American Grammar

[CentralOzzy]

I'm not saying I'm perfect at speech but, it has come to my attention, that American's (& few other countries)have deleted the word 'THOSE' from their respective Languages, for the word 'THEM'

For Eg.

Remember them (sorry, THOSE) Old Western Movies where they say...."There's Gold in THEM thar Hills?"

Well sorry to say folks but that sentence is Grammatically Incorrect.
Well sure, we know that in the Movie it was meant to be wrong, but why has this permeated into quite a few modern day cultures? Even Australians are stating to say it! - But then, Australians tend to follow the Americans at most things, unfortunately.

So to all of you people who say....THEM people, instead of THOSE people

Have a go at using the correct word, I dare Ya!

OR I'll fine you 'One Beer'

THERE....I feel better now.

P.S.

It's NOT...."I Seen it"

It's...."I Saw it"

P.S.S. I'm using Capitol Letters for Effect.

[9000white]

them is good things to remember!!!!!!

[oldnslo]

The American school system, which at one time did a very good job of teaching the English language, has slipped a lot. In addition, the children have adopted street talk, sometimes referred to as ebonics. This language has been used by gangs of all colors, primarily black, for years, and is now permeating society in general. When somebody says something like, "you see what I'm sayin'?," they are using ebonics. I have heard executives use this phrase. The list of examples is long.
The English language is being bastardized, and it will eventually become something else entirely.
It might even resemble Australian some day.....

[9000white]

the english language is on the way out anyhow.so is ebonics.Hacha En Mexico.

[oldnslo]

Wouldn't ya know it--just when I was beginning to learn ebonics......

[Loonette]

English has been bastardized for a long time. It's origins are so diverse, and it has gone through many changes since its beginning. We seem to eliminate the need for descriptive words by merely changing our dialect.

My kids use the language well because it's what we taught them to do. However, I feel it's perfectly acceptable to use street slang for light, casual conversation. I probably cuss a lot more than the average Jane, but I don't do it around certain people. It's the same with using some sloppy form of English.

I just wish that more young people at least knew the correct usage and actually used it once in awhile, like say, on a resume. I used to sort through hundreds of resumes for the office manager where I used to work. Priority #1 was to eliminate the resumes that were grammatical nightmares. And there were so many! Lots of "them"s being used for "those"es (hee, hee). Scan and I actually make a joke thing of saying something like, "pass me some of them thar biscuits". It's what we say to each other when we've said something silly or dumb. Unfortunately some people think that it's truly the way to say it. It's really bad when people think that it's "pacific" instead of "specific" or "ax" instead of "ask".

Oh, what's happening to the world?!

Cheers,
Loonette

[oldnslo]

In addition to the bastardization of the spoken word, the written version is far worse.

[CentralOzzy]

I seen what yuz gettin at, I agree with all them statements.

Pass them thar Biscuits!

[oldnslo]

Maybe we can communicate with hand signals--everyone seems to understand, and the finger expresses lots of different emotions and attitudes, depending on presentation......

[poppygene]

Language has always been a living thing so I suppose it shouldn't surprise us when it mutates before our very eyes. That said, it's alarming to listen to the average teenage conversation and realizing it's probably the best that many of them can do.

I don't know who or what to blame, but I think it's just a part of the general "dumbing down" of America.