"sat there" - grammar

The improper usage of your/you're and there/their/they're stuff bugs me too!  Other stuff (sat etc) doesn't, especially if it seems dialect related. 


 

Totes agree on this; watdaFuuuuu!?

And I'm okay with text speak in its context.

Tomoz! 

Me too, can be proper adorkable!

I come from an area where 'y'allses' is used for plural possessive, so I can't be too snooty.

It's "y'all's". I say that all the time, I do admit. But that's more of a spoken contraction!

It's "y'all's". I say that all the time, I do admit. But that's more of a spoken contraction!

What about "all y'all's"?

""We've got to move all y'all's (y'alls'?) cars, Jimmy's here to pump out the septic tank."

Me too, can be proper adorkable!

Not so much.

The thing with grammar is that you can defend using improper grammar for all sorts of reasons - dialect, evolution of language, regionality, etc. - some of which can be argued to be valid reasons, some not. But ultimately you'll be judged for it. If that's OK with you, then everyone's happy. If you don't want to be judged, then speak properly.

Luckily I get to work, be friends with and generally around people who understand the culture I am immersed in, the peaks and valleys of our own nerd-patois, and of course I am fully capable of being articulate when I need to be; when I'm public speaking at conferences to a thousand people, or in a board meeting for the company I am a director of.

To be honest, I often respond to my employees with a gif instead of words in an email, like this one for a job well done.

https://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/8/21/Rhgdw8RgAUirO60RmNaNdA2.gif

I think my attitude towards my own personal use of language is summed up perfectly by this strutting cat -

I only judge people who use the word 'irregardless'. Mercilessly. 

Now I have to go wash my hands. I feel dirty having typed it.

What about "all y'all's"?

""We've got to move all y'all's (y'alls'?) cars, Jimmy's here to pump out the septic tank."

Definitely! They are just practical phrases. If I want to refer to a group, I need  something besides the paltry "you" that modern English leaves us with. Even non-southerners will say you guys/you guys', etc. It's a huge need in modern American English!

Sonofsailor- where in the south are you from?

https://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/8/21/Rhgdw8RgAUirO60RmNaNdA2.gif

Adorable. I'd say I need to teach my cat to do that, but he's hopeless at anything requiring coordination.

The strutting cat is awesome, too.

of course I am fully capable of being articulate when I need to be; when I'm public speaking at conferences to a thousand people, or in a board meeting for the company I am a director of.

So if you're aware that you're not being articulate the rest of the time ... why aren't you?? It doesn't take any longer to say something articulately than it does inarticulately.

People not being able to understand me, has never been an issue for me and like most rational adults, I understand when to use casual speak which expresses my personality and when I need to be business-professional.

I don't hang out with that many old people though, aside from my parents occasionally, so it might be that.

I don't hang out with that many old people though, aside from my parents occasionally, so it might be that.

I guess that's where we differ. I don't see good grammar as being something that's age-specific. I have friends from all ages from 20 to 80 and they speak properly.

Sonofsailor- where in the south are you from?

The panhandle of Florida (sometimes referred to as Lower Alabama). Oddly enough when I was there people said I 'talked too much like a yankee', but apparently the English see me as a bit Forest Gumpish (I hate that movie).

Funny how this topic came up because last week on the radio there was an interview with the author of a new book on grammar and he was saying the one that really annoy me is this one...."the man was sat on a bench" and he usually responds with "who sat him there?"
And stating it should be "the man was sitting on a bench".

I do have grammar and sayings that annoy me but I'd never really picked up on this one before.

I guess that's where we differ. I don't see good grammar as being something that's age-specific. I have friends from all ages from 20 to 80 and they speak properly.

I actually don't think it's an age thing either although I am convinced we do differ, rather I agree with the statement someone said to me rather succinctly earlier "Good grammar might not be age specific, but pedantry simply for pedantry's sake & a lack of flexibility to new & fresh ways of doing things is rarely a trait of a young person" .

I was considering that maybe I don't get any judgement on my patois because of the age of people I associate with, or maybe it's the type of people. I believe it's mostly the latter as I choose who I surround myself with; our 50+ year old CFO can "oh my *squee*" with the best of us.

Frankly if someone wants to judge me as less educated or lower class because of the way I speak they are welcome to, I am not ashamed of those things. I grew up poor and dragged myself up in difficult circumstances. Yes I have a bit of a south coast accent but it didn't stop me gaining a first degree from a top university, a BAFTA nomination (x4) or being a company director of a multi million pound company by the time I was 28, so I hardly think people judging me by my use of AMAZE, is holding me back
I haz totes awesome life innit

In addition, I could point out that you're judging their speech by your definition of "properly", which does not match mine and the whole argument is that language is an expression filled evolution, infinitely flexible. The definition of "nice" being one which has changed unrecognisably over time or the introduction of words that are commonplace to my generation like "ollie (1979)" or "biodiesel (1986)" that didn't even exist to yours or my grandparents generation shows the flexibility of language.

To say that this use of language is "wrong" because you find these new words or way of speaking "distasteful" due to them deviating from the established doesn't make them less valid, I could go on but instead I'll get off your lawn 


As an aside - I would also state that acting on judgement of people due to regional accents is personally abhorrent to me and could be considered discriminatory in a hiring/HR situation. You should watch this video  for more information - Call Me Maybe - Geordie Cover (Call Me Da'lin)

If you use "amazeballs" however, I might judge just a little, though.