Beefy's corner- the place for off topic stuff

I put in a lot of effort learning how the English language should be correctly used, but by no means does that mean I think evolution - or "invasion" - should be treated with such disdain! Do you believe that we use a bastardised version of English, and that we should talk as Jonathan Swift et al did? Or do you agree that the current version of language is far better than it was in the 1700s due to evolution and as such should be embraced?

Regardless, I answered the question on what the best Scrabble move would be. The best I saw was "glazer". Argue with it being an English word all you like, it's definitely a Scrabble word, therefore there's really nothing to be upset about in this exact circumstance.

 

Dan, I've already admitted defeat on this one, but it doesn't mean I like it, OK?

 

Nor me. The global modern day Inglish tide is sweeping all before it. The English that we grew up with and read stories through is slowly disappearing. It's inevitable and almost certainly enriches the vocabulary. Doesn't mean to say that I must accept it anymore than anyone must except my plea to hang on to its little subtle jewels of expression and variety that other languages can only dream of.

As a very minor example, I love the way the English language spells Tonight. Logic would suggest Tonite, as the USA spells it. But that casts away hundreds of years of historic literature and culture in a moment. In a sense, to appreciate the English language is to appreciate the hard-won history that has brought it to the present day. To my mind, we let it go at the expense of our own distinct culture.

 

Well said TSS, nicely put.

 

It's far too pointless to be getting concerned about in my opinion. We're all going to be speaking the same language one day, and the internet is really accelerating the whole process. Also, the correct spelling in the US is "tonight" as far as I'm aware.

 

I suppose if you look at the evolution of Modern English from a historical perspective, Chaucer would scarcely recognise the English that Shakespeare wrote, and the Bard wouldn't have a clue what Charlotte Bronte was on about. So yes, I accept the fact that English is the mother tongue of more people in the world than have ever set foot in the UK or listened to Henry Blofeld's commentaries. I suppose the thing that bothers me most is that the changes are happening so rapidly nowadays. I'm not any kind of conservative, but I do need a bit of time to get used to changes!

 

There is one particular 'Americanism' that makes me cringe everytime I hear it said in this country and I will never be caught using it...It begins with A and ends in E and rhymes with foursome and ranges emotion and description between mild excitement and pretty good to complete elation and breathtaking.

 

As long as we don't start saying Erb instead of Herb i'm not to bothered.

 

or aloominum

 

I could care less.

 

Glazer is defined as someone who applies glaze in cooking or pottery, so is acceptable in Scrabble. Language changes all the time and I suspect that some American spellings may be an older version than some of our spellings. Remember that spellings weren't always fixed as we think now. I know that words that I learnt to spell with a 'z' were changing to 's' at the time, for example recognize became recognise. An American spelling I always accept is program meaning a computer program which is different from programme as in football or broadcasting.

 

Now I do hate that...no dropped aitches please (and that is aitches not haitches).

 

Just proved my own point...erb for herb is 19th century English which the Americans kept. Still sounds horrible or should that be 'orrible.

 

Messi has broken Gerd Muller's record for most goals scored in a calender year. What a player.

 

I haven't a clue what most people on this particular thread are on about most of the time as it seems incomprehensible to me with words I have never heard of let alone used.

 

The English that people generations above you grew up with is almost completely dead. Are you not upset about that? And who's to say that little jewels of expression and variety are disappearing - as the language grows, so do thousands of little dialects all with their own little jewels.

Americans spell the word "tonight", as well. "tonite" is informal and certainly not the more common spelling.

 

The wonderful thing about the English language is that we have had a great debate about one tiny spelling variation. Not many languages could have matched that.

 

Our language is rich because we adopt words that fulfill a need. How daft the French are in setting up a committee to decide on words, You can't legislate for what people say. If a word is good it lasts...if it is just a fad it will disappear. But don't get me started on punctuation...so many don't seem to realise that punctuation is essential for clarity. GMI....I rest my case.

 

When I was your age Dan, I was of your attitude. I know that languages evolve, grow and fail, and all I would like to see is a little more respect for the one I grew up with. It's a personal thing and one that I wouldn't expect you to understand. but you will one day.

Sadly, I can't take the experience of years out of my head and pop them into yours. And I'm not taking the piddle when I write that.

 

That is understandable, but you're resisting the natural evolution of the practicality and efficiency of language for no reason other than sentiment. I'm not saying sentimental value is worth nothing, but I don't think it's enough. If it's any consolation, it's not like the language you grew up with is going to be removed from dictionaries; it's just being added to. As long as people understand what you're saying, it's acceptable language in my eyes.