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 10/05/2008, 14:18
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Dick Smith
 
Joined on 23/08/2004
Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais)
Posts 8,915
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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Could you say what you mean, please?
Regards
Dick Smith
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
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10/05/2008, 14:20
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Will
Joined on 22/09/2004
Sussex & 50 (Mortainais)
Posts 5,104
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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Let me put it another way.
If I posted about doing something electrical in a house and wanting to join two wires, I had just removed an inch of insulation, twisted them together, and left them like that, dangling on the floor, I am sure plenty of people would rush to condemn me for doing something incorrectly. But it works...
Likewise those of us who like to work to high standards in other respects like to use a decent standard of English language. I know you are probably even now rushing off a reply saying that nobody will be killed if we use an apostrophe wrongly, but that's not the point I am making. Standards are standards, and they apply in all walks of life.
Nobody's belittling anybody else - except, arguably, those who say that people who have high standards in language are somehow inadequate in other aspects of life. I can assure you that's far from the case. And when use of language is the subject of the topic, I fail to see how anybody could gainsay this. It fits perfectly within the code of conduct.
Will
intentionally blank signature
http://www.vienormande.com
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10/05/2008, 15:40
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tegwini
Joined on 19/09/2007
Wiltshire & Vienne
Posts 278
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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Thank you Will and well put.
I am not such a purist or a pedant and I can ignore some errors. We all make spelling mistakes and typing errors. I can accept the very common use of symbols instead of word e.g. & / @ and so on, as they do save time. Split infinitives don't phase me either - didn't Churchill use them often? I have a teacher friend who disapproves of word contractions in writing - didn't. can't & etc. I can understand that, but I accept reality. What we need to do is communicate better, and we can't really do this is we have 'in your face' mistakes, mistakes that are usually sorted out in primary school.
The trouble these days is that children, and adults read very little, and what is read often lacks any kind of intellectual challenge. Life is short, and we as humans are programmed to be learning daily. Using this forum I have gained a lot of knowledge on France & how to live there - useful as that's part of the plan. Learning and improving my French is part of this plan, but if I can't speak and write English to a reasonable level, I am unlikely to be able to do the same with French.
Regards
tegwini
I think, therefore perhaps I am...
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10/05/2008, 16:09
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sweet 17
Joined on 05/08/2006
charente maritime
Posts 2,965
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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What an interesting thread this is turning out to be! For once, I am in total agreement with Dick (and with Will).
The subject line alone should alert posters to what the thread is about. Therefore, if people feel less than interested or, indeed, perhaps even threatened, then they shouldn't have anything to do with it. Quite simple really, rather like the on-off switch on the box; you are after all at liberty to use it rather than "endure" any programme that you dislike.
To be fair to the so-called "pedants", they are, in this case, not the ones doing the ridiculing. As I remember it, common mistakes were pointed out and a sense of irritation and even outrage at these errors expressed. No one stretched out any accusing finger. It seems to me that the people jumping up and down crying foul, are the very ones showing an inverted and perverse snobbery by pointing at themselves and saying, "Look at me, I make these mistakes but see if I care!"
Why oh why is it assumed that just because you write well, you are somehow guilty of self-importance or looking down on others? Is it truly inconceivable that you write well because you take a pride in expressing yourself correctly and eloquently and that you don't do it to somehow annoy others or to show them up?
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10/05/2008, 16:44
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krusty
Joined on 13/08/2006
haute vienne (87)
Posts 2,912
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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 sweet 17 wrote: | |
What an interesting thread this is turning out to be!
The subject line alone should alert posters to what the thread is about. Therefore, if people feel less than interested or, indeed, perhaps even threatened, then they shouldn't have anything to do with it. Quite simple really, rather like the on-off switch on the box; you are after all at liberty to use it rather than "endure" any programme that you dislike.
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I agree this is an interesting thread , but surly the op invited opinions .....mine is different from yours but we are all entitled to our own.
As regards the on/off , if you do not like the grammar in a post you also can use the off .....it works both ways.
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10/05/2008, 16:58
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sweet 17
Joined on 05/08/2006
charente maritime
Posts 2,965
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Re: English as she is spoke ?
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Very true, Krusty, and I ain't gonna quarrel with you, so there! Actually, I don't really care what other people's grammar or spelling are like these days.
I used to humph a bit when I was the person sifting through job applications and CVs and letters were badly written. Nowadays, however, I am a retired person in France and the people on the forum are not wanting me to give them a job, so no probs.
As it happens, I do often "switch off", not just because a thread bores me but even in social situations when what I hear is not to my liking. How rude is that? But then, I intend to be a perfect dragon now I feel I've earned myself the right to be one. See, I can be "crusty" too!
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France Forum » General Discuss... » Other Topics » Re: English as she is spoke ?
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