NationStates Jolt Archive

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Americans on T.V use this at the end of almost every scentence. It is totally pointless, and I hate the word to hell. Correct: Say nothing, you sad act.

Repeating some things twice: Okay, so this isn't a word or phrase. but it's another thing that annoys me. Americans on T.V also tend to repeat what they say about 3 or 4 times. It drives me nuts.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.

It's a form of colloqial slang arised from urban minority enviroments...I personally hate some forms of English Cockney or Sicilian Italian.

I wouldn't mind banning "like" from our vocab - alas, because I use it so often myself!

I like baisic american grammar. you know, the accent, but none of that crappy slang.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. Personally, i have a western english accent (One of the poshest in britain with the exception of rich londoners), And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.

It could always be worse.

If you don't like it, just irrirate those who speak like that in real life by always correcting their English... Or, do like we Canadians do, ignore most American BS...

English Cockney? is there any other kind you soppy mare...

I like baisic american grammar. you know, the accent, but none of that crappy slang.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. Personally, i have a western english accent (One of the poshest in britain with the exception of rich londoners), And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.

what's wrong with a northern accent!?

i like welsh accents :D

i like welsh accents :D

Sure..if I could get every other word clearly spoken...no problems...

I like baisic american grammar. you know, the accent, but none of that crappy slang.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. Personally, i have a western english accent (One of the poshest in britain with the exception of rich londoners), And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.

theres hundreds of accents in america :shock:

i love irish accents, very sexy!

i like welsh accents :D

Sure..if I could get every other word clearly spoken...no problems... :lol:

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

in america, only poor white trash and my loud korean neighbor watch those shows. and anyways, wtf is wrong with your sister? :?

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

Oh you should be thankful you got ricki lake and springer..we get that moron Benny Hill and the dry humor of Monty Python which not only do I not get..but it's just plain not funny.

Jerry Springer is what you watch when you want to see the worst of America, probably the world.

well, i know she needs to be beaten with a common sense stick, but i think you'd probably get attracted to my sister. men follow her around like sheep.

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"


Actually, it is a form of greeting, similar to "what's up?" etc. If you wish to avoid hearing this, don't talk to people from the Deep South.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Ah, the infamous Valley Girl dialect, one of the most annoying, yet easiest to make fun of. Before I joined the Army, I didn't know this actually existed outside of television, unfortunately it does.

Oh well, I can't blame you for not liking the way Americans talk.

Oh well, I can't blame you for not liking the way Americans talk.

thanks. 8)

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"


Actually, it is a form of greeting, similar to "what's up?" etc. If you wish to avoid hearing this, don't talk to people from the Deep South.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Ah, the infamous Valley Girl dialect, one of the most annoying, yet easiest to make fun of. Before I joined the Army, I didn't know this actually existed outside of television, unfortunately it does.

Oh well, I can't blame you for not liking the way Americans talk.

actually in the south we tend to just blur our sentences together, like, 'whassamaderwitchu?dintyagitdatdid?" 8)

I use English except when I am around some of my fellow Indians and want to make fun of you white eyes..then we use Cherokee...lol

I must admit to using a few colloquialisms from time to time. I can't help it, having been raised in a state more southern than northern. I catch myself slipping into a more rural accent when I'm working with people from the country. Its given me a unique blend of accents, considering my parents are from the northern midwest.

You want to know the worst one of them all?

I shudder whenever I hear it...."MIGHTCOULD"

I mightcould go out tonight, I mightcould run over to the store. That's just plain annoying.

I must admit to using a few colloquialisms from time to time. I can't help it, having been raised in a state more southern than northern. I catch myself slipping into a more rural accent when I'm working with people from the country. Its given me a unique blend of accents, considering my parents are from the northern midwest.

You want to know the worst one of them all?

I shudder whenever I hear it...."MIGHTCOULD"

I mightcould go out tonight, I mightcould run over to the store. That's just plain annoying.

nothin wrong with that, i say did ja eer me? alot

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Americans on T.V use this at the end of almost every scentence. It is totally pointless, and I hate the word to hell. Correct: Say nothing, you sad act.

Repeating some things twice: Okay, so this isn't a word or phrase. but it's another thing that annoys me. Americans on T.V also tend to repeat what they say about 3 or 4 times. It drives me nuts.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.


first, who cares that u dont like it, plus ur definitions are wrong.

And i was like, so" - Correct: I really dont give a damn.
"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Correct: You know what I mean?

I can honestly say I've never said any of the above, and I live in fucking Texas... I say ya'll, but that doesn't count, as I"M FROM TEXAS...

I say dinna instead of didn't, and donna instead of don't, but that's just habit from teasing by little brother over the years....

And don't watch Jerry Springer. Ever. Club that bitch in the head and change the channel.

What is real fun is having 25 oilfield worker's kids from Oklahoma and Texas being taught French lessons. When I was a kid we lived in the Ivory Coast for a few years and took Frech lessons from a strict school teacher. Most of us would turn up the Okie accent just to see how mad she would get.

I am very well educated and I find my southern accent actually helps me out. People hear the drawl, which I do tend to exaggerate from time to time, and they automatically consider you a simpleton. In the long run it pays off because the underestimate you and end up being embarrassed when you show them up.

I can honestly say I've never said any of the above, and I live in f--- Texas... I say ya'll, but that doesn't count, as I"M FROM TEXAS...

I say dinna instead of didn't, and donna instead of don't, but that's just habit from teasing by little brother over the years....

And don't watch Jerry Springer. Ever. Club that bitch in the head and change the channel. :lol:

Hell, I use this stuff everyday.

weel now dat just does it don it?

And I thought the days of linguistic fascism were dead....

I am very well educated and I find my southern accent actually helps me out. People hear the drawl, which I do tend to exaggerate from time to time, and they automatically consider you a simpleton. In the long run it pays off because the underestimate you and end up being embarrassed when you show them up.

That's how it is for George Bush. Everyone expects him to be an idiot because he has an accent. But he knows what he's doing compared to a lot of politicians with "normal" accents.

I am very well educated and I find my southern accent actually helps me out. People hear the drawl, which I do tend to exaggerate from time to time, and they automatically consider you a simpleton. In the long run it pays off because the underestimate you and end up being embarrassed when you show them up.

That's how it is for George Bush. Everyone expects him to be an idiot because he has an accent. But he knows what he's doing compared to a lot of politicians with "normal" accents.

I will have to disagree with you there. GW's problems stem from the fact that he does not think and react well on his feet. If he has time to think and prepare a statement or answer a question he does quite well.

You shoot an off the wall question at him, he gets the "deer in the headlights look." He looses composure and has no poker face at all. Unfortunately this is the image that is seen regularly on TV.

As a saaf lundun lad. I reckon you lot norf of wotfud dont tork proper anyway so leave it aat.
Spesshuly yoo taffs an jocks.

:0)

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

If you don't like it, don't watch it. I'm sure your sister doesn't strap you down in the chair and force you to watch the show at gun point.

And I hate the slang too, but there's no good complaining about it. It's not going to change, and you more than likely have used a lot of those terms in your life, if even by accident.

Also, America is capitlized.

I wouldnt say its American phrases i dont like to be complelety honest i dont like Americans at all all they do is give The UK a bad name by causing troble and leaving us to clean up the mess (e.g. Iraq)

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.

I'm kind of fond of this one. Not sure why, I just learned English as a second language and took an instant liking to it :oops: .

I hate excessive use of "just": "I just want to thank you...", "I just think that...". It drives me nuts!

Anyway, I like a lot of Americanisms, such as the phrase "up and...", as in "up and went", etc.

I also like sarcastic phrases like "coulda fooled me", "I thought you'd never ask!", etc.

"Like" as a verbal crutch is indeed evil. :twisted:

To me it's the accents that most determine how cultured a dialect sounds. The Southern accent, like all other aspects of Southern culture, gets the most flak, but it's hardly alone. The New York accent is ruthlessly parodied as well. The British have little liking for General American of any sort, I think; whereas Americans, for their part, often find the British speech stodgy. It's all entirely relative, though...

Does it all matter? Unless you see American businessmen using these phrases, you shouldn't worry.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.

I don't wish to sound bitter but for a start there is more than one 'northern' accent, if you don't like it then that is up to you but at least realise that the accents from Liverpool, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Newcastle etc are all somewhat different. I am sure this also applies to all the other accents you lump together. Although I do have to admit that I do not like the overuse of 'like' and 'just' although I am probably as much to blame as everyone else.

All of you America haters can just go straight fo fucking HELL YOU BITCHES! If you dont like the way some of us talk then dont fucking listen to us damn your annoying

I wouldnt say its American phrases i dont like to be complelety honest i dont like Americans at all all they do is give The UK a bad name by causing troble and leaving us to clean up the mess (e.g. Iraq)

You hate me because of where I was born!? Grow the F**K UP!

