A language question
Aug 26th 2011, 5:17 pm
#106
He/him
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Re: A language question
edit: Which is odd, because I have read that it is supposed to be an Americanism too.
Last edited by kimilseung; Aug 26th 2011 at 5:50 pm.
Aug 26th 2011, 5:19 pm
#107
I have a comma problem
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Re: A language question
I'll make my son laugh from time to time by saying "I'm away to count my knobs", which was a favourite expression of a friend of mine back in Blighty.
Aug 26th 2011, 5:25 pm
#108
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Re: A language question
Aug 26th 2011, 6:39 pm
#109
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Re: A language question
The epitome of proper (American) word usage and sentence structure used to be the newspaper - now I read (and hear on the local TV news) that windows were "busted" - irritates the crap out of me! 
Aug 26th 2011, 7:24 pm
#110
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Re: A language question
Aug 26th 2011, 7:37 pm
#111
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Re: A language question
My kids have a habit of saying something happened 'on' accident instead of 'by' accident which doesn't sound right to me. I thought it was just them and some type of kid talk then I heard an adult the other day say it, so don't know whether it's an American thing or a regional thing??
Aug 26th 2011, 7:40 pm
#112
I have a comma problem
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Aug 26th 2011, 7:45 pm
#113
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Re: A language question
"If the first baseman would have caught the ball, the batter would have been out." Instead of "If the first baseman had caught the ball, the batter would have been out."
Aug 26th 2011, 7:47 pm
#114
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Re: A language question
I haven't tried the arse-kicking method.
I just explain that language often changes, it isn't a static thing, but that there is always current accepted correct usage, and then there is colloquial usage, and then there is just plain wrong, and he has to know which is which.
Aug 26th 2011, 7:50 pm
#115
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: A language question
I haven't tried the arse-kicking method.
I just explain that language often changes, it isn't a static thing, but that there is always current accepted correct usage, and then there is colloquial usage, and then there is just plain wrong, and he has to know which is which.
I just explain that language often changes, it isn't a static thing, but that there is always current accepted correct usage, and then there is colloquial usage, and then there is just plain wrong, and he has to know which is which.
But I do try to do the same as you, in teaching him the differences between a regional variation, and correct English.
Interestingly, speaking of regional varations, my wife thinks it was funny that when she asked for a 'pop' in LA nobody knew what she meant, but I knew exactly what a 'pop' was.
Then my mum and sister call everything 'juice', which confuses the shit out of SWMBO when they're over for a visit
Aug 26th 2011, 7:53 pm
#116
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: A language question
Arse kicking doesn't work when they're almost as tall as you are
But I do try to do the same as you, in teaching him the differences between a regional variation, and correct English.
Interestingly, speaking of regional varations, my wife thinks it was funny that when she asked for a 'pop' in LA nobody knew what she meant, but I knew exactly what a 'pop' was.
Then my mum and sister call everything 'juice', which confuses the shit out of SWMBO when they're over for a visit
But I do try to do the same as you, in teaching him the differences between a regional variation, and correct English.
Interestingly, speaking of regional varations, my wife thinks it was funny that when she asked for a 'pop' in LA nobody knew what she meant, but I knew exactly what a 'pop' was.
Then my mum and sister call everything 'juice', which confuses the shit out of SWMBO when they're over for a visit
Aug 26th 2011, 7:56 pm
#117
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Aug 26th 2011, 11:36 pm
#119
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Re: A language question
Another one I've noticed is the pronunciation of wolf, loads of people here say woof 