An antiquated language

**mtone9317** · 22-12-2009, 08:45 AM

British.
While American language is moving forward, changing with the times it seems to me the British version of the American language in antique. How many American students have struggled through Shakespeare ROMEO AND JULIET?
They are still reading it (sort of) in US Junior English Classes.
Examples:
The hood of a car>bonnet> woman's hat
truck> lorrie>girls name
electrical outlet>hearth> a fireplace
and the topper of all
resume>curriculum vitae> what the hell is this, two Latin words.
SHORT>CV
Heaven>A Brit pop rock group>NO
So the British Curriculum is popular in the Thai Schools. No wonder the students are lagging behind the Filapino schools in Conversational skills.

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

truck> lorrie>girls name

I think you'll find that's 'lorry'. And it isn't a girls name, it's a large articulated vehicle.

I think you'll find that the native English add more words, and I mean real words, not American slang, than the Merkins do.

Just my two penneth worth (like that? I used old English monetary language!). I could have said two cents, but then you'd probably thought that was some rap artist from America.

Oh, and the reason they're lagging behind is because they are lazy and the ones that can afford to go to the international English curriculum schools are from reasonably well off families and don't need the education as they will inherit the family business(es).

**Begbie** · 22-12-2009, 08:50 AM

electrical outlet>hearth> a fireplace

Never heard an electrical socket called a hearth. Maybe you are confusing it with earth.

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

While American language is moving forward

Proof?

And don't give me a link to Urban Dictionary, December 21: Gift Parasite

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Begbie

electrical outlet>hearth> a fireplace

Never heard an electrical socket called a hearth. Maybe you are confusing it with earth.

No he's right a hearth is a fireplace, no idea why he thinks it's any relation to an electrical outlet though. Though the guy is a Merkin and doesn't really know what the English language is.

**Thetyim** · 22-12-2009, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

the British version of the American language in antique

Antiques are valuable and sort after

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

British version of the American language

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Americans (not the natives) were British. Only you got lazy after leaving the mother land and started yokelling it up. You know, dropping letters out of words because it was too much effort.

**somtamslap** · 22-12-2009, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

The hood of a car>bonnet> woman's hat

..also a form of a hat is it not..what's all this meant to prove anyway??

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by somtamslap

what's all this meant to prove anyway??

That he's a bigoted, ignorant Merkin who thinks American English is superior to International standard English.

**nidhogg** · 22-12-2009, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

British.
While American language is moving forward, changing with the times it seems to me the British version of the American language in antique. How many American students have struggled through Shakespeare ROMEO AND JULIET?

If, as you say "British" English (??) had not moved forward, I would say
you are an errant hedge-born pumpion, a beslubbering whoreson boar-pig, a flesh monger, a fool, and a coward and a cockered spur-galled death-token.

But as it has, I shall merely call you a dickhead.

Clear?

**mao say dung** · 22-12-2009, 10:21 AM

Bigoted and ignorant he may well be, but he was talking about American vs British English.

International Standard English, whatever you imagine that to be, has nothing to do with boots and bonnets over trunks and hoods.

**sabang** · 22-12-2009, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

truck> lorrie>girls name

You have made a perfect illustration of why many English speakers are actually rather proud of it's extensive vocabulary and grammatic structure!

I'll not pretend that it is a simple language to learn to the point of proficiency or intimacy, neither that it's grammatic complexity and nuance are not daunting to a beginner. For most foreign students, the objective is to become able to communicate adequately in the language rather than become proficient in it's extensive vocabulary, nuances and downright anachronisms. Fair enough.

Others however (and not just Brit's) take delight in the language, it's prose, oratory, the infinite and exquisite possibilities afforded by it's extensive vocabulary and syntactic variations- not to mention it's history and tradition, neither to forget it's many regional dialects and spoken variations. To put it simply, you can communicate both precisely and in many diverse ways in the English language, according to your level of knowledge and familiarity.

Personally, I delight in encountering a new or arcane term I am either unfamiliar with or that has become obscured with the passage of time, no longer at my beck. I even like the redundancies and illogicalities, passed on largely via oral tradition. For example, "no, you didn't" in syntax is usually illogical and redundant- "yes, you didn't" is correct terminology. But I wager you still say it. This particular redundancy of our language throws the Chinese in particular, and it amuses me.