I wouldnt say its American phrases i dont like to be complelety honest i dont like Americans at all all they do is give The UK a bad name by causing troble and leaving us to clean up the mess (e.g. Iraq)

First of all, buy some punctuation. It took me nearly a minute to figure out what your run-on sentence actually meant.

Second of all, that kind of blanket generalization is precisely the type of mindset people accuse Americans of having. Thank you for showing the rest of the world that Americans are not always the guilty party.

Lastly, the only time the United States has given the United Kingdom a bad name was 2 centuries ago. I think you all are a grown up country that can think for yourselves. Blame Blair, not us, for your transgressions. You might also care to look back at your own country's military faux pas. Or did you forget about the Falklands?

I wouldnt say its American phrases i dont like to be complelety honest i dont like Americans at all all they do is give The UK a bad name by causing troble and leaving us to clean up the mess (e.g. Iraq)

Bush is clearly imperialist. If he was allowed to, he'd invade and take over the entire Islam world. He just needs to find excuses.

On the on hand, I want to say "faugh, silly prescriptivists, trying to pretend that language isn't undergoing a constant evolution"

On the other hand, I want to say

"You'll WRITE ME??? What?!?!

You'll WHAT?!!!, What, so you're just going to scribble down 'me' on a bit of paper??? Are you? ARE YOU??? !!! *spasm spasm*

Oh, you'll write TO me.
WELL USE A BLASTED PREPOSITION NEXT TIME!!!"

I don't get may letters :D

All of you America haters can just go straight fo f--- HELL YOU BITCHES! If you dont like the way some of us talk then dont f--- listen to us damn your annoying
Please refrain from using that sort of language, and being offensive in General.

Tactical Grace
Forum Moderator

"Enough already" <----- I don't know why, but I find it annoying.

Also the "and I was yeah, like, so, totally..." that people have already mentioned.

But my biggest beef is with petroleum fuel being called "gas". It isn't.

I agree! Petrol is NOT a Gas. It's a liquid. In Australia, Gas means LPG- Liquid Petroleum Gas.

Never understood how the world Gasoline came to mean petrol...

it's called petrol in the UK. I hate the word gas too. Gas comes from either your cooker or your body. :D

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Americans on T.V use this at the end of almost every scentence. It is totally pointless, and I hate the word to hell. Correct: Say nothing, you sad act.

Repeating some things twice: Okay, so this isn't a word or phrase. but it's another thing that annoys me. Americans on T.V also tend to repeat what they say about 3 or 4 times. It drives me nuts.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.



First, I'd better start by saying I share your distaste for this kind of speech. I can understand that some people haven't been taught any better, but I still don't enjoy the sound of it. The English language is too beautiful, precise and versatile to deserve this kind of abuse. (I've caught myself more than once talking back to the TV, growling things like, "No, I don't know what you're saying because you keep asking me if I know what you're saying, instead of saying it!!")

Now the unpleasant part: I turn into a pedant.


...just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster!...

You mis-typed "sentence" as "scentence". There is an unwritten rule (call it "The Rule of the Pet Peeve" for now) that you must be careful not to do anything while expressing your pet peeve which is, or could be considered, an offence your own pet peeve. Proof-reading is essential!

In your defence, I would say that "scentence" would be a good portmanteau word to describe a sentence that has an odour, either good or bad. I'm just not sure it would advance your meaning in this instance.

Despite my objection to it in the present context, if you didn't mind, I'd like to borrow it sometime, please? ;)

Similarly, and picking another nit:


...Correct: "So then I"...

As it happens, the use of a double temporal conjunction is poor form. It ranges from being rejected in formal written English to being regarded as sub-standard grammar when spoken. This is because it introduces redundancy into the sentence. Being older, I remember when "so then..." was regarded with the same horror and disapproval with which you and I (and perhaps others) greet "and I was like, so..." and similar, and for the same reasons. It was also sometimes regarded as indicating a tendency to what one teacher called "run-on thinking".

One conjunction is sufficient: "Then I..." says everything. (Of course, one can understand that speaking properly has become such a novelty for many people that in the heat of the moment they have to fall back upon informal oral forms, or they would become mute.)

For the record, your first two examples are indeed "Street", but your third one is general, and your fourth is, as someone else has observed, better called "Valley Girl".

I'll leave alone certain irregularities of punctuation and capitalization. I simply wanted to ask you to express your pet peeve in more self-consistent fashion. When you don't, you make the rest of us with pet peeves look bad too. :lol:

Yours in devotion to the English language,

PT

:oops: wow... my grammar is that terrible... oh heck.

*Throws self off bridge*

I am very well educated and I find my southern accent actually helps me out. People hear the drawl, which I do tend to exaggerate from time to time, and they automatically consider you a simpleton. In the long run it pays off because the underestimate you and end up being embarrassed when you show them up.

That's how it is for George Bush. Everyone expects him to be an idiot because he has an accent. But he knows what he's doing compared to a lot of politicians with "normal" accents.

I will have to disagree with you there. GW's problems stem from the fact that he does not think and react well on his feet. If he has time to think and prepare a statement or answer a question he does quite well.

You shoot an off the wall question at him, he gets the "deer in the headlights look." He looses composure and has no poker face at all. Unfortunately this is the image that is seen regularly on TV.

Or to be more precise, Dubya's problem originally was not that we expected him to be an idiot because he has an accent, but that we have learned to expect him to be an idiot because he proved to us that he is an idiot.

My only remaining question about him is: who is the fellow with his hand up Dubya's back? And why can't I see the ventriloquist's lips moving?

PT

I am very well educated and I find my southern accent actually helps me out. People hear the drawl, which I do tend to exaggerate from time to time, and they automatically consider you a simpleton. In the long run it pays off because the underestimate you and end up being embarrassed when you show them up.

That's how it is for George Bush. Everyone expects him to be an idiot because he has an accent. But he knows what he's doing compared to a lot of politicians with "normal" accents.

I will have to disagree with you there. GW's problems stem from the fact that he does not think and react well on his feet. If he has time to think and prepare a statement or answer a question he does quite well.

You shoot an off the wall question at him, he gets the "deer in the headlights look." He looses composure and has no poker face at all. Unfortunately this is the image that is seen regularly on TV.

Or to be more precise, Dubya's problem originally was not that we expected him to be an idiot because he has an accent, but that we have learned to expect him to be an idiot because he proved to us that he is an idiot.

My only remaining question about him is: who is the fellow with his hand up Dubya's back? And why can't I see the ventriloquist's lips moving?

PT

I have no idea. But whoever's puppetering bush appears to also have bushes hand in Tony Blair. He would have taken Michael Howard, and got other conservatives into power, but Michael Howard was so full of Sh*t he couldn't get his hand up there. :D

"Enough already" <----- I don't know why, but I find it annoying.
...


As far as I know, this is derived from Yiddish syntax being rendered word-for-word into English. From there it has passed into general American speech and -- in my opinion -- added a nuance that was missing from the simple "enough".

Does anyone have more precise information?

PT

:oops: wow... my grammar is that terrible... oh heck.

*Throws self off bridge*

Maybe ------ but at least your heart is in the right place! :lol:

And anyway, what do I know? I'm just a pedant. :wink:

Now grab this life preserver and let me pull you in; it's the least I can do.

The very least.

PT

Oh, i'm fine.

*uses jetpack*

I like baisic american grammar. you know, the accent, but none of that crappy slang.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. Personally, i have a western english accent (One of the poshest in britain with the exception of rich londoners), And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.
the 'northern' accent?
Scouse? Manc? Makem?Geordie?Northumrian?Hull? Yorkshire?Lancashire?Brum?Cumbrian?

I wouldnt say its American phrases i dont like to be complelety honest i dont like Americans at all all they do is give The UK a bad name by causing troble and leaving us to clean up the mess (e.g. Iraq)

First of all, buy some punctuation. It took me nearly a minute to figure out what your run-on sentence actually meant.

Second of all, that kind of blanket generalization is precisely the type of mindset people accuse Americans of having. Thank you for showing the rest of the world that Americans are not always the guilty party.

Lastly, the only time the United States has given the United Kingdom a bad name was 2 centuries ago. I think you all are a grown up country that can think for yourselves. Blame Blair, not us, for your transgressions. You might also care to look back at your own country's military faux pas. Or did you forget about the Falklands?
No the Falklands was a success, we chucked the buggers out quick smart.
I don't mind American expresions at all as long as it is Americans that are saying them. I don't like 'As American as apple pie.' as it means not very American at all as Apple pie was being cooked in europe centuries before the discovery of America.
What I also don't like in the UK is parts of one accent being taken as a new 'hip' way of talking. Usually Northern expresions.

I nearly forgot: there is this "Americanism" that I've often heard as "Don't go there!" or "Don't you go there!" Occasionally it seems to me that it has a kind of eloquence in its imprecision -- usually just before I wake up with cold sweats -- but most often I want to tear my hair out when I hear it. If the speaker really doesn't want me to understand what he or she is saying, it would save some effort and breath if he or she simply didn't speak.

