EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Spelling & language issues

Why not? Perhaps that way we can actually start making some real progress in "spreading the word" against ignorance!

Spreading the word against ignorance about what exactly? Are you suggesting that people can only become more informed and gain knowledge (on any subject) if they only converse and communicate in one of the major world languages? I would suggest that are many millions of people around the world who don't speak any of the major languages who are far better informed and knowledgeable than most of us.

Wasn't it Nelson Mandela who said that if you talk to someone in a language they understand it goes to their head, but if you talk to someone in their own language, it goes to their heart. Sounds like a surefire way of overcoming ignorance and prejudice to me.

Ignorance in general (or do you really need me to spell it out?).

If everyone shared the same words - that is, understood their meaning(s) - then perhaps there would be less "misunderstanding" about what is being said.

For example, here are a few "New Speak" words that are constantly banded about with intentions other than their true meaning. In short, they are "code" for something else entirely:-

1) Racism
2) Multiculturalism
3) Caring
4) Community
5) Democracy ... etc. (and there are many others)

And how about some nice phrases that are sprinkled about with gay [good Old English word, gay] abandon:-

1) "Moving forward" (where to ... Utopia?)
2) "Duty of care" (yeah, about themselves)
3) "Need to incentivize" (how about "motivate"?)
4) "Lessons shall be learned" (yawn)
5) "He was always smiling" (pity about the blade)
6) "He showed great remorse" (once he had been caught)
7) "Our thoughts are with the family at this time"*

... what language is that?

Meanwhile ... Mandela? Just look at South Africa today. Hearts and Minds? Yeah, right. I rest my case.

* But (due to the "cuts") we lack the resources [motivation] to get off our butts and go out and find the perpetrator. But we still look forward to drawing our pensions.

Foetal/fetal, Colour/color, Favourite/favorite. It's all this guy's fault!

And though it is true a language does need to evolve, a little common sense should be used when it does.
See this post from my blog for a few "new" abbreviations I find particularly lacking in this.

Also, if a language is on it's last legs and no-one is speaking it, is it really worth the effort of preserving it? And if so how much should be spent on it? Here's a post (rant) regarding this.

Thanks for the opportunity to perform a ridiculous amount of self promotion!

For those who are really interested in writing good English, Fowler has always been the Man!

Meanwhile, here's another evocative word that may mean different things to different people:- Welsh!

Ah, abbreviations ... well, that's a whole "new ball game" [guess the origin] is it not?

The first thing that comes to mind there is SMS ... and also "whose who Tweet" - you know, spreading their inanity* in 140 characters or less!

OK ... I can just about see the use of Tweeting I guess [guess the origin]. You know:- "I've got more (dumb-ass) followers than Nick Clegg" (whomever) ... but what about Retweeting?:- spreading the word, or just adding to the noise, the clutter? Either way, abbreviated to RT, apparently.

It seems to me that our once renowned "chattering classes" have now been pushed aside by the twittering classes. No longer just the Guardian readers in our midst, but whole legions of chavs as well.

Meanwhile, apropos the topic ...how about this report? But beware the "racist [not] language" being used:- "Bombay Parsi", "north Indian Hindu" etc. ... and, indeed, Bombay instead of Mumbai! Anyway here are a couple of quotes from that piece:-


And:-


* How's that for a word?

Having just taken a glance at your blog ... yes, very good. But I'll shall need to come back to it later (as I'm already way behind [guess the origin] with my work just now [ditto]).

But here are a couple of "quick ones":-

Till is OK - if used as "it is time again to till the soil".

You will hear dat (for that) used by "certain communities" in (for example), London (especially South of the River). Sadly, my own ex-wife (who is of "mixed race") has reverted to using that sort of "language" now. In an effort to be understood, or simply to "fit in" ... who knows?

In passing you will also hear words used everyday (hour) on the Street down there, which, if I were to use them, would see me arrested! Free speech? Er, no. "One rule for them, another for the rest of us"? U'mm, 'fraid so.

OK ... time for a cup of Yorkshire Tea, then back to the task at hand.

Agreed. Also OK when used to refer to a cash register.

As in "fingers in the ..." you mean?

I find your page about road signage in Wales very interesting, by the way.

Yes ... what's the point (certainly not "road safety", I would have thought)?

But at least we don't have all that rammed down our throats on this side of Offa's Dyke (well, not yet anyway). Although anybody trying to fathom out the directory signs at some of the London hospitals may beg to differ!

Meanwhile, what's the situation with that sort of thing in Canada these days, I wonder. Or does it arise only in Quebec? Anyone know?

Yes, again a lot of these issues are about lack of common sense. Particularly the issue of all the train announcements being in Welsh first and English second which causes some to miss their train due to having to wait to hear what the hell is going on.