How important ...

Leo · 24-08-2008, 05:59 AM

How important do you consider your use of the language, especially on discussion boards?

I ask because a poster was recently complimented for his mastery of language at another place - a compliment with which I entirely agree.

Not only does he not make grammatical and spelling errors (American spelling accepted) but he uses precise and interesting language.

So, how many of you appreciate a level of linguistic precision and artistry, as opposed to the perhaps more usual 'get the message across and sod the artistry' style of internet messaging?

I think it is great, and it induces me to read everything that poster writes (whether I agree with the sentiments expressed or not.) Also, being the educated, well-read and intelligent man he appears to be, his posts are not merely a triumph of form over substance. So should we all not try to write in a similar manner, or is just getting our point across sufficient for these purposes?

I think it was Doctor Johnson who said: "That which is written without effort, is seldom read with pleasure."

Kevin Adamson · 24-08-2008, 07:29 AM

I think it was Doctor McCoy who said "we are not illogical all the time,only when it suits us"

Besoeker · 24-08-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo

How important do you consider your use of the language, especially on discussion boards?

I ask because a poster was recently complimented for his mastery of language at another place - a compliment with which I entirely agree.

Not only does he not make grammatical and spelling errors (American spelling accepted) but he uses precise and interesting language.

So, how many of you appreciate a level of linguistic precision and artistry, as opposed to the perhaps more usual 'get the message across and sod the artistry' style of internet messaging?

I think it is great, and it induces me to read everything that poster writes (whether I agree with the sentiments expressed or not.) Also, being the educated, well-read and intelligent man he appears to be, his posts are not merely a triumph of form over substance. So should we all not try to write in a similar manner, or is just getting our point across sufficient for these purposes?

I think it was Doctor Johnson who said: "That which is written without effort, is seldom read with pleasure."

"Say what you mean, otherwise people will think you mean what you say."
I think accuracy is important to the extent that it makes a post easy to read and understand. That may all that matters to many or, possibly, most.

But, occasionally, it irks or amuses me just a little to see how badly the language is sometimes used and abused.

kernow · 24-08-2008, 12:07 PM

English was never my best subject at school and my wife says I write like I talk which is apparently incorrect!

Besoeker · 24-08-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

English was never my best subject at school and my wife says I write like I talk which is apparently incorrect!

I think there there are those who do, though.
When you see things like "suffercate" for suffocate and "sporn" for spawn you can almost tell the regional accent....it certainly isn't West Country or Scots.

g hall · 24-08-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

you can almost tell the regional accent....it certainly isn't West Country or Scots.

Thin ice there I would suggest

Seriously the version of English we speak owes a great deal to the West Saxons of Wessex

Besoeker · 25-08-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Thin ice there I would suggest

Och, surely no!
The words I mentioned wouldn't work with any regional accent from Scotland. I sometimes do cryptic crosswords. Often a clue will have "we hear" in it which usually means the solution will be phonetically the same as a literal solution. This generally doesn't work well for me. "Sore" is never going to be anything like saw. Wear and where, lock and loch.....etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Seriously the version of English we speak owes a great deal to the West Saxons of Wessex

I like the fact that we have regional dialects rather than the uniformity that used to be the hallmark of the Beeb.

g hall · 25-08-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Och, surely no!
The words I mentioned wouldn't work with any regional accent from Scotland. I sometimes do cryptic crosswords. Often a clue will have "we hear" in it which usually means the solution will be phonetically the same as a literal solution. This generally doesn't work well for me. "Sore" is never going to be anything like saw. Wear and where, lock and loch.....etc.

I understand that there is a great variety of Scottish dialect given the influences that is not surprising

Quote:

I like the fact that we have regional dialects rather than the uniformity that used to be the hallmark of the Beeb.

Received pronunciation had at least one merit it could be understood some dialects are "difficult" when someone is hard of hearing, having said that I like regional dialect the only problem is the rise of "estuarine mockney"

Besoeker · 25-08-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

I understand that there is a great variety of Scottish dialect given the influences that is not surprising

Yes, that's true. An Aberdonian sounds quite different to a Glaswegian. Local vernacular is quite different too. But in neither case would loch sound like lock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Received pronunciation had at least one merit it could be understood some dialects are "difficult" when someone is hard of hearing, having said that I like regional dialect the only problem is the rise of "estuarine mockney"

Is that the same as Estuary English?
I don't care for it.
What is Estuary English?

g hall · 25-08-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Is that the same as Estuary English?
I don't care for it.
What is Estuary English?

That would indeed be the one

24-08-2008, 05:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leo Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 83	How important ... How important do you consider your use of the language, especially on discussion boards? I ask because a poster was recently complimented for his mastery of language at another place - a compliment with which I entirely agree. Not only does he not make grammatical and spelling errors (American spelling accepted) but he uses precise and interesting language. So, how many of you appreciate a level of linguistic precision and artistry, as opposed to the perhaps more usual 'get the message across and sod the artistry' style of internet messaging? I think it is great, and it induces me to read everything that poster writes (whether I agree with the sentiments expressed or not.) Also, being the educated, well-read and intelligent man he appears to be, his posts are not merely a triumph of form over substance. So should we all not try to write in a similar manner, or is just getting our point across sufficient for these purposes? I think it was Doctor Johnson who said: "That which is written without effort, is seldom read with pleasure."

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24-08-2008, 07:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kevin Adamson Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Surrey Posts: 888 Party: UKIP	I think it was Doctor McCoy who said "we are not illogical all the time,only when it suits us"

24-08-2008, 12:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
kernow Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,184	English was never my best subject at school and my wife says I write like I talk which is apparently incorrect!