There is a variation of it, however, that never fails to drive me to the point of frenzy: "Don't even go there!" or "Don't you even go there!"


That addition of "...even...", usually said with vocal emphasis and great emotional intensity, which I've tried to convey by bold type, peels away any ambiguity for me, and reduces this cliché to total inanity.

"Don't even go ..." where?

And, "Don't even go there", as opposed to what? Going there and meeting an old friend from high school? Going there and helping the proverbial little old lady across the street? Is there something wrong with being specific?

A grasp of English grammar and syntax plus the very excellent vocabulary found in standard English is more than enough to make anyone more than capable of expressing the finest distinctions and emphases of idea and intention, with ease and beauty. The Oxford English Dictionary contains more words than most of us know exist. There are so many ways of using this arsenal of expressiveness without rendering either the vocabulary or the speech-formations nonsensical.



I think I need a long swim near an iceberg.

PT

:roll: whaaa!!! whatza matter wit cha? peeps hafta like gripe cause of the slang. bet every country has slang. it's like everywhere, man, ya know what i mean? ya'll just keep it shizzle and square up your own talk. blah blah blah. word up.

it's called petrol in the UK. I hate the word gas too. Gas comes from either your cooker or your body. :D

Gas is the shortened form of "gasoline" the real name for the magical fluid you put in your motor vehicle to make it run.

Dare I say your "petrol" is a shortened version of petroleum, a term used to describe all oil based products?

... I don't like 'As American as apple pie.' as it means not very American at all as Apple pie was being cooked in europe centuries before the discovery of America. ...

By that standard, practically nothing could be used in that comparison, since nearly all of "American" culture is from somewhere else, including our nasty habit of exterminating any culture or population that we think of as differing from ourselves. And of course this latter nasty habit, learned while our forefathers still called themselves "Europeans", is why we can't really say "as American as the annual bison hunt" or "as American as a meeting your totem animal", etc.

All that really leaves us is "as American as smoking tobacco" and even that isn't right, because the Native "Americans" smoked tobacco in ritual pipes for very important occasions. So let's see, we're running out of alternatives. Giant sequoia trees? Grey squirrels? 'Possums? Cardinals? Groundhogs? Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac? You see where this is going, don't you?

So please, leave us with our apple pie (if necessary, tell yourself it's the American thing to do with all those apples planted by Johnny Appleseed).

I'll have mine "a la mode" -- with a large coffee, black and no sugar, waitress.

PT

PS -- are you sure, absolutely sure, that there were no Native "Americans" of any tribe who were making anything like a pie or a fruit crumble with the apples all round them? It's not something on which I'd want to wager.

I also i'm afraid, must admit i hate the northern accent in Britain. Personally, i have a western english accent (One of the poshest in britain with the exception of rich londoners), And i am proud of much polite, grammar approved voice.

What exactly is a "Western English" accent? Being born in Plymouth, raised in Glastonbury and now living in Bristol's it's easy to see the difference in them... and none of those are "posh".

Or do you mean you have a "Home Counties" accent transplanted in the West Country?

Some annoying English (not Scottish etc.) turns of phrases which piss me off:

Init, need I say more?

Mad for it (prounced rushed together so it becomes 'Mad ferrit'*). Don't know if it is the phrase in particular that pisses me off or the person.

Be-hatch, grow up. Say bitch properly.

wicked

Yadothodon'tyatho, (slowed down; You do though, don't you though) this is actually more funny then annoying.

'A didn't do ought, this could just be an Americanism.

Buzzin' ma tits off, usually hear this 'under the influence,' and it never fails to crack me up.

Although my all time most hated word isn't slang. It is youngsters, really pisses me off, and I have no idea why.



*Which incidentally was the mascot for the recent Commonwealth Games.

If I were to have one think, I wish we could transplant some new englanders, preferrrably from suburbial massachusetts, to the Deep South and stop the insanity- the worst being
"I'm fixin' t'eet." = "I'm about to eat."
Where does that come from? Fixing is not a synonym of "going to"

And some non-southern ones-

"And so I said..."
Choose either conjunction, not both!

This one isn't so much American as it is slang for all english, but...
"What's up?"
The ceiling. Try "happening"

and double negatives- "I diddn do nothing!" and such. Graah!

If ur Jesus Christ than y are u telling us this on a stupid web sight. U should be out there preching to the world about the evils of sin. in any case no one would believe u. When jesus comes again he will take all is followers up to heaven, there is no way u are him, dumbass, WHOEVER TOLD U THAT HAS A BRAIN FULL OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Im Sorry That We Dont Have Perfect English Like You...

Personally I enjoy slang and think we should rejoice in the linguistic diversity of the world. According to Stephen Pinker most slang is grammatically internally consistent and adhears to its own rules. I would recomend his book 'The Language Instinct' to you all. I have a very pleasing Scottish accent and quite often employ phrases such as 'Fit Like?' and 'Foos yer doos?' . Would anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the correct responses to these questions are?

If ur Jesus Christ than y are u telling us this on a stupid web sight. U should be out there preching to the world about the evils of sin. in any case no one would believe u. When jesus comes again he will take all is followers up to heaven, there is no way u are him, dumbass, WHOEVER TOLD U THAT HAS A BRAIN FULL OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Punctuation and correct spelling are your friend. Don't fear them.

Personally I enjoy slang and think we should rejoice in the linguistic diversity of the world. According to Stephen Pinker most slang is grammatically internally consistent and adhears to its own rules. I would recomend his book 'The Language Instinct' to you all. I have a very pleasing Scottish accent and quite often employ phrases such as 'Fit Like?' and 'Foos yer doos?' . Would anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the correct responses to these questions are?
I don't think that it is slang as a whole. But some of those really annoying phrases within slang.

If ur Jesus Christ than y are u telling us this on a stupid web sight. U should be out there preching to the world about the evils of sin. in any case no one would believe u. When jesus comes again he will take all is followers up to heaven, there is no way u are him, dumbass, WHOEVER TOLD U THAT HAS A BRAIN FULL OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easy there, remember your blood pressure.

I do not believe the English language to be terrible. After studying Latin for some time I would much rather have these slang words than have all the suffixes and prefixes that go into some languages. Also, English does not have different characters for every word. Yes, I get annoyed with some incorrect speech paterns, some of which I use myself, but most of what is said is still understood and English seems to be growing more popular, not dying away (like Latin).

I did hear a very nice story concerning the English language once though. If you have heard it and I misquote something, please forgive me in advance, it has been a long time since I heard it.
"A college English professor was lecturing his class one day on the use of double negatives. He said English was the only language he knew that two negative words could create a positive one, but two positive words could not create a negative one. To this, one of his students replied, 'Yeah, right!'"

~Age

I just hate all those idiot teenagers who are trying to be "ghetto." You know, the ones that can't seem to pronounce their r's. I mean, "for sure" is bad enough as it is, WHY do you have to BUTCHER the language even more and take out those precious, precious r's?!



God damn punk ass kids, with their grown up "cell phones" and their satanic "rock and/or roll."





For the record, I'm 18 xD

peh, get used to it.

I'm between a rock and a hard place here. I like the English language how it is; I like correct grammar and spelling. But on the other hand, I realise that English has had to evolve to get to where it is today. We don't speak the English in which Beowulf was written. And whenever I hear people complaining about modern slang, I always think of Fowler's "A Dictionary of Modern English", in which he complains about people using affected genteelisms like 'mirror' when obviously the first phrase that comes to mind is 'looking glass'.

Some annoying English (not Scottish etc.) turns of phrases which piss me off:

Init, need I say more?

Mad for it (prounced rushed together so it becomes 'Mad ferrit'*). Don't know if it is the phrase in particular that pisses me off or the person.

Be-hatch, grow up. Say bitch properly.

wicked

Yadothodon'tyatho, (slowed down; You do though, don't you though) this is actually more funny then annoying.

'A didn't do ought, this could just be an Americanism.

Buzzin' ma tits off, usually hear this 'under the influence,' and it never fails to crack me up.

Although my all time most hated word isn't slang. It is youngsters, really pisses me off, and I have no idea why.



*Which incidentally was the mascot for the recent Commonwealth Games.

I don't know all these, but I can help with some:

"Init" --- proper spelling = "innette". It means "a tiny inn".
"Mad ferret" = a common source of rabies.
"Be-hatch" --- proper spelling = "bee hatch". It's the name for how posh bees keep the rain out of their hives.
"wicked" --- proper spelling "wicket". A term from the English game of cricket.
"Yadothodon'tyatho" --- not sure here. Is it the name of a now-extinct mammal, like a mastodon?
"'A didn't do ought" --- a popular expression in the North of England, particularly Yorkshire but also elsewhere. "Owt" as it's often spelled, means "something", and its opposite, "nowt" (from "nought") is "nothing". A common expression in Yorkshire is "you get don't get owt for nowt." I'm afraid the only Americans using it brought it with them from the UK.
I can't help you with your tits either --- unless it's a reference to a bird known in England as a "tit" being attacked by bees?

