Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

I was watching an interview on the box the other day (BBC1 News) and could not help feeling really riled by the laziness of both interviewer and interviewee who over-employed that linguistic crutch so common today; "y'know". Is it really asking too much of these overpaid and underempoyed simpletons to actually use the language, as opposed to abusing it at every available opportunity? Of course, what makes the matter worse, adding insult to injury, is the attempt to make a virtue out of their inability?

Thinking about it. It seems to me that the language is a fairly accurate mirror of society. Consider, prior to 1968 and the summer of love and protest. Society was a good deal more buttoned up than it subsequently has become. Recieved Pronunciation was the standard of spoken English in this country to which most attempted to aspire. Gorgeously rounded vowels and sounded aspirants and percussives were the hallmark of the upwardly socially mobile. Whereas, dropped aitches and glottal stops were the signs of a background of economic hardship and academic underachievement.

Since 1968 society has shifted to become more mid atlantic in its attitudes and sadly the language has followed suit. Of course, the trendy liberal/left equate this shift with the growth and development of a language that is living and culturally vibrant. Having little appreciation of, or liking for, the culture and heritage of our nation, they would, wouldn't they?

And so it is that we see the entry into the language of the abomination that is known as Estuarine English. At best a regional accent that, through the prominence of the South East as the driver of the economy, has come to dominate all that is produced by the broadcast media. I am sick to death of hearing the word 'drawing' mis-prononced as 'drawring'. I loathe the use of the word 'innit', particularly as it is used by the immigrant population as a sort of catch all 'Don't you agree/QED/see what I mean' expostulatory, exhortative and interrogatory, all rolled into one, speaking only of the lack and deficiency of the speakers vocabulary.

There are other words and phrases that excite similar distaste and ire, here are a few.
Feel free to add your own

'what it is, right' at the commencement of an explanation.
'it's doin my ead in' an expression of inchoate confusion and/or anger
'warrameanis' (trans) what I mean, is ...
'I was like...' / ' and I'm like...'
'I'm lovin this... that or the other' I hate Macdonalds!

And the next person to tell me that something insignificant and commonplace is 'Awesome' is just asking for a swift and none too gentle smack round the chops.

Also, while we are at it. can we regulars get our heads round the difference between

there and their
and
your and you're

it really isn't that difficult!

Anyway, rant over. Please add your own particular linguistic bettes noir below.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Know what I mean.

Should of, would of, instead of should have, would have etc

And, sorry A-B but you are guilty (see title of this thread), the greengrocer's apostrophe as in your tic's above. Pear's 70p/pound, avocado's 50p each etc etc.

And it should be betes noir not bettes noir plus a circumflew but I don't know how to do one on this computer.

I used to be a proofreader/editor.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

I'm a baker I do typo's, mea culpa.

You used to be a proofreader, it is circumflex not circumflew. Touche (e accute) I think.:D 'circumflew' sounds like something from a Harry Potter novel

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Circumflex!!
Bête noire....just cut & paste it from Google, like I do....

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

This man is a hidden genius. Happy New Year!:D

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

I hate it when the young people say 'yeah' to check if you understand the meaning of what they have said.

I was once in PC World getting a computer fixed(yes, that is a joke) and a young asian man was explaining something to me, after each point he said 'yeah, right'....I nodded, but afterwards was happy to tell my daughter that all his explaining had been as worthless as the 'yeah, rights' in the conversation.

'Ok, yeah' is another one of my hates too......Miss BD has recently started using this phrase. Needless to say, I have told her that if I hear her use this phrase, then there will be no pocket money for the week.....so far so good.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

People saying "innit" after every sentence.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

'Accute' should be 'acute'. I do check, sometimes.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Oh, yes...that as well...hate it!

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Oops! set myself up for that... hoist with my own petard - or something like that.

I know Steve, just can't be a**ed. :rolleyes: By the time I've finished putting in all the spaces and caps that the dodgy space bar and shift key on this computer leave out I've had enough!

Perhaps this is how new words arise:

circumflew = round the world airline trip ticket

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Gonna instead of going to.

Finally has crept in everywhere as in The day has finally arrived instead of just The day has come. Makes everything sound so apocalyptic.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

[quote=susie123;958223]Oops! set myself up for that... hoist with my own petard - or something like that.



A sort of 'Bombe Surprise' so to speak.:D

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

My pet hate: "Can't be arsed." Sorry, Susie.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

A wish yu lot ud lurn tu tawk reigt, wods appund tut propur English like wod eye touwt.
Retlaw.

Re: Linguistic tic's and crutches
 

Far more irritating than what they say, is how they say it.

Too many women programme presenters are chosen for their looks.

Screeching giggling high pitched girls are the result.
They should take instruction from velvet voiced Moira Stewart.