UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
#121
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
I've just cried into my cup of tea.
I have calmed down considerably on the "Stray Apostrophe Front". I used to be a militant member, forever armed with a piece of chalk and a bit of damp cloth, ready to sort out pub menu blackboards the length and breadth of the country.
Now I just sigh and shake my head.
I have calmed down considerably on the "Stray Apostrophe Front". I used to be a militant member, forever armed with a piece of chalk and a bit of damp cloth, ready to sort out pub menu blackboards the length and breadth of the country.
Now I just sigh and shake my head.
#122
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
I have a theory that it has something to do with strong regional accents. There is some bizarre spelling on BE which I think is explained by people spelling like they talk. A particular favourite is adding r to words where there's no way there should be one. Don't want to single anyone out so not going to use some specific examples but things like 'we was thinking about emergrating'. I can almost hear an accent at that point!
#123
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
You only have to read older literature to see the decay. I am reading Jane Austen at the moment, on my wife's recommendation (you guessed it, my comprehensive never taught me anything like this), and I am astonished at the articulacy. Contemporary writing is very childish in comparison, even by respected authors.
And Jane who wrote in the 18/19c, is surprisingly more modern than you might expect. I have also been a secret 'under the bedclothes' Austen reader.
It's got to the point where just about every novel you can buy at the airport is just trash - even for someone wanting light reading.
#124
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
Reading a novel written in say 1916, or 1932 can be very pleasurable and rewarding. The prose and the articulate nature of every sentence is incredible. Descriptions of people go beyond such and such was overweight, and was a bit of a character. Sentences might have been longer, even wordier, but there is also an economy of speech with each word chosen contributing to the sum of the whole......'innit?
And Jane who wrote in the 18/19c, is surprisingly more modern than you might expect. I have also been a secret 'under the bedclothes' Austen reader.
It's got to the point where just about every novel you can buy at the airport is just trash - even for someone wanting light reading.
And Jane who wrote in the 18/19c, is surprisingly more modern than you might expect. I have also been a secret 'under the bedclothes' Austen reader.
It's got to the point where just about every novel you can buy at the airport is just trash - even for someone wanting light reading.
If you have you ever tried to read Pynchon, for example you will see how far down the pan literature has slipped.
#125
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
I have a theory that it has something to do with strong regional accents. There is some bizarre spelling on BE which I think is explained by people spelling like they talk. A particular favourite is adding r to words where there's no way there should be one. Don't want to single anyone out so not going to use some specific examples but things like 'we was thinking about emergrating'. I can almost hear an accent at that point!
#127
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
I remember chairing a Neighbourhood Watch committee meeting many years ago, and one chap described himself as a Devils Advocaat.
The Devil's yellow, eggy drink for making Snowballs? Really?
S
#128
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
I have a theory that it has something to do with strong regional accents. There is some bizarre spelling on BE which I think is explained by people spelling like they talk. A particular favourite is adding r to words where there's no way there should be one. Don't want to single anyone out so not going to use some specific examples but things like 'we was thinking about emergrating'. I can almost hear an accent at that point!
#130
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
Chest of DRAWS!
SORT after! (Although that's an Aussie real estate agent speciality)
And a local one...the Mornington PENINSULAR.
#131
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
"I'm English born and bread."
#132
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
Something I have also noticed to be growing is the inability of people to start a sentence without using the word 'So'. This is happening more and more at work, and I am even finding myself doing it.
I'm not sure where it cam from but pretty much in every meeting or standup, everybody starts with:
"So, what's everybody been up to this week? Dave?"
"So, I've been working on the nucleonic ferkinators project"
"So what results have you seen so far?"
"So I ran the experiments and it looks like there's a direct correlation"
"So you think it will work then..."
Etc. The 'So' is completely superfluous, and adds nothing to the conversation, beyond a pregnant pause at the beginning. I guess it's the same as Aussie politicians always starting with 'Look' when they are being interviewed.
Of course, now I have noticed it, I am starting to hear it all the time!
S
#133
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: UK vs Australia for childrens' futures
Something I have also noticed to be growing is the inability of people to start a sentence without using the word 'So'. This is happening more and more at work, and I am even finding myself doing it.
I'm not sure where it cam from but pretty much in every meeting or standup, everybody starts with:
"So, what's everybody been up to this week? Dave?"
"So, I've been working on the nucleonic ferkinators project"
"So what results have you seen so far?"
"So I ran the experiments and it looks like there's a direct correlation"
"So you think it will work then..."
Etc. The 'So' is completely superfluous, and adds nothing to the conversation, beyond a pregnant pause at the beginning. I guess it's the same as Aussie politicians always starting with 'Look' when they are being interviewed.
Of course, now I have noticed it, I am starting to hear it all the time!
S
I'm not sure where it cam from but pretty much in every meeting or standup, everybody starts with:
"So, what's everybody been up to this week? Dave?"
"So, I've been working on the nucleonic ferkinators project"
"So what results have you seen so far?"
"So I ran the experiments and it looks like there's a direct correlation"
"So you think it will work then..."
Etc. The 'So' is completely superfluous, and adds nothing to the conversation, beyond a pregnant pause at the beginning. I guess it's the same as Aussie politicians always starting with 'Look' when they are being interviewed.
Of course, now I have noticed it, I am starting to hear it all the time!
S