I left you with the work of figuring out what part of that is true, just for fun. Is that OK, "youngster"? :D

PT

I don't know all these, but I can help with some:

"Init" --- proper spelling = "innette". It means "a tiny inn".
"Mad ferret" = a common source of rabies.
"Be-hatch" --- proper spelling = "bee hatch". It's the name for how posh bees keep the rain out of their hives.
"wicked" --- proper spelling "wicket". A term from the English game of cricket.
"Yadothodon'tyatho" --- not sure here. Is it the name of a now-extinct mammal, like a mastodon?
"'A didn't do ought" --- a popular expression in the North of England, particularly Yorkshire but also elsewhere. "Owt" as it's often spelled, means "something", and its opposite, "nowt" (from "nought") is "nothing". A common expression in Yorkshire is "you get don't get owt for nowt." I'm afraid the only Americans using it brought it with them from the UK.
I can't help you with your tits either --- unless it's a reference to a bird known in England as a "tit" being attacked by bees?

I left you with the work of figuring out what part of that is true, just for fun. Is that OK, "youngster"? :D

PT

From a Northern Englishman, I always used 'owt' for 'anything' and 'summat' for 'something'.

I don't know all these, but I can help with some:

"Init" --- proper spelling = "innette". It means "a tiny inn".
"Mad ferret" = a common source of rabies.
"Be-hatch" --- proper spelling = "bee hatch". It's the name for how posh bees keep the rain out of their hives.
"wicked" --- proper spelling "wicket". A term from the English game of cricket.
"Yadothodon'tyatho" --- not sure here. Is it the name of a now-extinct mammal, like a mastodon?
"'A didn't do ought" --- a popular expression in the North of England, particularly Yorkshire but also elsewhere. "Owt" as it's often spelled, means "something", and its opposite, "nowt" (from "nought") is "nothing". A common expression in Yorkshire is "you get don't get owt for nowt." I'm afraid the only Americans using it brought it with them from the UK.
I can't help you with your tits either --- unless it's a reference to a bird known in England as a "tit" being attacked by bees?

I left you with the work of figuring out what part of that is true, just for fun. Is that OK, "youngster"? :D

PT

:D

Nice.

re: "Yadothodon'tyatho," try Scouse.

Well I just declare. I don't know what y'all are talking about. At least here in Jawja, we'uns don't have no accent. It's all them Damn Yamkees that keep moving down heaar that have the accents. But that's alright, Y'all gust come on back now, ya heaar. :)

Personally, I like slang, It adds to an area's culture, making it more unique.
What I don't like, though, is when people use slang out of place. If you are from England, do not talk "getto". If you are a northerner, do not try to talk like a southerner. It just mokes you sound stupid.

You know what I really don't like Imperial? Someone who has no respect for other people and complains like hell. Like, really. :cool:

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.
Okay, here is the problem, you are getting this info from american TV. Basically, TV grammar is utter shit. Its either written to be what 'real people' talk like (Because writers nor actors actually know) or it is the words of poor, uneducated hicks. The ONLY thing I've actually seen in person (BTW, am I the only american commenting on this thread?) is the overuse of 'like.' Btw, how far into the south do you people live O.o I have NEVER heard some of the stuff you're talking about and I live in south Carolina (there's another name I REALLY wanted to use there, but I can't pronounce it, let alone spell it). If you don't remember South Carolina, think of the state that is still trying to fight the Civil War.

And damn the inflection at the end of every sentence!

I kept on thinking I have to supply an answer.

I hate excessive use of "just": "I just want to thank you...", "I just think that...". It drives me nuts!

Anyway, I like a lot of Americanisms, such as the phrase "up and...", as in "up and went", etc.

I also like sarcastic phrases like "coulda fooled me", "I thought you'd never ask!", etc.

"Like" as a verbal crutch is indeed evil. :twisted:

To me it's the accents that most determine how cultured a dialect sounds. The Southern accent, like all other aspects of Southern culture, gets the most flak, but it's hardly alone. The New York accent is ruthlessly parodied as well. The British have little liking for General American of any sort, I think; whereas Americans, for their part, often find the British speech stodgy. It's all entirely relative, though...At least 'like' is a word. Everyone has to admit, it is an infinite approvement over 'uh....' Now, if I hear 'like' more than three times in one sentence the urge to kill rises.You hate me because of where I was born!? Grow the F**K UP!
Agreed, my life is gonna go two ways.
1. A Northerner that just happened to be born Southern
2. A Japanese guy that just happened to be born American :p

My favorite question on the SAT.
"What race/ethnicity do you consider yourself?"
"BLUE!!!"it's called petrol in the UK. I hate the word gas too. Gas comes from either your cooker or your body. :D
This is really just evidence of regional language differences.

Gasoline=Petroleum
Its like the spanish language has like 5 words for banana, depending on what version of spanish you're learning.Or to be more precise, Dubya's problem originally was not that we expected him to be an idiot because he has an accent, but that we have learned to expect him to be an idiot because he proved to us that he is an idiot.

My only remaining question about him is: who is the fellow with his hand up Dubya's back? And why can't I see the ventriloquist's lips moving?

PT
Dubya answered the question himself.

"Dick Cheney can be President" is bush for "Pay no attention to Dick Cheney's arm going up my rectum and moving my mouth parts."

Want proof, have you ever seen Dubya talk when Cheney is drinking water?

Dubya answered the question himself.

"Dick Cheney can be President" is bush for "Pay no attention to Dick Cheney's arm going up my rectum and moving my mouth parts."

Want proof, have you ever seen Dubya talk when Cheney is drinking water?
Or that when he had to give information to the 911 commission [iirc], he went with Cheney.

I can honestly say I've never said any of the above, and I live in fucking Texas... I say ya'll, but that doesn't count, as I"M FROM TEXAS...

I say dinna instead of didn't, and donna instead of don't, but that's just habit from teasing by little brother over the years....

And don't watch Jerry Springer. Ever. Club that bitch in the head and change the channel.

I live in Texas too, but I don't say y'all. Too often.

I speak like a New Yorker, yay

I nearly forgot: there is this "Americanism" that I've often heard as "Don't go there!" or "Don't you go there!" Occasionally it seems to me that it has a kind of eloquence in its imprecision -- usually just before I wake up with cold sweats -- but most often I want to tear my hair out when I hear it. If the speaker really doesn't want me to understand what he or she is saying, it would save some effort and breath if he or she simply didn't speak.

There is a variation of it, however, that never fails to drive me to the point of frenzy: "Don't even go there!" or "Don't you even go there!"


That addition of "...even...", usually said with vocal emphasis and great emotional intensity, which I've tried to convey by bold type, peels away any ambiguity for me, and reduces this cliché to total inanity.

"Don't even go ..." where?

And, "Don't even go there", as opposed to what? Going there and meeting an old friend from high school? Going there and helping the proverbial little old lady across the street? Is there something wrong with being specific?

A grasp of English grammar and syntax plus the very excellent vocabulary found in standard English is more than enough to make anyone more than capable of expressing the finest distinctions and emphases of idea and intention, with ease and beauty. The Oxford English Dictionary contains more words than most of us know exist. There are so many ways of using this arsenal of expressiveness without rendering either the vocabulary or the speech-formations nonsensical.



I think I need a long swim near an iceberg.

PTOkay, your complaint is just silly, "Don't even go there" is always used in a situation where the person it is being said to, unless they are suffering from a severe lack of short term memory, knows exactly where 'there' is. (Yes I know, I ended a sentence with a preposition, but frankly it just sounds funny when put in correct grammar)

:roll: whaaa!!! whatza matter wit cha? peeps hafta like gripe cause of the slang. bet every country has slang. it's like everywhere, man, ya know what i mean? ya'll just keep it shizzle and square up your own talk. blah blah blah. word up.
Anyone else find those words coming from a guy with that member name to be hilarious?

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Americans on T.V use this at the end of almost every scentence. It is totally pointless, and I hate the word to hell. Correct: Say nothing, you sad act.

Repeating some things twice: Okay, so this isn't a word or phrase. but it's another thing that annoys me. Americans on T.V also tend to repeat what they say about 3 or 4 times. It drives me nuts.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.

Are we recycling threads?
SHL

As an American, I have to agree with The Imperial Navy that those expressions are just plain stupid. On the other hand, there are some British colloquialisms that I absolutely love. "Prize idiot" is a fine example, as are "brilliant" and "quality," a pair of adjectives I use with great frequency.

Okay, your complaint is just silly, "Don't even go there" is always used in a situation where the person it is being said to, unless they are suffering from a severe lack of short term memory, knows exactly where 'there' is. (Yes I know, I ended a sentence with a preposition, but frankly it just sounds funny when put in correct grammar)

No, you ended a sentence with a being verb.

Anyway, prepositions aren't good words to end sentences with.

