Why can't we talk English

In a pub having my Sunday lunch when a young lady starts asking the barman for her drink.
 " Can I get a coke?'
 My answer would be "No you can't; I can serve you a coke but you cannot get it its my job"
Is this yet another import from across the water? And should I get quite so cross about it?

Yes I think you should, mind you as someone who has a home in Canada it is no better over there!

"I'll take a decaff cappuccino"

No, you can damned well pay for it!

Has anyone noticed the word 'twice' has disappeared from our language. Adverts are always saying 'two times as much' or 'lasts two times longer' instead of 'twice as much' and 'twice as long'. The word 'thrice' has long gone as well.

Paulmold wrote:Has anyone noticed the word 'twice' has disappeared from our language. Adverts are always saying 'two times as much' or 'lasts two times longer' instead of 'twice as much' and 'twice as long'. The word 'thrice' has long gone as well.

Don't get me started on advert speak! What does "up to 50% or more" mean? And how is "two shades whiter" measured?

And when did the word 'edit' become so popular. As far as I know the word means something like 'to review and alter' but now it seems every magazine, newspaper, website and shop has an 'edit'. I'd be obliged if someone could explain what it actually means in such contexts? And please don't start the explanation with 'so'.

dbroada wrote:
Don't get me started on advert speak! What does "up to 50% or more" mean? And how is "two shades whiter" measured?

When I was working, one of the salesmen told a customer that we could match the colour of his existing flooring to within 15%. Trouble was, none of the chemists could work out what 15% of light grey was?

Frank

So edit stands for "English Died Its True"

And yes I did realise I started with so and used its!
But I am beginning to think anything is now acceptable to 50% of those questioned in a recent survey. ( of two people)

crisp wrote:...  to 50% of those questioned in a recent survey. ( of two people)

I love those beauty treatments adverts that state (something like) "86% of women say ... (from a sample of 8)"

and another thing......

Facebook click bait posts that say "Only 86% could do this". ONLY and a number greater than 50% don't belong together.

Language evolves, for the better of worse.

It's a result of our success at getting English across the globe and is a product of our own making.

Since many countries use English as a first or second language these days to do business it gets twisted into their version.  This eventually finds it's way back.

I work in a "RoW" (rest of world) team in the company so am used to the different forms and just get used to it, don't I bruv innit like.....

I worked in West Africa (Benin,Togo etc), the residents in that part of the World are incapable of saying ASK.... it becomes "Daveed, I AXE you"..... mind you they nearly did but that is another story!

...... and the plural of 'this one', 'these ones' - really?

G

I've known several people who just can't pronounce 'specific' and end up saying 'pacific' instead.

Wouldn't it be be boring if we all spoke the same though. We be bemoan the loss of dialects and colloquialisms but are reluctant to accept new worlds or uses of words.

I was born in 'ull (sorry Hull but we are known for dropping "h" from words) and didn't realise I had much of an accent until my stepdaughter (who was not born here) kept pointing out price tags in shops for £9.99 and asking how much is that just so she could hear me say "narn narty narn".

For other 'ull speck see this http://www.greengates.karoo.net/hull/speak.html

But I do hate when people start an explanation with "So"

And as for the difference between lunch, dinner and tea!!

Mike

Ok so SO is bad enough but for me is when during an interview they say "yer know" in ever sentence

Askit wrote:I'm off to wash my string vest and head bandage 

That'll be a first then?

Frank

I fink you are all right, ja know what I mean?

another of my pet hates is "could of", especially when I see it written.

dbroada wrote:another of my pet hates is "could of", especially when I see it written.

What annoys me about that is those who use it don't even seem to realise that the shortened form 'could've' actually has clues as to how it is constructed in the letters used. It really shows up a lack of basic education in English language.

steamdrivenandy wrote:

dbroada wrote:another of my pet hates is "could of", especially when I see it written.

What annoys me about that is those who use it don't even seem to realise that the shortened form 'could've' actually has clues as to how it is constructed in the letters used. It really shows up a lack of basic education in English language.

yes, "he could of stopped that goal" - REALLY? No idea that "he could have" is more appropriate.

Definately is my pet hate but it's not politically correct to point out spelling mistakes these days. Maybe it's the way posh people say it, like ebsolootely !!

"Nucular" weapons make me want to explode!

Nearly as bad as the government wanting 70% of all school pupils to be average or above. A completely erroneous "stastistic"!

steamdrivenandy wrote:I've known several people who just can't pronounce 'specific' and end up saying 'pacific' instead.

Crinimal that is ............