I don't know how it is in other countries, but in the US the younger generation has not learned how to speak properly.
The worst offender is "Me and my friend" instead of "My friend and I".
That one drives me nuts and I have been known to correct people when they say it.
The other big offender is "I'm like", or sometime just "like", being inserted repeatedly and unnecessarily into the conversation.
I think that these and some other improper language habits are a problem mostly with people under 40 or so.
I'd like to see some way to put an end to it, but I'm like thinking it is just going to get worse.
The worst offender is "Me and my friend" instead of "My friend and I".
That one drives me nuts and I have been known to correct people when they say it.
The other big offender is "I'm like", or sometime just "like", being inserted repeatedly and unnecessarily into the conversation.
I think that these and some other improper language habits are a problem mostly with people under 40 or so.
I'd like to see some way to put an end to it, but I'm like thinking it is just going to get worse.
Its more like this: "Me 'n my friend."
I asked my daughter, how did you get in your friend? And that's hella true.
Anyway, it turns out language evolves over time. Oth'rwise we wouldst beest speaking in ancient king's english
I asked my daughter, how did you get in your friend? And that's hella true.
Anyway, it turns out language evolves over time. Oth'rwise we wouldst beest speaking in ancient king's english
Last edited:
I'm like, get over it, dude. Myself and everyone else know's that word's change with the time's. Your just a dinosaur. 😉
A lot of us, did not grow up speaking English. How is your Spanish slang grammar? Or French...
I think as long as you can have a conversation and understand each other, it's fine.
Though, I can see your point—we could end up communicating through body language or signs because words will become so abbreviated.
In my native language, there's something called 'rom-gleza,' which means Romanian mixed with English words, and it's very popular nowadays, especially among the younger generations. I don't mind it; I sometimes use words like that too. But it can become difficult for those who speak that way to communicate with the older generations.
Though, I can see your point—we could end up communicating through body language or signs because words will become so abbreviated.
In my native language, there's something called 'rom-gleza,' which means Romanian mixed with English words, and it's very popular nowadays, especially among the younger generations. I don't mind it; I sometimes use words like that too. But it can become difficult for those who speak that way to communicate with the older generations.
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
It's a shame that language evolves towards something less articulate but it's really just because everyone is averaging out to 'street talk'. There are still poets, authors and editors who revel in the best that the language has to offer.
English is a living language and so evolves over time. There are distinct variations between U.S., U.K. and Australian spoken English, somewhat less with the written word. (Some spellings excepted) I grew up speaking a mix of U.S. and U.K. English, and umm, still do. 😀
Language changes. I'm in the Netherlands, and what's happening here is that the accent is shifting to the first syllable in words (like in (American) English already standard). In Dutch it sounds horrible to my ears. I don't hear it on the street so much, but especially on the radio (news anchors and journalists). I'm pretty sure this is copycat behaviour from English. It's maybe that it makes you sound more important, or the message sounds more important that way. But I have to get used to it. These things are here to stay.
Last edited:
I read a Dutch book from 1628 once (Samuel Ampzing, Beschryvinge ende lof der Stad Haerlem in Holland, Haerlem, 1628) that starts with a chapter about the Dutch language (chapter "Nederlandsch Tael-bericht"). I learned that a common mistake in modern Dutch, mixing up the verbs kennen and kunnen, know and can, was also a common mistake back then. So not every error is eventually accepted.
As a British expat living in the Netherlands for the last 20+ years I'm saddened to hear so many English phrases and words infiltrating the Dutch language. But as others have eluded to; language evolves, adapts and changes.
If you think about how English was spoken even 50 years ago then the change or adaptations up until present day become very clear. Nobody speaks English now like they used to back then.
My own particular bugbear however, is poor use of grammar and language in widely-published media sectors and I'm constantly astounded by the mistakes, hashes and faults used on the BBC news app. I actually complained about it to them once and received an arbitrary response, but a response nonetheless. Something along the lines of; 'Well, our editing staff are outsourced and we therefore have no control over what is published on the app'.
What??
Whatever happened to 'BBC English'?
e.g. I was reading an article about public hygiene. Whoever wrote the piece paraphrased 'Washing every day is basically a social contract'.