I just hate all those idiot teenagers who are trying to be "ghetto." You know, the ones that can't seem to pronounce their r's. I mean, "for sure" is bad enough as it is, WHY do you have to BUTCHER the language even more and take out those precious, precious r's?!



God damn punk ass kids, with their grown up "cell phones" and their satanic "rock and/or roll."





For the record, I'm 18 xD
Better than Scottish, is it just me, or do they not have vowels?

As an American, I have to agree with The Imperial Navy that those expressions are just plain stupid. On the other hand, there are some British colloquialisms that I absolutely love. "Prize idiot" is a fine example, as are "brilliant" and "quality," a pair of adjectives I use with great frequency.Don't forget 'bloody' Personally, I love the sound of it, but it doesn't make much sense. "Bloody idiot" So you bludgeoned him? Seriously, I realize he's talking out of his sphincter (sp?) but, I don't see any blood.

Ehem. A word from Noo Yawk-

Not fer' nuthin'.

Lawn Guylandahs have a whole other vowel that we use. It's an entity that can not be described in any form. Its the same sound that gives us the, Lawn Guyland, while also giving us, Tawk. Common words that are afflicted with this mystery vowel are- Butter; Buttah. Mother; Muttah. Talk; Tawk. Walk; Ouwhak. Dog; Dawgah. -if only to name a few. A common phrase used among our equivilant to Valley Girls would be- Oh My God. But, the pronunciation is such that it is heard as- Owah Myah Gawd! Something that really iritates anyone though, or should, is our way of saying Five Dollars. It usually comes out as- Fie Dallahs.

Anywho.

All hail the ubiquitous vowel!

Y'all jus' riled up mah Southe'n accent. Y'all betta' pray that Ah don't keep it up.

I seriously do live in the South, but I have only a slight accent. Those expressions don't annoy me.

From a Northern Englishman, I always used 'owt' for 'anything' and 'summat' for 'something'.


Thanks for the correction. I've always heard "owt" used in contexts where it could mean either, so I assumed it was still being used in the narrower historical sense. But I can see the error of that assumption.

PT

:D

Nice.

re: "Yadothodon'tyatho," try Scouse.


Of course! It's been so long since I've been to Merseyside, I'd quite forgotten. Thanks. (Merseyside is where they found that extinct mastodon though, right? :) )

PT

Okay, here is the problem, you are getting this info from american TV. Basically, TV grammar is utter shit. Its either written to be what 'real people' talk like (Because writers nor actors actually know) or it is the words of poor, uneducated hicks. The ONLY thing I've actually seen in person (BTW, am I the only american commenting on this thread?) is the overuse of 'like.' Btw, how far into the south do you people live O.o I have NEVER heard some of the stuff you're talking about and I live in south Carolina (there's another name I REALLY wanted to use there, but I can't pronounce it, let alone spell it). If you don't remember South Carolina, think of the state that is still trying to fight the Civil War.

Leetonia, thanks for pointing that out. Unfortunately our TV seems to be even more widespread worldwide than Coke machines and McD franchises, so we can't blame people for that though.

Incidentally, you aren't the only "American" here. I'm an "American" but I work overseas and I travel a lot, so my perspective is rather different from either my countrymen who stay home or the non-"Americans" who watch our blighted TV.

Before I moved overseas, I travelled the US a lot, and although I never got to So Carolina, I did get to some other states that also would claim still to be fighting the Civil War -- the Virginias, for example, harbour people with a great resentment over that war.

Unfortunately, I have heard real people back home (I return frequently) use some of the abuses mentioned here, but I just reckon they're copying the idiot box.

PT

No, you ended a sentence with a being verb.

Anyway, prepositions aren't good words to end sentences with.



OTOH, no less an orator than Churchill said that being too fussy about the dangling preposition was something "up with which I will not put". And he didn't.

PT

Mannnnnnnnn whazz wrong wit chu? dontcha undastand dis is hoe we gangstas talk? ima thugg punk n u dun wana b meszin wit dis or ima smack ya upside da head so hard yo bitches a feel it!


(())jhenova(())

simply the best

Shaddup. Just shut the heck up! Honestly this thread died because it is stupid i should stay dead. If you're mad at t.v. language go bother them and leave the rest of us alone. Besides t.v. isn't real not even reality t.v. is real and it never will be so just let go already and give it a rest.

You do realise that you helped bump it up again don't you?

I live in Brooklyn, NY and I'm used to most of the slang, and I sometimes find myself using it in casual conversation. The way I talk usually depends on who I'm talking to. Most of it doesn't bother me, except for a few things:

"Yo son/What up son"- I can't stand it when someone calls me son. I mean, do I look like his son? It's bad enough people go around calling other guys thier sons, but I'm a girl. I also have a problem with "ma" and "shawty". (Yo shawty, lemme holla at you a minute) "Homegirl" I don't have too much of a problem with because it is more of a term of endearment with my friends and I.

"I be this... I be that"- It just bothers me to hear it. I end up correcting it most of the time, only to get "You know what I meant."

"I brung this home"- Once again, I end up correcting it, getting the same response.

The last thing is the new way of saying "You know what I mean?" The phrase becomes rolled up into one word that sounds something like "naameen."

OTOH, no less an orator than Churchill said that being too fussy about the dangling preposition was something "up with which I will not put". And he didn't.

PT

Aaargh, if anyone else comments on the intimate aspects of English grammar, I will grab that person by the "dangling preposition" and squeeze. Hard.


English grammar is really difficult, and illogical too.

While I will agree that there is a lot of annoying American slang, it's not like the Brit's don't have their fair share either.

The one that drove me up the fucking wall when I was living there was that constant use of the word "sorted".

"So, is it all sorted?"

"No for fuck's sake I did NOT alphabetize it.... but yes things are OK since that is what you were really asking"

OTOH, no less an orator than Churchill said that being too fussy about the dangling preposition was something "up with which I will not put". And he didn't.

PT

Yes. "Young man, that is the sort of impudence up with which I will not put," is the full quote. One of my favorite Winston Churchill quotes of all time, incidentally.

I think we could all agree that 'management-speak' is perhaps the most annoying form of English

While I will agree that there is a lot of annoying American slang, it's not like the Brit's don't have their fair share either.

The one that drove me up the fucking wall when I was living there was that constant use of the word "sorted".

"So, is it all sorted?"

"No for fuck's sake I did NOT alphabetize it.... but yes things are OK since that is what you were really asking"
How does sorted only mean alphabetised (or whatever the correct word is)?

Byt, meh, I'm British, and possibly use it that way. Although it isn't as bad as 'youngster.'

*shivers and the hairs on the back of neck stand up*

Although in a few parts of the UK the word 'like' becomes a pronounced punctuation mark as well.

"I love Geordies, but they're always looking for similies. 'I was walking done the road like'." - Milton Jones.

Anything related to how Bush is "doing a good job" . Really gets my back up.

Hey Conceptualists, look at me, using the forums for the first time.

Yay me.

Anything related to how Bush is "doing a good job" . Really gets my back up.

Hey Conceptualists, look at me, using the forums for the first time.

Yay me.

Did you just home in on the first thread you saw my name on?

I'll be hated for this but i detest slang, whether from Americans or working class Britons.
Americans - it is our language - either learn to speak it correctly or create your own language (I'm an English snob by the way). Please don't degrade our language.
Britons - Your manner of speech brings shame on the rest of the country. It is one factor that distinguishes the working and lower middle classes from everybody else. If you could learn to speak correctly it would make you look so much better.

Hey, Im Canadian eh...What "a boot" us...I got the worst of both worlds...plus some more....eg. Center wrong in Canada..its centre...and I know French...so what is we say sorry not saury...its ammazing..even though 90% of our TV is comes from the US we still have a very unique accent...I hate many American sayings...but they do not compare to Newfoundland...try talking to THEM...The US has rednecks...We have rednecks AND NEWFIES...PS CFL rocks..NFL is boring...and sucks to have to pay for healthcare doesnt it Yankees?

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" is the American equivalent of the Canadian, 'Eh?' But the definition of 'Eh?' is: 'What I have said, is it not true?'

I find Canadian French to be repugnant.

what's wrong with a northern accent!?

It makes the speaker sound retarded. I live in Sheffield, and thus hear northern accents every day. I also have to put up with a landlord who is from the west country, and wishes he was northern. I wouldn't really describe what he does as speaking.

It is one factor that distinguishes the working and lower middle classes from everybody else. If you could learn to speak correctly it would make you look so much better.

1st, English is not your language, it's the Saxons.

2nd, we don't have a class system in the US. Why do you think we drop kicked ya'll (yeah, I said "ya'll") off our shores 228 years ago and now use you as our lickspittle lapdog?

And I'm done.

You might also care to look back at your own country's military faux pas. Or did you forget about the Falklands?

How exactly was the falklands a military faux pas? It acheived its main objective flawlessly, i.e. get Maggie re-elected.

