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Why Americans can't speak (or write in) English properly.
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Post by
184848
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
That's a radically different way of putting it compared to what you were saying before.
No, it's not.
You had implied grammatical rules should never be broken regardless of context.
No, I didn't.
You just saw that I took slight issue with the way things were presented in the video you linked and thought amazing and so burst out against everything I said without stopping to understand my position.
Post by
184848
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
AILshbcm aos;hMUADS n I:OH fA:SO Biul NSJILdb ljiB NDL lIJUSHDb hHUSVDUY VBDHB DULSL.
There. Are you willing to agree that the line above is good English?
So basically, all this time you've been debating with me from a completely retarded point of view? I had assumed you understood from within what terms I was talking about. "So long as you're able to communicate in a language, there is no correct way to speak or write anything." That's what I was saying. Goddamn, I didn't even consider you were coming at me from such a retarded angle.
You're the one who initiated by disagreeing with me. So, blame yourself for not reading anything I've written.
Post by
184848
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
I had assumed we were talking about language, not incoherent babbling
What defines the line between those two? Rules. So, I'll say it again...
He seems to advocate a certain 'freedom of speech' without qualification. As weak as he claims the argument from clarity is, it's still better than a free-for-all.
I'm talking about an unqualified disregard for linguistic boundaries. No qualifications are made in the video, which is why I cannot say whether I agree with him or not. If he went on to enumerate certain qualifications, then maybe I could agree with him. Until then, as I already said, I reserve judgment.
Post by
Murrdurr
So why is this pointed towards only Americans (doesnt surprise me since there seems to be a lot of anti-American people here anyways)? I have 3 friends from England and their grammar and spelling are pretty bad. Or has the topic strayed off to just anyone since the start of the thread?
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
So why is this pointed towards only Americans? I have 3 friends from England and their grammar and spelling are pretty bad. Or has the topic strayed off to just anyone since the start of the thread?
Why don't you read the thread and find out? It's already been extensively covered.
Post by
184848
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
But he never went on to qualify whether clarity was a defining boundary of language or not.
So, I'll say it again...
He seems to advocate a certain 'freedom of speech' without qualification. As weak as he claims the argument from clarity is, it's still better than a free-for-all.
I'm talking about an unqualified disregard for linguistic boundaries. No qualifications are made in the video, which is why I cannot say whether I agree with him or not. If he went on to enumerate certain qualifications, then maybe I could agree with him. Until then, as I already said, I reserve judgment.
And if you actually took the time to read my contributions to this thread, you'd see that clarity as the locus of linguistic rules is my overarching point.
Post by
184848
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
pelf
Ok, whatever.
Weak.
Post by
Pwntiff
Mr Fry is quite right in one regard, but I think he's quite arguing for anything. He's essentially ranting about people using language as a sword and shield against intentional illiteracy.
At least, that's the message I got.
There are conversational conventions and formal writing conventions. Using a similar word incorrectly is perfectly fine to most people in conversational settings, such as "Five items or less," but for anything I write that's not a personal note (essay, report, résumé, etc), I double check every mistake I commonly make in conversational English, which is what I expect one to do if one cares about his appearances.
Post by
606231
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
Yh! We made the language, not you guys, so you're doing it wrong! Well not us, the English. Well not them, the Normans. Well not them either, the Romans. Still... >.>
I think I've got the timeline of the English language right.
English is a Germanic language, not a Romance language. Two different language trees, though both fall within the Indo-European family.
Post by
Lohr
Blame texting! It's become so popular now that the shortcuts are now considered proper! LOL!
Post by
Monday
Yh! We made the language, not you guys, so you're doing it wrong! Well not us, the English. Well not them, the Normans. Well not them either, the Romans. Still... >.>
I think I've got the timeline of the English language right.
English is a Germanic language, not a Romance language. Two different language trees, though both fall within the Indo-European family.
This ^
West Germanic language branch iirc.
Post by
Orranis
Blame texting! It's become so popular now that the shortcuts are now considered proper!
LOL
!
I'm hoping that irony was intentional.
Post by
296147
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Lohr
Blame texting! It's become so popular now that the shortcuts are now considered proper!
LOL
!
I'm hoping that irony was intentional.
SEE! Haha! I've been caught!
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