Huh? It should have read '...social construct' of course but obviously there is no fact-checking or proof-reading or peer review utilised a the BBC these days. It's becoming a very bad look for them.
Maybe, as they are considered to be mainstream media as well as weathering one scandal after another they just can't retain quality journalists these days (?)
I also have to grit my teeth whenever I have a conversation with someone who starts every single sentence or reply to a question with the word 'So'.
Arrrrg, it's infuriating. It's patronising, unecessarily assertive and obnoxious.
'So, we performed tests on this sample and....'
'So, what i think we should do is....'
'So, in a few days time I may think about brushing up on my grammar..'
etc
Stop it! It's idiotic.
Concur?
If you think about how English was spoken even 50 years ago then the change or adaptations up until present day become very clear. Nobody speaks English now like they used to back then.
My own particular bugbear however, is poor use of grammar and language in widely-published media sectors and I'm constantly astounded by the mistakes, hashes and faults used on the BBC news app. I actually complained about it to them once and received an arbitrary response, but a response nonetheless. Something along the lines of; 'Well, our editing staff are outsourced and we therefore have no control over what is published on the app'.
What??
Whatever happened to 'BBC English'?
e.g. I was reading an article about public hygiene. Whoever wrote the piece paraphrased 'Washing every day is basically a social contract'.
Huh? It should have read '...social construct' of course but obviously there is no fact-checking or proof-reading or peer review utilised a the BBC these days. It's becoming a very bad look for them.
Maybe, as they are considered to be mainstream media as well as weathering one scandal after another they just can't retain quality journalists these days (?)
I also have to grit my teeth whenever I have a conversation with someone who starts every single sentence or reply to a question with the word 'So'.
Arrrrg, it's infuriating. It's patronising, unecessarily assertive and obnoxious.
'So, we performed tests on this sample and....'
'So, what i think we should do is....'
'So, in a few days time I may think about brushing up on my grammar..'
etc
Stop it! It's idiotic.
Concur?
Here's another one in written English where 'have' have been replaced incorrectly with 'of':
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/would-of-could-of-should-of/
- would of
- could of
- should of
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/would-of-could-of-should-of/
According to the linguist John McWhorter. "Me and my friend" is a perfectly valid construction.
The rule that says otherwise was apparently introduced early last century iirc. Most other languages use this construction.
The justify used for saying it is incorrect was apparently very flimsy and doesn't ultimately make good sense.
I too was taught this rule but it never sounded right to me. Me and my friend flows of the mind more naturally.
I have always thought the word "evolve" was used to signify development in a positive direction. Many changes happen just with kids being more interested in getting it out that how it's done.
Say , "Take it off of the table." three times. Then say "Take it off the table."
The "of" is the formalization of an addition from mid twentieth driven by kids saying "offa the table."
You don't say "on of the table" , "beside of the table" , "under of the table" , etc. But because kids hear adults using a pattern like "because of the table" it gets used.
My favourite pet peeve in audio is "dampening". Those of us what growed up with a fireplace at home wouldn't mistake dampening for damping .
When we'd get out of hand , adults didn't tell us to "Put a dampener on it !" though we might have ended up calling them a wet blanket.
Say , "Take it off of the table." three times. Then say "Take it off the table."
The "of" is the formalization of an addition from mid twentieth driven by kids saying "offa the table."
You don't say "on of the table" , "beside of the table" , "under of the table" , etc. But because kids hear adults using a pattern like "because of the table" it gets used.
My favourite pet peeve in audio is "dampening". Those of us what growed up with a fireplace at home wouldn't mistake dampening for damping .
When we'd get out of hand , adults didn't tell us to "Put a dampener on it !" though we might have ended up calling them a wet blanket.
And a proud dinosaur at that, who doesn't like people changing our well-established and accepted language.
Perhaps I can find a few of these people to have for dinner and thereby reduce the offending population. 🙂
I think it evolved from people hearing the contractions would've, could've, and should've in speech.
Another peeve of mine is people using cause in place of because.
As long as they don't say "vinyls", I'm good. 😆
jeff
jeff
"Give me" and "Give my friend" become "Give my friend and I" instead of "Give my friend and me". For many people, It's always "I" as soon as there is a second person.