Korean Job Discussion Forums

[McGenghis]

[Gimbap Lover]

[tatertot]

[AmericanExile]

[Gimbap Lover]

You're a wanker. Now argue against the perfect clarity of that, wanker.

You obviously are so wrapped up in the pretentious nature of your internet ramblings you missed every point I was trying to make.

Anyway, wank on.

[AmericanExile]

[Privateer]

Non-standard grammar is not a problem because the people that use it within a particular idiom or a dialect are fully competent to express themselves.

However, it's not really relevant to teaching English as a second language. Students need to learn the generally accepted rules of the standard dialect of English, because otherwise they won't be able to say what they want to say. If or when they get to an advanced level, then and only then can they start playing around with the language. And by that time they should be able to see what kinds of effect variations in speech have on the listener.

So if native speakers want to use non-standard grammar such as 'Because you is...' I'm fine with it; but not with students.

An idiomatic expression like 'My bad' is different because it's explain as synonymous with 'My mistake' and it's enough just to point out that it's slang.

[mithridates]

My favourite are examples of English that began as mistakes and then became correct over time.

newt used to be ewt, confusion over an ewt vs. a newt resulted in the n being added on. Sometimes the opposite happens.

Same for umpire (was nompere), adder (was nadder), and a ton of other words.

[Lunar Groove Gardener]

inflame=to become ablaze
but now you'll see "flammable" in the place of "inflammable" on the sides of fuel trucks
the "rules" can serve to obscure important meanings
in this case, is the prefix "in" meant to create a negative, similar to the rule as applied to "incompetent"
and "inhospitable"??
the general consensus, at least in 'merica, was that clear meaning should
trump obscure rule of an inconsistent grammar exception such as this.

my hat is off to the o.p for being a tyrant instead of using the word Nazi as it is
so often applied. I find that far more offensive than whatever colloquial ass haberdashery which may harass the tender sensibilities of those living legally within the rarefied confines of the gold star licked and stuck to their middle school grammar quizzes.

that said,
"would of"
"better then"
written or spoken, these make me cry at night for justice in a world where so much injustice occurs.

[McGenghis]

[AmericanExile]

[machinoman]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[mmstyle]

Hmmmm. I originally thought this thread had died a quick death. Looked it up to discover some interesting responses, which have given me a few things to think about. I have some pet peeves about English, one of which made me start the thread (using "less" when "fewer" is more appropriate). I also find "I'm good" to be endlessly annoying (as opposed to "I'm well") but recognize this as being hammered into me by my father.

I think the person who mentioned learning the rules and then breaking them has a great point. I was first taught this kind of idea when it comes to starting sentences with "and" or "because." I've long since gotten over ending a sentence with a preposition.

Of course, breaking the rules is a great way to create a certain "feel" in a novel or creating a character's way of speaking. As someone mentioned, the way you speak affects the way others perceive you. The way I use language greatly affected my treatment by a lot of coworkers in my last job before coming to Korea, and it's one of the reasons I still get on students for swearing...though I pick and choose those battles these days. I teach middle school, after all.

[Young FRANKenstein]