Spelling and grammar

I don't mind how people spell, as long as it makes half sense to me.

I dislike text speak, a lot.

Having said all that, I was in the hotel restaurant in the Novotel at Heathrow last week and I was chatting to the Chinese restaurant manager, she told me

"Ahhhh worrrr heeeee ten yeeeaa nehhhs weeec"

Translation: "I've worked here ten years next week"

I thought "Sorry, love? You've worked in this restaurant 10 years serving English speaking customers and I'm still straining to understand a word you say? That's just sheer laziness!"

Originally Posted by mr.anderson

Indeed. You have proven my point.

Aw come on monsieur, I did it only cos you put yourself on a pedestal

I had the benefit - or perhaps it wasn't a benefit - of a through grounding in English grammar from the De La Salle brothers, and I got the cane if I got it wrong.

My fave book is probably still 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot, about the social upheavals in a Midlands town - it could even be my home town, Shrewsbury - caused by the great Reform Act 1832. The English is very difficult. But I also like rubbish American crime thrillers where the English is simply terrible.

Takes all sorts to make a world... even with three dots...

I'm completely baffled as to why anybody can get so bent out of shape over spelling and grammer on a public forum. It's not a competition, it's not a place of work, it's just a place to visit and talk crap for a bit...isn't it?

I fail at English.

But can still type and speak reasonably well.

My spelling of basic words is terrible.

Only one in 5th year who wasn't allowed to take Higher English.

...

Originally Posted by Philbo

I'm completely baffled as to why anybody can get so bent out of shape over spelling and grammer on a public forum. It's not a competition, it's not a place of work, it's just a place to visit and talk crap for a bit...isn't it?

totally agree

Originally Posted by Philbo

I'm completely baffled as to why anybody can get so bent out of shape over spelling and grammer on a public forum. It's not a competition, it's not a place of work, it's just a place to visit and talk crap for a bit...isn't it?

I agree also

I think we all get enough rules, regs, red tape, HSE **** at work without having it when we come home

Not a dig at the mods at all, just everyone is over sensitive, bitchy, get all high and mighty..

Bah folks, calm down, and have a drink or a smoke or something..

[yorkie_chris]

I figure if you want to talk complete s**t go on twitter or facebook, whether that be generally unrelated, random rubbish or just unintelligible.

As friendly as ever

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by Ed

...and what about people who don't speak English as a first language? Should we similarly judge them?

No, of course not

Actually Ed, most foreign types have a far better grasp of English grammar that I will ever have. After all, they have been taught it. Most English have gone through their secondary education learning French or German grammar from teachers who assume that they know English grammar in the first place.

I was taught sufficient English to pass an O level. Yet still struggle with the correct place to place an apostrophe, should of course one be required in the first place? should it be before or after the pluralising s, is it possessive etc.

I may know enough to know a verb, noun or adjective. But formal construction was never taught.

BTW, why should I not split an infinitive? why is it so bad?

Do we still have elitist groups who place people intellectually and socially simply because of the way they speak or write. Who am I kidding, of course we do!