Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

Without dispute, English is the Global communication language for Business; especially via the Internet.

So, why are the UK Brits the last to learn ENGLISH?

Asians can teach them a thing or two about pronouns and adjectives ...

[Floda]

The 'Brits' DO, (for some peculiar reason) seem to glorify in bastardising their own language to the extent that they are considered to be among THE most ignorant and disrespectful nations on the face of the earth (by those not prone to such habits).

In general conversation, insult and foul language appear to be the accepted manner of communication and, in an argument (or even an attempt to discuss any differences of opinion) it would appear that he/she who is prepared to descend lowest in terms of filthy verbal exchanges, will gain the ascendancy in such.

On this very forum, there are so many examples of members prepared to resort to the generally accepted habit of relying on insult to 'Press a point', it is small wonder that nothing constructive EVER occurs in terms of resolving problems.

Unfortunately, it would appear that there are certain members who were not actually 'Born and Bred' in the UK who have become so influenced by long term residence there, they have adopted like habits.

Such as those have my sympathy since they have allowed themselves to become degraded both in the opinions of others (in terms of natural respect) and surely in terms of respect for themselves AND their own opinions.

Thus, the influence of the decadent society aforementioned has apparently (in some cases) encroached upon our own. (IMHO)

[Oracle]

Too true, Floda.

My English is far from perfect (as are my linguistic manners), but I'd often wondered at the limitations in verbal expression exercised by the great British public. However, I put it down to reserve ...

Unfortunately, I have now reached the conclusion, after a few years on the forum, that the worst lexical offenders are the Brits -- born and bred since Victorian times to speak the Queen's English .... who are put to shame by the very people they had not too long ago, released from colonial servitude.

Snip, snip their hair clippers go ...

[CBBB]

Much as I hate to admit it, I agree with you entirely on this subject! I get very upset with the way the British mangle their language on this forum and others (particularly Cyprus Dying). These people didn't go to school?

My English is far from perfect, but I cringe sometimes when reading the posts of others (that is if I can understand what they are going on about).

[Me Ed]

Spoken English in the UK varies very widely. Just compare the dialect and language usage of Londoners, Gordies, Brummies, Scoucers etc, even though they learn from the same text books.

This is no different to Greek when you compare the dialect and language use of Athenians and Cypriots, even though they too learn from the same text books.

I once heard a short conversion between two Athenians and I must have counted the word Malaka/Malakia/Malakies over 100 times.

I do agree though that folk on this forum should put their points across without resorting to insult.

[Oracle]

It has nothing to do with insults nor regional dialects.

Just a general ineptitude amongst, unfortunately, the native Brits at making the most of the versatility of the English language ...

[Me Ed]

Mainly because you probably learnt and speak text book English, where as real English has some heavy regional influences, just as Greek, and is how languages develop.

[Oracle]

Mainly because you probably learnt and speak text book English, where as real English has some heavy regional influences, just as Greek, and is how languages develop.

We're discussing written grammar not accents or idiomatic terms. Whichever region you are affiliated to, the same rules apply to the written form of English. It's back to simply using "its" and "it's" and "there" and "their" and "your" and "you're", I guess.

I don't want to be pedantic. So, I'm not referring to the odd misspelling of a word, which we all make, or the occasional omission of an apostrophe. It's the systemic carelessness, even ignorance to what is a beautiful language, which drives me potty. Especially since the main culprits are the Brits who are supposedly wealthy enough to reside over here, with multiple homes and businesses, and really could do with spending some of their "wealth" on educating themselves before they corrupt English for the rest of us.

Anyway ... my rant is over.

[Svetlana]

Is it because most British people learn their English from their peers, while most people for whom English is not their first language learn it, hopefully properly and accurately from school, where they are taught textbook English?

Lana

[Milo]

If there is a 'world' language at present its english although the spoken/written english language is now very different to what I was taught.

Too many people learning the english language burns away cultural differences which make the world so interesting. If one speaks multiple languages and can read and write in them one starts to see the world in many more shades.

Our languages shape who we are so should never be lost to us but its a fact that 90% of the spoken languages around the world are doomed to extinction as they are spoken nowhere except in their own countries.

The EU has 20 different languages with costs of translation huge, so it begs the question what if the EU had one language, written and spoken what would it be?

English is the prefered language for Science internationally and communications upto now has been but this is changing rapidly. Airline Pilots wordwide can only use english.

The futurists predict that mandarin will eclipse english by 2050 although it will not be spoken much outside China and Arabic will soon overtake English as a language.

American movies and TV rule the world some countries don,t even dub their imported TV shows. This is where I put the blame for the change in our speech and the written word as we have all been 'americanised'.

Cyprus is geographically in this area so perhaps Arabic will be one day be taught in the education sysyem here.

I know how much you love us Brits so, but at the moment we do dominate the global language and when we do write it down in our very own peculiar way most of us are not rascist, as most of us have been educated to be much more tolerant of others. In London alone their are approx 70 different languages spoken.

Cyprus has an abundance of young and older people who have learnt English so well. They should be and I believe are very proud of that fact. I do agree though that soon we will have a dominance of multi-lingual speakers worldwide and the UK education system should wake up to the fact.

I also find returning Cypriots many who are friends some of the nicest people we have ever met. My OH is tri-lingual sadly not myself yet.

As for constant swear words in many posts usually they are confined to the young imho of course.


By the way some of us can discuss other things related to grammer IF we so chose to do so. Find me a thread that does,nt evolve

From a wealthy Brit with multiple homes and multiple business, don,t make me laugh. Though we have been approached to buy multiple times