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English language

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English language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:41 pm
by hampshireman (deleted)

We had a lovely, now sadly deceased friend whose big moan was the use of the word "gunner" or "gonna" so prevalent in our speech including the presenters of the BBC.

Being very much into American crime novels at present, the one horrid word that keeps cropping up in them is "gotten"

I just hope we don't adopt that one. I can't think what dear old Janet would have thought of it.

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Last edited Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:27 pm | Scroll up

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:50 pm
by Peter Glaze (deleted)

The noun as verb. Example "You're joking me!". Arrrghhh!!!

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:32 pm
by Deeps (deleted)

What an awsome thread this is.

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RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 2:34 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.745 Posts

So from where do we get the common expression, "ill gotten gains" if its use is incorrect? Also what about "misbegotten" in the sense of illegitimate?

'Gotten' was common in mediaeval English but has since died out in the UK yet survived in the USA. In American English it is used in the sense to acquire or receive. "They have gotten a car" would suggest a new event whereas "They have got a car" would indicate that they already own the car.

It is therefore correct usage.

As for 'verbing the noun', Shakespeare did it all the time, for example "Julius Caesar who at Phillipi good Brutus ghosted" or " Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels."

And I bet that you have "Hoovered a carpet" or "Googled a query"

It's what Stephen Fry was saying about English being a living language that is constantly evolving. It has been doing it for centuries.

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RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 3:42 pm
by hampshireman (deleted)

All right prof

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RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 4:07 pm
by Frantone (deleted)

"For free"
Wot's that all about?

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RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 4:51 pm
by Peter Glaze (deleted)

It's a fair cop Brian. I've been comprehensively copped. Striking the balance between "correct usage" and recognising the dynamic nature of the language is a mine field into which I should not have trod :-).

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:18 pm
by Crystal •

| 245 Posts

When it boils down to it, you could also say that a preposition is a very bad thing to end a sentence with..........but you do sometimes sound odd if you find another way with which to end it.

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RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 7:16 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.745 Posts

I hate "at this moment in time" instead of 'now' and "at the end of the day".

I also dislike, "What's your take (instead of view or opinion) on.....?"

In the 1990s I detested the over-use of "situation". My boss once told me that a couple of members of staff were "in an ongoing inter-personal conflict situation" when they'd had a disagreement.

It's a good job some of us are perfect, innit?

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Last edited Wed Aug 06, 2014 7:16 pm | Scroll up

#10

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:11 pm
by Peter Glaze (deleted)

Seems like my split infinitive slipped by the judges though... :-)

News just in - people are increasingly using the word "so" to start a response to a question, especially one to which they don't wish to give a straight answer (BBC R4's Today programme and Dragon's Den. op cit).

Example:
Duncan Bannatyne (for it is he): How much of your own money have you invested in this spaghetti boat so far?
Hapless "Entrepreneur": So, we started the business at university, friends said bla bla bla...

Last edited Thu Aug 07, 2014 11:23 am | Scroll up

#11

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:17 pm
by hampshireman (deleted)

Yes No Yes
or
No Yes No

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#12

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:17 pm
by Frantone (deleted)

The other sentence starter that has become annoying is 'Look, .........
This maybe Australian in origin but always feels like you're being 'told' rather than answered.

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#13

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:18 pm
by hampshireman (deleted)

Absolutely...........and I can't spell English any more

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#14

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:27 pm
by Crystal •

| 245 Posts

................and everything now is classed as 'historic' at the moment it happens!

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#15

RE: Englisg language

in Anything that's not Eriba-related. Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:45 am
by Deeps (deleted)

When watching BBC International I can't help but note how many people, both BBC reporters as well as members of the public, start of a reply by saying "You know". If the person asking the question already knew the answer they wouldn't be asking. Sadly they don't breed the likes of Trevor McDonald any more.