakespere but recognize his brilliance. My wife, being
an avid reader, loves Shakespere.

In the modern world we have had a few great writer and speakers and
some poor ones too. George Bush lacked the command of the language.
Ronald Reagan mastered it, both in writing and speaking. Read the
letters of Reagan. Many are masterpieces. I haven't read anything
by Obama yet but I plan on it.

*Steps Down*

Well said PC, I too am looking forward to Obama's masterpieces....

 

[English Chick]

Quote:
Agree Chicken Lady...for the pen shall be mightier than the sword....wise words written long ago......and again the words oft written....."Use the feather, for the feather (quill?) can crumble the mightiest of men"............

 

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
This one drives me batty. "I am going to sale some eggs". No, you're not, you are going to 'sell' some eggs. A sale is a thing, a noun, sell is an action, a verb. I've seen that more than once here on BYC, and also quite a bit on the bee forums I frequent.

 

[ChevygirlBeth]

I get frustrated with grammar mistakes, although I know I make them myself from time to time.

I grew up with a mother who was a bit of a grammar Nazi. I somehow inherited that trait from her, much to the annoyance of my husband. He grew up in a family with horrible grammar. They all tend to make up words that sound similar to the word they mean to use or completely misuse a word. It drives me crazy! I only correct him because I love him and I don't want him to sound like an idiot in public, but he doesn't always see it that way.

One of his favorites:
"I un-thawed the chicken for dinner." I ask him why he froze it if we're going to have it for dinner and he gets all confused!

There are others that are even better, but that's the only one that comes to mind right now.


Once a gentleman I work with through my job made up a new word. Dramastically - as in "It improved my cattle operation dramastically." My co-workers and I actually use that word sometimes now because it makes us chuckle.

 

[PortageGirl]

I think some people look at the use of good grammar as being snooty, really it just helps avoid confusion. I think that it helps avoid misunderstanding. The lack of mostly proper English and/or the use of too many regional or local expressions can really cause a lot of confusion, though they are an awful lot of fun!

Also, even though the English language may have bazaar rules, at least there ARE rules, which means that if someone is trying to learn the language, there is at least some hope of figuring them out.