It makes the speaker sound retarded. I live in Sheffield, and thus hear northern accents every day. I also have to put up with a landlord who is from the west country, and wishes he was northern. I wouldn't really describe what he does as speaking.

Some of them do. Which includes the Blackpool (and general Lancashire, except rural) accent. I do not mind the quasi-scouse and non-scallie Manchester accent.

we don't have a class system in the US. Why do you think we drop kicked ya'll (yeah, I said "ya'll") off our shores 228 years ago and now use you as our lickspittle lapdog

Oh, yeah. There is no claas system in the USA :roll:

And to claim that the reason for the victory was the (supposed) lack of class system kinda flies in the face of a few historical events.

English is not your language, it's the Saxons

Umm, no. The Saxon's spoke Saxon. Modern English in a combination of many other languages too.

1st, English is not your language, it's the Saxons.

I think you'll find that Modern english, or even Middle English, and Saxon, are mutually unintelligible.

I cannot stand people who say, "So I was like, what? and He was like, huh? and I was like, who? and she was like, when? and SOooooo, I was like, WHY? Y'know?" and I would have no problem lining them up in the streets and shooting them in the backs with M16s. :)
:mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5:

However, I absolutely LOVE Scottish Accents. Especially soft ones like Liam Neeson's, and Sean Connery's, which is in a class all its own. :D

For those who DON'T know who Liam Neeson is, Either kill yourselves or watch either Star Wars Episode I, or Rob Roy. Right now. DO IT!

Modern English in a combination of many other languages too.

Aha! So you will admit that English has changed over time. Do you draw the conclusion that it will not continue to change?

That which the silly Brit called "our language" is long, long dead. English is no longer the language of Shakespeare.

Below is a prayer written down in Saxon times by a Saxon hand in the language of the Saxons:

Thu ure fæther, the eart on heofonum, sy thin nama gehalgod.
Cume thin rice, Sy thin wylla on eorthan swaswa on heofonum.
Syle us todæg urne daeghwamlican hlaf.
And forgyf us ure gyltas swaswa we forgyfath thampe with us agyltath.
And ne lae thu na us on costnunge, ac alys us fram yfele

Complex, I know, but spelled phonetically:

Thu our father, thee art on heavenum, say thine nama holyod.
Come thine rich, say thine will on earth swas-wa on heavenum.
Sell us today ourne day-wham-lick hloaf.
And forgive us our guiltas swas-wa we forgiv-ath themp with us a-guilt-ath.
And no lee thu us on costnun-ya, ash all-lees us from evil.

Now ... wanna tell me again about how the Saxons didn't bring ya'll English?

For those who DON'T know who Liam Neeson is, Either kill yourselves or watch either Star Wars Episode I, or Rob Roy. Right now. DO IT!
Isn't he Irish?

However, I absolutely LOVE Scottish Accents. Especially soft ones like Liam Neeson's

Liam is Irish, for the role in Rob Roy he had a dialect coach ....

Don't confuse parts and accents. Example: Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Van Helsing) has a thick Australian accent in real life.

Aha! So you will admit that English has changed over time. Do you draw the conclusion that it will not continue to change?

I never doubted that. I never even suggested that there is a 'proper' English. But words and phrases within the English language that did (and even included an accepted English word).

That which the silly Brit called "our language" is long, long dead.

It isn't dead. Just different

English is no longer the language of Shakespeare.

Nor has it been for a few centuries. Although he did introduce us to some new words that are still used today

Below is a prayer written down in Saxon times by a Saxon hand in the language of the Saxons:
<snip>


Nice, but I prefer this one:

"Whan Adam dalf and Eve span; Wo was thanne a gentilman?"

or

Iohan the mullere hath ygrounde smal, smal, smal;
The Kynges sone of hueuene schal paye for al.
Be war or ye be wo;
Knoweth your freend fro your foo;
Haueth ynow, and seith "Hoo";
And do wel and bettre, and fleth synne,
And seketh pees, and hold your therinne;
And so biddeth Iohan Trewman and alle his felawes.

Now ... wanna tell me again about how the Saxons didn't bring ya'll English?
Yep. They didn't speak English, therefore they couldn't bring it.

Plus the rest of your post didn't address the issue of the Saxon's bringing English to This island.

That which the silly Brit called "our language" is long, long dead. English is no longer the language of Shakespeare.

Actually modern English is pretty much the same as Elizabethan english, which is why you can read shakespeare and understand it.

The following are words and phrases said by americans every day that drive me mad. here we go:

"Wassup wit Chu?" - What the F*ck does that mean? Correct: "What is wrong with you?"

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" - Americans on T.V use this at the end of almost every scentence. It is totally pointless, and I hate the word to hell. Correct: Say nothing, you sad act.

Repeating some things twice: Okay, so this isn't a word or phrase. but it's another thing that annoys me. Americans on T.V also tend to repeat what they say about 3 or 4 times. It drives me nuts.

"And i was like, so" - WHY? you have to use things like that? just don't-it allows you to get through a scentence faster! Correct: "So then I"

Thanks for reading. I'd mention more, but my head is fuming at this terrible attempt at American "Street" grammar.

How about this: you're a f***ing idiot!

Americans do not talk like that... maybe the idiots you watch on t.v. do, but guess what? Those idiots are making money, you're just wasting time watching them, plus complaining to boot. Who's the bigger idiot?

We believe that the imperial navy is pissed off due to the fact that a rag tag army in 1776 and 1812 that was poorly equiped and under trained absolutley throttled thier sorry asses all the way back to the land of tea and crumpets.
We should all remind this Limey: DON'T TREAD ON ME~! King George III and General Cornwallis indeed! Maybe The Imperial Navy is full of nancy boys who have thier knickers in a bunch?

We believe that the imperial navy is pissed off due to the fact that a rag tag army in 1776 and 1812 that was poorly equiped and under trained absolutley throttled thier sorry asses all the way back to the land of tea and crumpets.
We should all remind this Limey: DON'T TREAD ON ME~! King George III and General Cornwallis indeed! Maybe The Imperial Navy is full of nancy boys who have thier knickers in a bunch?
Grow up. Some of us can move on from times we weren't alive in.

Makes no difference to me. I'm technically a second generation immigrant.

We believe that the imperial navy is pissed off due to the fact that a rag tag army in 1776 and 1812 that was poorly equiped and under trained absolutley throttled thier sorry asses all the way back to the land of tea and crumpets.

Actually, the French were quite well equipped.

Perhaps they shag each other those randy, nancy boys!

Perhaps they shag each other those randy, nancy boys!
Backs away slowly from PW.

"I think we have a closet case."

Yeah and they took forever to get here. and only helped us because they hated the english more than we did hundred years war anyone? I sadly admit they were helpfull but that was the last time they were such. If it were not for the U.S. The French would be eating sourkraut and pulling for a german football team instead. Oh yeah... not once but twice we saved thier ass and they still have this arrogance that I cannot possibly fathom!

Yeah and they took forever to get here. and only helped us because they hated the english more than we did hundred years war anyone? I sadly admit they were helpfull but that was the last time they were such. If it were not for the U.S. The French would be eating sourkraut and pulling for a german football team instead. Oh yeah... not once but twice we saved thier ass and they still have this arrogance that I cannot possibly fathom!
WWII granted. But learn some history before you claim WWI. The Yanks came over and did fuck all.

No good sir you do not; but Imperial Navy is way out of line insulting the way we Americans speak english.

Oh yeah... not once but twice we saved thier ass and they still have this arrogance that I cannot possibly fathom!

I'm sure you must be able to fathom it just a little bit.

The hell they did boy! we helped to turn the tide. Granted you chaps were a brave lot and sacrifeiced many, yes we were late but had the germans left the Lusatania alone well then...

Your biting sarcasim will soon cause you great misery whelp! Hey, I am not saying America is the best but you cannot forget how we have helped out in the wars that had a point (WWI and WWII)

God Bless the U.S.A.

yawn.

Your biting sarcasim will soon cause you great misery whelp! Hey, I am not saying America is the best but you cannot forget how we have helped out in the wars that had a point (WWI and WWII)

Stop including world war I. For a start, it was the most pointless war ever, and secondly, the United States had little to no effect on the outcome. In world war I, the US was the equivalent of Japan in the Gulf War.

Nonsense!! The brits were getting the sh** kicked out of them a stalemate at best, we come in and with our numbers help to turn the tide. Sure it ended in an Armistice but we together did stop them.

well said... :D

Pointless?! Okay imperialistic Austio/ Hungary start marching on everyone because of Duke Ferdinand being assassinated, then the krauts, destroy the Lusatania(sp)?! what better reason for the U.S. to enter the war?

:p

Nonsense!! The brits were getting the sh** kicked out of them a stalemate at best, we come in and with our numbers help to turn the tide. Sure it ended in an Armistice but we together did stop them.

