English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Anything goes! Use this forum to get to know each other.
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Rob Houghton »

I find the spread of English through the world interesting. Of course, over the last twenty years or so TV and the internet has done a lot to influence people, which has probably resulted in a lot of American accents also!

I agree that New Zealand accents (and Australian for that matter) remind me of South African accents...but I guess they had similar influences - I mean, the English settling there...the main difference being that In South Africa they were one end of British society and in Australia they were the opposite end! ;-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Courtenay »

Hence why white South Africans sound more "RP" than we do, I guess. :wink: That said, as I think I've mentioned before, right up till the 1960s or so most news readers and many voice-overs for commercials on Australian TV had accents you could hardly pick from BBC presenters of the time — presumably to set a good example for the general public in how to speak "properly". Needless to say, it didn't work. :P
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17575
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by pete9012S »

Posh English people....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5gl9ep1zP8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Domino
Posts: 3704
Joined: 10 Mar 2013, 18:37

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Domino »

Only about 36% of South African whites speak English as their first language and, of them, those that are in the East Cape Province speak it with a strong Afrikaans influence. It is chiefly around the Durban area that RP is noticeably heard.

Dave
He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green.

Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17575
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by pete9012S »

I received this pronunciation with a little difficulty:

"Five farty sheep,sorry farty five sheep have been stolen..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsUvcjk8J5c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Domino
Posts: 3704
Joined: 10 Mar 2013, 18:37

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Domino »

When it comes to the Irish, it is as much to do with the way they put things as their accents.
Many years ago, when the IRA blew up the statue of Nelson in Dublin, a television reporter decided to do some vox pops to see what the man in the street thought about it.
"So what do you think about the IRA blowing up Nelson's statue?"
"They're just out to kill and maim everyone, like all the rest of us," came the reply.
We knew what he meant, but he was oblivious to the two ways it could be taken.

Then there is the expression, "He's after going to the shops [or whatever]." This does not mean he wants to go the shops, as is often supposed, but that he has already been. He is literally after going to the shops.

Dave
He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green.

Society Member
User avatar
floragord
Posts: 2322
Joined: 31 Jul 2013, 14:41
Favourite book/series: THE FARAWAY TREE SERIES
Favourite character: Silky
Location: Pembrokeshire "Little England Beyond Wales"

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by floragord »

Has anyone else noticed how many people now start sentences with the word "so"? - I only picked up on it quite recently and have found myself doing it too!
"Its a magic wood!" said Fanny suddenly.
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Courtenay »

Yes, that annoys me too. It's OK in some contexts, like when changing the subject — "So, what are you planning to do this afternoon?", but when it actually STARTS the conversation — "So I was driving to work this morning and..." — it comes across to me as just another annoying Americanism. (Like "based off of" instead of "based on". Ugh, don't get me started there. :evil: )

Still, at least it's like not as bad as like saying "like" in like every few words when it like doesn't actually mean like anything and I'm like AAAAARGH!!! :twisted:
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Machupicchu14
Posts: 2031
Joined: 06 Feb 2016, 15:57
Favourite book/series: The Famous Five/The Naughtiest Girl
Favourite character: George Kirrin/ Elizabeth Allen
Location: Sweden

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Machupicchu14 »

floragord wrote:Has anyone else noticed how many people now start sentences with the word "so"? - I only picked up on it quite recently and have found myself doing it too!
*feels quite weird right now*
"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love."
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy


You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther

Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17575
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by pete9012S »

Rob Houghton wrote:I find the spread of English through the world interesting...

The Americans Who Still Speak with West Country British English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxVOIj7mvWI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Courtenay »

I like it! :D Thanks, Pete. (I've just been in the West Country myself, but relatively few people there still speak like that...)
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17575
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by pete9012S »

Image

Not sure how it would be translated in the Cornish language?
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Courtenay »

Pinaval (pronounced peen-avel) — pretty much a literal transliteration from English (aval = apple), whereas I see most other languages use the original name ananas. I gather it got its English name because it looks somewhat like a pine cone. Regardless, it's my favourite fruit. 8)
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26775
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Yes, I've also read that the pineapple got its English name because it looks somewhat like a pine cone. We're not alone as it's piña in Spanish (though ananá is also used) and pinyá in Tagalog.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17575
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

Post by pete9012S »

Interesting Anita.Thank you.

An ananas colada doesn't sound quite the same as a piña colada ..
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
Post Reply