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khmerhit · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:45 am Post subject: me mysel f i

"I had given a lot of ME to make the company successful..."

The above is an example of North American Englsih that I heard on CNN tonite. The speaker would not have needed to italicize the word ' me', as he did, if he had chosen the correct prononun. Is it just me, or do I hear the reflexive pronouns used less than they should be heard on this continent, where the common language is supposed to be freakin English?

Call me a pedant or a curmudgeon, but it seems to me that many North Americans are reluctant to speak the language as she is meant to be spoken, and to flex their linguistic muscles!

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

What I've noticed as I've travelled around is that people are, generally, stupid. I have a great time recounting the Jay Leno street interviews, where average "Joe"s were asked intelligent questions. It never fails to amaze foreigners that an American can think the Austriala borders the US. Or that Americans know more about Star Trek than NASA and the real space program. I use Americans as an example, but I also had a lot of trouble eliciting from my Mexican students that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. One student thought he can from Portugal.

I believe it comes down to a failure of education: it's not interesting enough, relevant enough and just can't compete with junk TV. Basically, we're a bunch of morons. Confused

Iain

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

dduck---Yes Jaywalking is alarming....I can top it. I am reading the "Murder of Bob Crane "now. He was Hogan on Hogans Heroes but you probably know that. When he was killed many thought the Nazis did it. They had no idea that this was fantsay. There are millions of examples of this. When a character on a soap opera dies people are in tears. They are nuts no other way to put it. Maybe people think Star Trek is reality TV.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Back to Jay Leno.On one Jay walking episode he asked the question;On what year was the war of 1812?
No one got the answer right.

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

They just didn't show the people who got the answers right. Those people aren't fun to laugh at.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:51 pm Post subject: My stars

Dear lagerlout2006'

" Maybe people think Star Trek is reality TV. "

Hold it - you mean you think Star Trek ISN'T real? OK, that does it. Beam me up, Scotty. There clearly NO intelligent life down here.
Regards,
Captain Kirk

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Ok you're a pedant, but look on the bright side, you are in extemely good company.
it is not only where you are that people are reluctant to make an effort to speak English as well as possible there is a little word doing the rounds over here.
'Innit': Used as a catch all question tag. Once a slang form of isn't it now appropriated into immigrant misuse and now back into general use.

Corey · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 112 Location: Canada

Corey · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 112 Location: Canada