Do you actually know anything about the first world war at all? There was no tide to turn; German offensives collapsed due to logistical problems, and even then, it was hardly blitzkrieg. The conclusion of the war wasn't even a military victory. The Germans were brought to the treaty table because the royal navy blockade of German ports was literally starving them out. That was inevitable, and would have happened if the Americans had all stayed at home.

In addition, we lost exactly according to government records: 116,516 men and women. How the hell can you compare that to the 550 troops that Japan has in Iraq?! In the brief time that we were involved, that is a massive effort by any standards at that time.

Yes I realize that and know it! An Armistice sure but that would not have come as quickly w/o us. And how dare you cheapen the sacrifice of those brave boys for the U.S.! We also came in because once again the germans sank the Lusatania(sp) we would have stayed out otherwise.

One thinkg that really pisses me off is the poor white trash that goes to my school and think the world owes them everything. When they talk they cant use proper grammar.

"She dont gotta get her license cuz she got a boyfriend"

"I dont gotta do what you tell me to, you is just controlling me."

The thing that really makes me want to choke southerners though, is their use of Y'all.

In addition, we lost exactly according to government records: 116,516 men and women. How the hell can you compare that to the 550 troops that Japan has in Iraq?! In the brief time that we were involved, that is a massive effort by any standards at that time.

The scale of the war was somewhat larger than that of the Gulf War, so these things must be judged relatively.

Purely in terms of soldiers killed

The British Empire suffered 900,000 fatalities.
The French Empire suffered 1,300,000 fatalities.
Russia suffered 1,700,000.
USA suffered around 50,000.

Even Romania and Serbia suffered more than the US. Most US troops that were mobilised never even reached the front.

Are we still talking Language at all?

As an Aussie (this being a website based on an australian book, i'm surprised there aren't more of us on here) I'm not the best qualified to comment on language, slang or grammer. However I will make my gripe: R'n'B!! That is, in itself, almost enough said, but I will provide one irritating example: Chingy:- It is done right THERE, as opposed to THARR, and she should be letting down her HAIR, not her HARR.

I also was surprised to note that Americans and English are ripping shreds through each other, yet Aussie lingo has remained unattacked. Is this because us colonials (yes, we're technically the lapdog of the English Queen, but now fast becoming that of the President of the U.S.) are seen as global comic relief, and MEANT to sound funny/irritating/wierd? Can I just get feedback on opinions of aussie slang and talk.

I am also well aware of stereo types, I have an American friend visiting and attempted to learn aussie slang by looking on websites, which are full of old crocadile dundee rubbish and other nonsense which we've never said and unlikely never will.

"Word to Your Mother!" - Vanilla Ice

I also was surprised to note that Americans and English are ripping shreds through each other, yet Aussie lingo has remained unattacked.

I think Australian remains unattacked, because it's been parodied so much that nobody can remember what it actually sounds like anymore. Is it true that everywhere you go in Australia, there's the constant sound of someone playing the didgeridoo in the background?

Ha! Yes, as we all ride to school/work in the pouch of a red kangaroo.

We only have digeridoo music as background to daily life in the way those in the south have "dueling banjo's" playing in theirs.

Neither do we all wear crocadile leather jackets and hats and walk around carrying concealed pig knives. We do however treat our football as our dominant religion and love a sunday barbeque!

Ha! Yes, as we all ride to school/work in the pouch of a red kangaroo.

We only have digeridoo music as background to daily life in the way those in the south have "dueling banjo's" playing in theirs.

Neither do we all wear crocadile leather jackets and hats and walk around carrying concealed pig knives. We do however treat our football as our dominant religion and love a sunday barbeque!

In England, the London Symphony Orchestra follows us round everywhere, playing 'Rule Britannia' at us.

I was also wondering what was thought of our words, following are a few words commonly deemed "Aussie" and MY interpretation of them. (Some words are used for different meanings in different areas) Some used, some I think people just say Australians use. Some are also used by other cultures too.

Bloke: A male

Sheila: A female

Bonza: Good

No Worries: Not a problem, Yes.

Mate: Used while talking directly to another person (of neutral or favorable opinion) instead of their name. Strangers or friends. "Got the time Mate?" "12 o'clock Mate" "Thanks Mate"

She'll Be Right: No, Don't Worry About It.

Digger: Soldier, usually Australian/New Zealander

Ripper: Something good, usually exclamation. "You little ripper!" "You Bloody Ripper!"

Pom, Pommy: An English Person

Yank, Yankee: An American Person

Kiwi, Sheep Molester, "any other career involving inappropriate use of sheep": Person of New Zealand Origin.

These are just a few examples. Any others to suggest, query or make fun of, please share.

Popular lore has it that Australians begin nearly all sentences with "Streuth".

It's a form of colloqial slang arised from urban minority enviroments...I personally hate some forms of English Cockney or Sicilian Italian.
Shut ya trap. You might get whacked by La Cosa Nostra. Capish?

One thinkg that really pisses me off is the poor white trash that goes to my school and think the world owes them everything. When they talk they cant use proper grammar.

"She dont gotta get her license cuz she got a boyfriend"

"I dont gotta do what you tell me to, you is just controlling me."

The thing that really makes me want to choke southerners though, is their use of Y'all.

I consider "y'all" usage to be forgivable. After all, English just doesn't have a good second-person plural pronoun.

However I will make my gripe: R'n'B!! That is, in itself, almost enough said, but I will provide one irritating example: Chingy:- It is done right THERE, as opposed to THARR, and she should be letting down her HAIR, not her HARR.

Right on. R'n'B is the worst crap ever to be called "music" by anyone.

I also was surprised to note that Americans and English are ripping shreds through each other, yet Aussie lingo has remained unattacked. Is this because us colonials (yes, we're technically the lapdog of the English Queen, but now fast becoming that of the President of the U.S.) are seen as global comic relief, and MEANT to sound funny/irritating/wierd? Can I just get feedback on opinions of aussie slang and talk.

Yeah, more or less. I don't think anyone (apart from the Kiwis, of course) actually dislikes Aussies, whereas there are plenty of people who dislike the Americans and the English.

I am also well aware of stereo types, I have an American friend visiting and attempted to learn aussie slang by looking on websites, which are full of old crocadile dundee rubbish and other nonsense which we've never said and unlikely never will.

Yeah, Steve Irwin, Australian Crocodile Hunter is probably the best picture of the Australian stereotype in America -- amusing and harmlessly crazy. I'll go out on a limb and guess that "Crikey!" has probably surpassed "G'day" (which apparently no one in Australia says anyway) as the most recognizable Australian word in America today.

G'day IS still used, but its no longer really a cultural iconic word. I suppose the term "Howdy" no longer instills images of bowlegged cowboys just the same. We do use it occasionally as an informal greeting to friends and strangers. i.e. "G'day, just come to fix your t.v." "G'day mate, come on in."

I can see how we might still seem amusing to the outside world tho.

I do love how Americans pronounce "aussie" completely phonetically, like ossy. We say it more Ozzie, as in Ozzy Osbourne.

I loathe the whole Snoop-Dog/inner-city slang crap..example:

Normal person: "Hi, my name is Joe."

Inner-city slang crap person: "Heezle 'n 'ma she'nezzle, Joe-dogg."

For God's sake, I can understand Jabba the Hutt better than that.....

By the way, can someone tell me, a forum nuffy, how you quote someone else? I'm sure its more than your standard, highlight-ctrl-c-ctrl-v?

By the way, can someone tell me, a forum nuffy, how you quote someone else? I'm sure its more than your standard, highlight-ctrl-c-ctrl-v?

Place the [quote] tags around what ever you wish to quote. It's poetic, in its simplicity.... :p

Yeah, must agree.... One of my recent issues was about copyright abuse, love the names too, like

Norma Jean O'Hara says: "Dang, Yo! Blizzity Blang yo! Dang!"

There WAS something in the quote regarding copyright law, but I was to busy snickering at the piss funny take on Gangstas, or Soul Sistahs as Norma Jean would be.

Grrrr, still no fun... so what, click, copy, paste, then what? Put square brackets? inverted commas? semi colons? what do you put around the copied text?

Sorry, I am The Great Homestarmy in my "good guy" disguise.

One thing that totally sounds likes nails-on-the-chalkboard, to me, is people saying "Quite the...", as in: "That's quite the collection of tube socks you have." ...or...: "You've gotten yourself into quite the difficult situation."

It alway seems like a 'Verbal Hiccup'.


...On a seperate note, I think the 'hizzle fa-sizzle' shit that Snoop-Dog wanna-be's use is complete garbage used to make themselves sound as non-white as possible, creating their own little language (ie: Ebonics).

(p.s: "Snoop-Dog wanna-be" is NOT a racial remark of any kind...so don't be gettin' all up in my face 'bout it, aiight !!)

