| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
matthewwoodford
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Location, location, location.
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:50 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| Konundrum wrote: |
| Don't even TRY to tell me English is spoken properly by the majority of Brits. Ever speak to a person from Newcastle (well, Geordies in particular)? Ever speak to a scouser from Liverpool? I was 6 before I even knew that "H" was not silent at the beginning of a word. My grandfather used to yell at me to "Get in the 'ouse..it's time fer a cuppa" |
Depends what you mean by 'properly'. They don't speak standard British English in Liverpool but so what? It's important to have a standard language and for everyone to understand that but it doesn't mean the Liverpool way of speaking is incorrect; just a variant - deviant? - from a conventionally agreed upon norm. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cheem
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| You can argue whose English is "standard" until you're blue in the face however in Korea, where this stupid debate originated, most parents want to send their kids to American schools and universities, and otherwise to live in the States. I think it's safe to say that American English is standard in America. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pligganease
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| cheem wrote: |
| You can argue whose English is "standard" until you're blue in the face however in Korea, where this stupid debate originated, most parents want to send their kids to American schools and universities, and otherwise to live in the States. I think it's safe to say that American English is standard in America. |
The better thought is "Why?"
Do you think that Koreans are so hell-bent on learning English so that they can send their kids to study or do business with the British? I think not... They want their children to learn English so that they can do business with Americans.
No offense at all to the Brits, who begged, borrowed, and stole a language that is the language of $$$ worldwide...
Just saying this: A serviette by any other name would be a napkin...  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Blind Willie
Joined: 05 May 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The sad part of this "debate", English is a bastard language stolen from a dozen or so other languages. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konundrum
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Boston
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| matthewwoodford wrote: |
| Konundrum wrote: |
| Don't even TRY to tell me English is spoken properly by the majority of Brits. Ever speak to a person from Newcastle (well, Geordies in particular)? Ever speak to a scouser from Liverpool? I was 6 before I even knew that "H" was not silent at the beginning of a word. My grandfather used to yell at me to "Get in the 'ouse..it's time fer a cuppa" |
Depends what you mean by 'properly'. They don't speak standard British English in Liverpool but so what? It's important to have a standard language and for everyone to understand that but it doesn't mean the Liverpool way of speaking is incorrect; just a variant - deviant? - from a conventionally agreed upon norm. |
That's my point exactly...I'm sorry I didn't clarify, but I was kind of commenting on a comment by (P. Dunn-Morris) on Thorin's board where he states that going to the US to learn English is a waste of time...like going to Mexico to learn Spanish or Brazil to learn Portuguese. My point is if you're talking about learning conversational English by immersing yourself in the culture, be it in Liverpool, Toronto or Sydney, you'll learn the vernacular and most likely come out of it speaking technically "improper" (occasionally gramatically incorrect, different pronunciations and stuff like that) English, but would still be fully understood in any English speaking environment. Would I go to Mexico to learn Spanish? If my goal was to to business in Mexico, absolutely! Would I go to Brazil to learn Portuguese? If I was getting ready for Carnivale-in a heart beat. Would they be able to understand me in Spain and Portugal? I bet I'd get by just fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
