In Defense of English

6charlong · 04-10-2009, 01:48 PM

I keep hearing and seeing--even here on Mobileread--a terrible travesty against English. At the risk of being flamed I'm posting to ask that it stop.

English is a flexible language with a very large vocabulary but it does not include the word "nother." If you need to use the word "another" please use it correctly. "Another" is a contraction of two words: "an" and "other." For example, you can write: "That is another whole story." You can even write: "That is a whole other story." But when you write or say: "That is a whole nother story," you torture the syntax of the language.

Please, everyone, unless you're Dick Cheney or somebody, please do not use that construction.

Thank you for your kind attention.

DixieGal · 04-10-2009, 01:54 PM

That just ain't gonna fly 'round here. This here's the Llounge!

krisk · 04-10-2009, 02:02 PM

hahaha!!!! I deal with this at work all the time. I "make" dial tone for an Army Installation, and also keep all of the cable records and so on. I just got here a few weeks ago and there is a LOT of piled up record keeping. A few of the major cables are in very bad shape making it difficult to make new line installations (we are working on the fix!). I have been getting a lot of these old work orders back in the "hold" category with the reason; (and they ACTUALLY write this way!) "Building dont got no free good pears."

grrrrrrroan!

Moejoe · 04-10-2009, 02:22 PM

It's defence, you Americans and your weird spellings. While I'm at it, stop taking all the U's out of the language! And you kids, get of my lawn! Stop playing ball games around here! Keep off the grass!

DixieGal · 04-10-2009, 02:28 PM

C'mon, pronounce the U's. I dubble-dare ya!

(runs and stomps on grass, then runs back across the street)

LazyScot · 04-10-2009, 02:29 PM

I thought English always is a travesty. It continually changes and evolves. That allows old codgers to complain that the youngsters don't know how to speak, or spell, or punctuate, or write, ....

After all, we don't have a Académie française, thankfully.

That said, if we wanted a vent and rant, I'd choose its and it's.

Moejoe · 04-10-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

C'mon, pronounce the U's. I dubble-dare ya!

(runs and stomps on grass, then runs back across the street)

I'm from the North of England, we have trouble making anybody understand us

Especially those from that there London.

(Hey, I just watered that lawn. That's it, I'm taking your football. You can have it back when you grow up

)

DixieGal · 04-10-2009, 02:31 PM

OK, if anything bugs me, I have to agree it's people mistaking its for it's. But I blame teachers. We are taught very clearly at a young age that anything plural ends in 's. Right?

kazbates · 04-10-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

It's defence, you Americans and your weird spellings. While I'm at it, stop taking all the U's out of the language! And you kids, get of my lawn! Stop playing ball games around here! Keep off the grass!

Just think of it as a little editing with our big red correction pencil!

When at first you don't succeed. . .!

Kaz

Moejoe · 04-10-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazbates

Just think of it as a little editing with our big red correction pencil!

When at first you don't succeed. . .!

Kaz

You're making the Queen sad when you leave out the U's

She's....watching you!

DixieGal · 04-10-2009, 02:36 PM

Kaz, if we pool our lunch money, do we have enough to buy a 12-pack of rolls and TP MopeJoe's front yard?

Hey Youz Guyz! Are there enough weird unnecessary letters, u's, and archaic gh-es in enough for ya?

Moejoe · 04-10-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Kaz, if we pool our lunch money, do we have enough to buy a 12-pack of rolls and TP MopeJoe's front yard?

Hey Youz Guyz! Are there enough weird unnecessary letters, u's, and archaic gh-es in enough for ya?

We'd prefer at least ten times as many U's, and our Queen would like to have every word feature a mandatory letter U.

Goud Sauve Ouur Graciouus Queeun!

kazbates · 04-10-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

OK, if anything bugs me, I have to agree it's people mistaking its for it's. But I blame teachers. We are taught very clearly at a young age that anything plural ends in 's. Right?

Wrong! We teachers very clearly explain the proper usage, even as far back as second grade. Students don't think they have to learn the basics of grammar because it's just easier for them to rely on word processors. If the word processor doesn't correct it, then it isn't wrong! I can't tell you how many I times I heard, "But, MS Word said it was a good sentence!"

Kaz

DixieGal · 04-10-2009, 02:41 PM

Eveun sou, Iu stiull luv theu Queeun. Sheu's myu favououourite fictiounal charactur.

Moejoe · 04-10-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Eveun sou, Iu stiull luv theu Queeun. Sheu's myu favououourite fictiounal charactur.

Fictionaul? Houw daure youu? Sheu's au goublin iuf anyuthing!

04-10-2009, 01:48 PM	#1
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	In Defense of English I keep hearing and seeing--even here on Mobileread--a terrible travesty against English. At the risk of being flamed I'm posting to ask that it stop. English is a flexible language with a very large vocabulary but it does not include the word "nother." If you need to use the word "another" please use it correctly. "Another" is a contraction of two words: "an" and "other." For example, you can write: "That is another whole story." You can even write: "That is a whole other story." But when you write or say: "That is a whole nother story," you torture the syntax of the language. Please, everyone, unless you're Dick Cheney or somebody, please do not use that construction. Thank you for your kind attention.

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04-10-2009, 01:54 PM	#2
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	That just ain't gonna fly 'round here. This here's the Llounge!

04-10-2009, 02:02 PM	#3
krisk Wizard Posts: 2,148 Karma: 8229 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: on the road again Device: kindle	hahaha!!!! I deal with this at work all the time. I "make" dial tone for an Army Installation, and also keep all of the cable records and so on. I just got here a few weeks ago and there is a LOT of piled up record keeping. A few of the major cables are in very bad shape making it difficult to make new line installations (we are working on the fix!). I have been getting a lot of these old work orders back in the "hold" category with the reason; (and they ACTUALLY write this way!) "Building dont got no free good pears." grrrrrrroan!

04-10-2009, 02:22 PM	#4
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	It's defence, you Americans and your weird spellings. While I'm at it, stop taking all the U's out of the language! And you kids, get of my lawn! Stop playing ball games around here! Keep off the grass!

04-10-2009, 02:28 PM	#5
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	C'mon, pronounce the U's. I dubble-dare ya! (runs and stomps on grass, then runs back across the street)

04-10-2009, 02:29 PM	#6
LazyScot DSil Posts: 3,201 Karma: 6895096 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hants, UK Device: Kindle, Cybook	I thought English always is a travesty. It continually changes and evolves. That allows old codgers to complain that the youngsters don't know how to speak, or spell, or punctuate, or write, .... After all, we don't have a Académie française, thankfully. That said, if we wanted a vent and rant, I'd choose its and it's.

04-10-2009, 02:31 PM	#8
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	OK, if anything bugs me, I have to agree it's people mistaking its for it's. But I blame teachers. We are taught very clearly at a young age that anything plural ends in 's. Right?

04-10-2009, 02:36 PM	#11
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Kaz, if we pool our lunch money, do we have enough to buy a 12-pack of rolls and TP MopeJoe's front yard? Hey Youz Guyz! Are there enough weird unnecessary letters, u's, and archaic gh-es in enough for ya?

04-10-2009, 02:41 PM	#14
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Eveun sou, Iu stiull luv theu Queeun. Sheu's myu favououourite fictiounal charactur.

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