I consider "y'all" usage to be forgivable. After all, English just doesn't have a good second-person plural pronoun.
In Scotland we have 'youse'

In Scotland we have 'youse'
Is that like 'yooslot'? (very nearly one sylable)

Do you actually know anything about the first world war at all? There was no tide to turn; German offensives collapsed due to logistical problems, and even then, it was hardly blitzkrieg. The conclusion of the war wasn't even a military victory. The Germans were brought to the treaty table because the royal navy blockade of German ports was literally starving them out. That was inevitable, and would have happened if the Americans had all stayed at home.
Don't forget the flu or the Germans over extending their supply lines.

::EDIT:: Second glance, you put it the supply lines

welsh accents rock for some reason jokes just sound funnier (probably because they guy telling it sounds like a moron) as for hating cockney "dog and bone" i can actuallty say telephone faster infact i can say all the real words faster trhen the rhyming slang so ive never got the point of any of it

In Scotland we have 'youse'

That's funny. In Brooklyn (NY) we have 'youse' as well. For Example: "Yo, youse two guys betta knock it off else I'm gonna puch ya in da friggin' head."

Yo, if we are talking about accents, well, in american i don't really like anything, but mostly, this creazy "r", called Rhotic...my God how i hate that, well, as usual, what's american, have to be combined too much, and we receive s**t...i really like RP English, and Irish accent, the best in appearance
and use...And yhose american programs...ehhh...it looks like they were transmitting it for some brainless zombies, so pathetic... :D

Yo, if we are talking about accents, well, in american i don't really like anything, but mostly, this creazy "r", called Rhotic...my God how i hate that, well, as usual, what's american, have to be combined too much, and we receive s**t...i really like RP English, and Irish accent, the best in appearance
and use...And yhose american programs...ehhh...it looks like they were transmitting it for some brainless zombies, so pathetic... :D

What the hell did he just say?

What you see...:D, maybe it's not a phrase, but what the hell, it's still american :D:D:D

This thread is so old! :eek:

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

That sounds like a personal problem. Granted, I hate those shows just as well, but I make a point to not watch them. In fact, I don't watch very much television anymore for the same reasons that you are complaining about.

That sounds like a personal problem. Granted, I hate those shows just as well, but I make a point to not watch them. In fact, I don't watch very much television anymore for the same reasons that you are complaining about.

I know, I agree. A lot of American television programming is very shallow and superficial, and yet the younger generation drinks this up.

Oh you should be thankful you got ricki lake and springer..we get that moron Benny Hill and the dry humor of Monty Python which not only do I not get..but it's just plain not funny.

Shame on you, infidel. NOT liking Monty Python?
Nobody expects The Spanish Inquistion!!!

American slang that I hate ( and I am American)
Ya know? (at the end of a sentence)
Let me tell you something...
Back in the day....

other misc.:
Hand movements that accompany " So I was like all in her face for looking at MY man. Who the f*ck does that Biotch think she is.?!!!Oh and look DeShawn paid to get my nails done cause he's taking me to the movies tonight" * holds up those hideous claws/ fake nails.*

It's a form of colloqial slang arised from urban minority enviroments...I personally hate some forms of English Cockney or Sicilian Italian.

Urban minority enviroments? Why could'nt you say 'town dwelling blacks'? The whites can say it, the blacks can say it, the everyone else can say it, so why can't you?

I was also wondering what was thought of our words, following are a few words commonly deemed "Aussie" and MY interpretation of them. (Some words are used for different meanings in different areas) Some used, some I think people just say Australians use. Some are also used by other cultures too.

Bloke: A male

Sheila: A female

Bonza: Good

No Worries: Not a problem, Yes.

Mate: Used while talking directly to another person (of neutral or favorable opinion) instead of their name. Strangers or friends. "Got the time Mate?" "12 o'clock Mate" "Thanks Mate"

She'll Be Right: No, Don't Worry About It.

Digger: Soldier, usually Australian/New Zealander

Ripper: Something good, usually exclamation. "You little ripper!" "You Bloody Ripper!"

Pom, Pommy: An English Person

Yank, Yankee: An American Person

Kiwi, Sheep Molester, "any other career involving inappropriate use of sheep": Person of New Zealand Origin.

These are just a few examples. Any others to suggest, query or make fun of, please share.

Apparently people from my area (North London/South Hertfordshire) speak "Estuary English". We regularly use phrases like bloke, mate and no worries, which may explain why the Americans I met in Florida seemed to think I was an Aussie! I reckon most thought English peoiple only speak RP!

And another thing. thanks to america, i have to spend my weekends watching endless re-runs of Riki Lake and Jerry Springer, just because my sister loves them. and on those programs, american slang runs rampant.

Yes, you HAVE to watch those shows. There is no escape. The TV's enormous size gives it such a gravitational pull that you can't get away from it. I feel so sorry for you, IN, being trapped so.

Some people just use the wrong wording. Some just complain too much. Which are you?

Aaargh, if anyone else comments on the intimate aspects of English grammar, I will grab that person by the "dangling preposition" and squeeze. Hard.


English grammar is really difficult, and illogical too.

Some of us enjoy the intimate aspects of English grammar; if you don't want to read about it, why are you on this thread?

Please keep your hands off my dangling preposition -- we aren't that intimate, nor likely to be.

:D

PT

i love irish accents, very sexy!

Apparently, Americans love hearing my Irish teacher talk, and always ask him to repeat things.

"You Know what i'm sayin'?" is the American equivalent of the Canadian, 'Eh?' But the definition of 'Eh?' is: 'What I have said, is it not true?'


"Eh?" has to be easier to listen to than "didn' I?"/ "didn' he?"/"didn' it?" etc., as in "...I got it this morning, didn' I?"/ "...she called him on the phone, didn' she?", as heard in some sub-groups in the UK.

PT


Enter your reply at the Canadian DOS prompt below:

EH?\>

English grammar is really difficult, and illogical too

You have to remember that exceptions are just as important as rules.

Same as spelling. For example:

'i' before 'e' except after 'c.' Just like in the word leisure. ;)

I dislike all of those phrases as well. however I am extremely guilty of saying "know what i'm sayin?". y'know what i'm sayin?

Liam is Irish, for the role in Rob Roy he had a dialect coach ....

Don't confuse parts and accents. Example: Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Van Helsing) has a thick Australian accent in real life.


... and Liam's Scottish accent was only slightly better than that shockingly abyssmal mess that came out of the mouth of Mel Gibson in Braveheart (for which we may earnestly hope that the dialect coach, if not Gibson, received a flogging). My Scottish relatives were nearly foaming at the mouth by the end of Braveheart: "Worst thing since that fellow in StarTrek!"

PT

Ha! Yes, as we all ride to school/work in the pouch of a red kangaroo.

We only have digeridoo music as background to daily life in the way those in the south have "dueling banjo's" playing in theirs.

Neither do we all wear crocadile leather jackets and hats and walk around carrying concealed pig knives. We do however treat our football as our dominant religion and love a sunday barbeque!


Now this deserves a thread to itself: "abuse by stereotypes".

I still laugh when I remember the American asking the Canadian, "do you really ride to school on a moose?" To which he replied, "Only when the snow comes up over my mukluks." She never even noticed the roomful of Canadians smiling broadly. I can't help wondering how many people she told this to when she returned home.

PT

Hey yalls, dont get so worked up, y'dig? I mean, like, so what if Americans talk like that? the Irish and Canadians and British and Aussies all have their own waya sayin stuff. :D

In Scotland we have 'youse'


Oooh! just like in parts of the greater New York area, where I heard "youse guys" times without number.

But then, there are a fair number of Scots, and even several Scottish emigré communities, in that area.

PT

I just love the little differences in culture..... my little American buddie is so adorable when she says "Y'all don't say that here?" Shes a notherner too.....

I laugh at the references i.e. A comforter in the states is referred to as a Dooner/Dooner Cover in Australia and possibly other places.. Also those little cloth/plastic things babies wear to keep them sanitary? Called Nappies in australia... Diapers by the Americans.

Also, to comment on previous comments... One of my Irish teachers, female, 45, not the most attractive (to a 23 yr old male anyway) but could sing in Gaelic, and had the thickest accent I've heard in Australia... I was in Love....=D Irish accents are the best... or is it Pwn in internet jargon speak... (See The Corrs or B*Witched if you need to see Irish girls in action)

Also South African and Russian Accents come 2nd and 3rd.

For those who love accents and watching them go horribly wrong, I can only highlight Mickey Blue Eyes (Hugh Grant) Poor bastard, well-to-do English Art Gallery type who is forced into a mafia position. Trying to do the italian/(new york?/new jersey?) type accent. Nearly wet myself laughing as hes trying to "replace the ts with d's" "Forged aboud id" then proceeds to order "Bare" to drink with his "Raar" Steak.

Great value.

Now this deserves a thread to itself: "abuse by stereotypes".

I still laugh when I remember the American asking the Canadian, "do you really ride to school on a moose?" To which he replied, "Only when the snow comes up over my mukluks." She never even noticed the roomful of Canadians smiling broadly. I can't help wondering how many people she told this to when she returned home.

PT

that's ok, people have asked me if i surf to school.