Don't you hate how the American English Language is changing ?

[Hector]

Me no speeko inglich.

[garagesale]

I don't care how people talk, as long as I can understand them when I'm trying to meet them 1/2-way. Dialects, accents, and colloquialisms are cool (sorry, txteach, but I kinda like Ebonics) when they're *spoken* or used in *creative* writing.

What drives me nuts is when I get student essays--I teach freshman composition at a university--that are full of "other-than-standard" English constructions. Even worse, when students write stuff in their papers in phone texting style ("2B/not2B, that the FAQ" - Ham.), or use emoticons ; ) I sometimes think I will completely "twist off"!

A living language is a beautiful thing; but like urban growth, it has to be controlled or it gets frustrating, confusing, even dangerous!

Hope this isn't too political.

JamesD

[HardyGirl]

I don't know if this one counts but it drives me absolutely crazy:

Text me later.

Isn't this the biggest waste of time that a person could do? You've got to sit there and type all those keys to get the letter you want. It's a phone! It's much easier to dial the 7 numbers and actually speak to someone. I hate cell phones on so many levels.

AMEN!!

And as a black woman, I hate Ebonics too. Because whether you're of the "ghetto mentality" or not, you get lumped into that category.

And when did "GINORMOUS" get to be a word?

[Donkey Hoatie]

Nope, I LOVE it!

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't mind the way most people talk. Look, the beauty of language is that it's always evolving. Otherwise, we'd all still be speaking in Neanderthalic grunts.

Every generation has fewer and fewer of ways to rebel against the powers that be. Fortunately, with freedom of speech, the ability to alter our national syntax is one rebellion that will never go out of power.

Think about it this way, all the colloquialisms and slang that you currently use were once frowned upon by others. As long as you're able to communicate your intent (and, isn't that the whole point of speech and language to begin with?), then go ahead and ebonicize, dangle modifiers, split infinitives, or end your sentences with prepositions while you're speaking. It doesn't matter one whit to me. Most of our American rules of grammar are based on Latin. Yeah, that makes sense. Let's make sure not to end any sentence with a preposition because that's how it was done millennia ago in Rome.

[toys2cool]

it doesn't really bother me either

you guys should see how it is here in Miami,it's almost all Spanglish

people can't go a whole sentence with out mixing both

[monkey tennis]

Well there is always '' YO '' instead of Hello
Or " HUH " instead of What

People in England drop their H's quite a lot, so when they say HUH
they end up saying 'UH
IT DRIVES ME MAD

i cant stand it when every sentence ends with YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN...

YES I hate that.
Also when people start their sentence's with
"at the end of the day..."

It's sounds so STUPID

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN ???

[Adam West]

I don't care how people talk, as long as I can understand them when I'm trying to meet them 1/2-way. Dialects, accents, and colloquialisms are cool (sorry, txteach, but I kinda like Ebonics) when they're *spoken* or used in *creative* writing.

What drives me nuts is when I get student essays--I teach freshman composition at a university--that are full of "other-than-standard" English constructions. Even worse, when students write stuff in their papers in phone texting style ("2B/not2B, that the FAQ" - Ham.), or use emoticons ; ) I sometimes think I will completely "twist off"!

A living language is a beautiful thing; but like urban growth, it has to be controlled or it gets frustrating, confusing, even dangerous!

Hope this isn't too political.

JamesD

I think I addressed this once already but I had a 25 year old accountant who would send business emails to the CEO filled with emoticons.

I had a discussion with her concerning the unprofessionalism of using emoticons when addressing business people in a professional setting especially since the particular email was of a business nature.

She looked at me like I had a horn growing out of my forehead and told me with sincere honesty that she didn't understand why it wasn't professional. I recommended a business writing class for her.

I don't text anyone period. At a recent family gathering, my 16 year old nephew was text messaging friends while we were sitting around the table chatting. My brother asked him why he uses text messaging using his cell phone rather than just making the phone call. His sincere answer was that he did not want to be rude. All of us that were 30 or older laughed at his response for obvious reasons.

Not only does the text messaging bother me but teenagers especially have become so accustomed to texting one another that you can barely garner their attention. Try having a conversation with one who has a cellphone and does a lot of texting. I find that they are constantly looking down at their phone to see if a text message had arrived while half paying attention to you. Some adults do it too. My boss will look at his Blackberry whenever it buzzes if I am in the middle of having a discussion with him.

It is frustrating and annoying not to have someone's undivided attention as if that is to much to ask.

[BlackKnight]

it doesn't really bother me either

you guys should see how it is here in Miami,it's almost all Spanglish

people can't go a whole sentence with out mixing both

See Holmes .

[Mikey]

Question about text messaging from an old fogie who's totally not in the know...

Why do people text message on their phone ?
Wouldn't it be just as good--- or better to just call the person ?

I really don't get it.

BTW, how can a person type a message on a cell phone key-board ?
My fat fingers can barely type a 7 digit number without messing up.

[huedell]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't mind the way most people talk. Look, the beauty of language is that it's always evolving. Otherwise, we'd all still be speaking in Neanderthalic grunts.

Every generation has fewer and fewer of ways to rebel against the powers that be. Fortunately, with freedom of speech, the ability to alter our national syntax is one rebellion that will never go out of power.

I'd love to see a culture that actually punished people for speaking a certain
way...

"I be goin' to da store now."

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

"Wut you be sayin' about my hizzle?"

So language is a "rebellion" thing now?

Look out.

[huedell]

Question about text messaging from an old fogie who's totally not in the know...

Why do people text message on their phone ?
Wouldn't it be just as good--- or better to just call the person ?

I really don't get it.

Okay---well here's 2 for ya...

1) Some people don't like being "stuck" in a "real" phone conversation
and would rather have the ability to shoot off phrases to deal with any
given issue..

2) Many people look at texting as the equivalent
of merely "keeping in touch" ---a gesture of caring, if you will----
and, in many cases (between people who are in a romantic
relationship)..."flirting"

and, as poster Adam West pointed out above^^^^
its a way to multi-task

[txteach]

I for one find poor grammer in an adult to be a pet peeve of mine. I would never hire someone who spoke slang all of the time or used past tense in the present. It would reflect bad on any business I had. Women who speak like they have a third grade education really turn me off. You can be Miss America but if you say something like "I be wanting one of dem for a long time, fur sur!". Suddenly the beauty turns to mush.

[Adam West]

Okay---well here's 2 for ya...

1) Some people don't like being "stuck" in a "real" phone conversation
and would rather have the ability to shoot off phrases to deal with any
given issue..

2) Many people look at texting as the equivalent
of merely "keeping in touch" ---a gesture of caring, if you will----
and, in many cases (between people who are in a romantic
relationship)..."flirting"

and, as poster Adam West pointed out above^^^^
its a way to multi-task

I also presume it is used to communicate without anyone hearing you. Take a look at a teenager text message someone and they will usually have their phone held under a table or their back turned to you.

In Maryland, the state legislature is actually considering a bill to make it illegal to text message while you are driving your car....***?(that's text message speak).

I can't even have a cell phone conversation on a hands free set while driving my car.

[SUP-Ronin]

Improper use of the word "at", I am guilty of this as well.

Where are you at?
Where is it at?
What time is the party at??
Where was that dead corpse at??
Where did you put the keys at???

I hear this constantly. The "at" is completely unnecessary when used in this manner.

Both my parents have masters deg. in English, so I was constantly informed of my horrific abuse of the language in every form. I try, but .....

[Mikey]

I'm guilty of constantly using the word "yous" --- in refering to a group of people.

I do it on the net and in real life ......