It's very impurity is a delight too- there is not, and has never been, any 'Alliance Anglais'. Whilst we can thank the Tagalog language for the term 'boondocks' for example, we can thank the American soldier for carrying it to us. English is a living, changing language- but you mentioned you had studied Shakespeare. Try Chaucer.

English is indeed worth preserving and studying, yet even as a rudimentary tool of basic, international communication it remains nonpareil. In comparison, studying Esperanto is a demoralising, thankless chore.

**davearn** · 22-12-2009, 11:13 AM

Lets not forget that "English" is somewhat older than "Merkin" and was perfected centuries ago. So why change it?

**reinvented** · 22-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by mtone9317

British.
While American language is moving forward, changing with the times it seems to me the British version of the American language in antique. How many American students have struggled through Shakespeare ROMEO AND JULIET?
They are still reading it (sort of) in US Junior English Classes.
Examples:
The hood of a car>bonnet> woman's hat
truck> lorrie>girls name
electrical outlet>hearth> a fireplace
and the topper of all
resume>curriculum vitae> what the hell is this, two Latin words.
SHORT>CV
Heaven>A Brit pop rock group>NO
So the British Curriculum is popular in the Thai Schools. No wonder the students are lagging behind the Filapino schools in Conversational skills.

what utter shite
but please feel free to devolve your own lingusitics to ebonics and mexican as you see fit

**sabang** · 22-12-2009, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by reinvented

mexican

Nahuatl??

**reinvented** · 22-12-2009, 11:53 AM

no jesse
cholo or whatever pidgin they prefer

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by nidhogg

I would say
you are an errant hedge-born pumpion, a beslubbering whoreson boar-pig, a flesh monger, a fool, and a coward and a cockered spur-galled death-token.

A wundorlic repartee my til beorn. Betlic!

**Norton** · 22-12-2009, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by davearn

Lets not forget that "English" is somewhat older than "Merkin" and was perfected centuries ago. So why change it?

Think not perfected yet. Both English and Merkin versions are continuously changing as can be seen by the various annual additions of new words in the respective dictionaries. Some say the flexibility to change is the great strength of English.

I was schooled in my younger years in Canadian English. Although more aligned with British English, a bit of a hybrid. Colour vs color was used but a boot was something one wore and not the back end of a Chevy.

As a resident of the US, I had no problem making the transition to Merkin English in later years. The differences are insignificant and neither is "superior" or "antiquated".

**AntRobertson** · 22-12-2009, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by filch

Originally Posted by nidhogg

I would say
you are an errant hedge-born pumpion, a beslubbering whoreson boar-pig, a flesh monger, a fool, and a coward and a cockered spur-galled death-token.

A wundorlic repartee my til beorn. Betlic!

Cool, a verbal smack-down kicking it Ye Olde English style!

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 12:19 PM

Thx. Greenz on da way fo sho, coz u sed I wuz kool bra!

**AntRobertson** · 22-12-2009, 12:25 PM

Err...word, Respect! I mean wordeth and Respecth!

**filch** · 22-12-2009, 12:50 PM

Righteth backeth atath brethern

**Norton** · 22-12-2009, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Respect! I mean wordeth and Respecth!

Originally Posted by filch

Righteth backeth atath brethern

Just finished rereading Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped". Quite a challenge given the words and punctuation of the time.

'Ay,' said James, 'and by my troth, I wish he was alive again! It's all very fine to blow and boast before hand; but now it's done, Alan; and who's to bear the wyte of it? The accident fell out in Appin - mind ye that, Alan; it's Appin that must pay; and I am a man that has family.

**AntRobertson** · 22-12-2009, 01:11 PM

Crickey you're right, hardeth to maketh much senseth out of that..th.

**Norton** · 22-12-2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

wyte

Had no clue on this one. Had to look it up and got this. I have decided it means blame.

As help me God, I shal þee nevere smyte! / Þat I have doon, it is þyself to wyte.

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