Does "your" instead of "you're" drive anyone else nuts?

Atheos · Apr 1, 2009

I believe you mean not everyone speaks what the MLA calls "Standard English."
Just because a large population uses a given word or pronounciation does not make it correct. Many
people say, "ain't" or "ain't got no..." and that doesn't make it correct. Like it or not, our world still revolves around Standard English, French in Passe Compose etc.
sharpeimom:paw::paw:

Actually, 'ain't' is in the dictionary.

Also, since there is no universally agreed Standard English committee we can't necessarily RELY on that.

Some countries have standards boards to 'maintain' their language.

That makes no sense for America. Especially since American English is really just an amalgamation of SEVERAL languages.

What and whose standard applies then?

ETA:

If the size of population doesn't matter ALL Americans would be utilizing incorrect English.

Language evolves. Ain't that a fact!

Jamesdotter · Apr 1, 2009

Actually the usage of they IS considered correct.
The standard operating procedure is to utilize they as a neutral pronoun due to the lack of one. In some instances the singular gender specific pronoun is unacceptable. Utilizing they is far easier than someone agreeing on a new gender neutral pronoun.

Yeah, but it still bugs me. It would drive poor Mrs. Cooper (my 7th grade teacher) up the wall! She did teach us the parts of speech without parsing a single sentence, though.

sharpeimom · Apr 1, 2009

Actually, 'ain't' is in the dictionary.
Ain't, while included in some dictionaries, is considered to be colloquial usage and is not still being considered to be preferable.
Also, since there is no universally agreed Standard English committee we can't necessarily RELY on that.
As a matter of fact, there is such a committee in America. It's called the Modern Language Association or the MLA.
That makes no sense for America. Especially since American English is really just an amalgamation of SEVERAL languages. It always has been, but traditionally when immigrants come here, they make an attempt to learn to speak proper English and not a language of their own making. As immigrants have joined us, new words have become a part of our working language but for Ebonics or etexting to become part of Standard American English for those of us who are not hiphippin' fresh prince of Belair types will probably take longer than my lifetime.
What and whose standard applies then?
The MLA and they base their decisions on how the so-called power people speak and what specific words they use.
Language evolves. Ain't that a fact!

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

How about there, their and they're? Does much of anyone under the age of 25, know they're is even an option?
sharpeimom:paw::paw:

I love those folks who think they're being cute with their suggestions that there are no young people who understand grammar nowadays.

And by "love," I mean "get so irritated with."

sharpeimom · Apr 1, 2009

...reverse ageism much?

My comment wasn't based on agism quite as much as it was a musing on how much things have changed since I was a college student 100 years ago... or so... My college professor husband reads me occasional passages from student papers. They are invariably the real humdingers. Not the entire paper, just an occasional turn of phrase. :rolleyes:

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

HippyGreenPeaceChick · Apr 1, 2009

Here we are. still debating enunciation, and correct verbiage. I am amazed that it garners this much attention. Though some of it has been rather amusing in a dry sort of way. But so much debate here, while there are so many bigger problems to discuss and solve in today's world.

p.s. My rotator cuff is just fine

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

My comment wasn't based on agism quite as much as it was a musing on how much things have changed since I was a college student 100 years ago... or so... My college professor husband reads me occasional passages from student papers. They are invariably the real humdingers. Not the entire paper, just an occasional turn of phrase.
sharpeimom:paw::paw:

You're judging an entire generation's literacy based on selected passages from an already-restricted population?

For the record, I'm honestly not trying to pick a fight here, but I chafe any time I hear that "kids today don't know how to read/write/[whatever]," and this explanation didn't help much.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

Here we are. still debating enunciation, and correct verbiage. I am amazed that it garners this much attention. Though some of it has been rather amusing in a dry sort of way. But so much debate here, while there are so many bigger problems to discuss and solve in today's world.
p.s. My rotator cuff is just fine

Why not start another topic then discussing the bigger issues. I know I butcher the English language so I am fully aware most of these vents are pertaining to me and people like me (not me specifically I hope but I am guilty of a lot of these things, so of course I can't help but feel like, are they meaning me?) even so, I wouldn't tell them they don't have a right to vent about it or discuss it. It does seem these threads pop up weekly, and like I said, I can't help but take offense to them, but that shouldn't take away their right to post. If I was THAT bothered by it I wouldn't read this thread and read the thousands of other threads on this site. Which I do also, in fact I think I have about 5 tabs open on various threads that are 20+ pages long but good reads, I don't want to lose my place or spend 10 straight hours reading them so I have multiple tabs saving my spot LOL.

Anyway, my point was, you have posted a few times to discuss how unnecessary you feel this thread is, I have seen it happen a lot in other threads as well, from other people. Why can't you and others just ignore that thread if you don't see the point in it. I could understand if their were 10 threads and 9 of them were about this, but this isn't the case.

A lot of older threads I read had to be closed because people kept coming in and posting their dismay in the thread, I read it laughing and wishing I could comment. This is a HUGE forum and surely their is enough room for everyone and all types of different discussions.

JMO

leslie :-D · Apr 1, 2009

Here we are. still debating enunciation, and correct verbiage. I am amazed that it garners this much attention. Though some of it has been rather amusing in a dry sort of way. But so much debate here, while there are so many bigger problems to discuss and solve in today's world.
p.s. My rotator cuff is just fine

not understanding 6th grade english, IS a big deal...

esp in a profession that commands superior communication skills AND is already suffering w/a subpar image.

honestly hippy, if you don't like this thread, feel free to go elsewhere.

otherwise, i'm just not seeing anything productive about your :twocents: .

leslie

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

For what it is worth, I do have good communication skills in person. Or at least that's what I'm told.

sharpeimom · Apr 1, 2009

My rotator cuff isn't fine, thank you. I'm in the midst of PT to restore the use of my right rotator cuff so I can use it comfortably. I was playing with our large very muscular dog and he got a bit friskier than usual.

Absolutely no offense intended with my age reference. When you get to be fifty-mumble-mumble, remarks like that occasionally slip out. :chair:

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

talaxandra · Apr 2, 2009

You're judging an entire generation's literacy based on selected passages from an already-restricted population?
For the record, I'm honestly not trying to pick a fight here, but I chafe any time I hear that "kids today don't know how to read/write/[whatever]," and this explanation didn't help much.

People have always denounced youth:

"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they allow disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children now are tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers." - Socrates (attributed by Plato)

"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint." - Hesiod, Eighth Century B.C.

"The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."- Peter the Hermit, A.D. 1274