Neopoet.com

Jess, I am getting sick of your anti american crap. Stick your head up your ass or arse or go stick it in the billabong or bang a gong I really don’t give a rats ass or arse whatever you want to say. all you asshole arseholes claim to be tolerant and love thy neighbor bullshit as long as it is y’alls way, but if someone has a different outlook or different way of speaking then you show how truly psychopathic you are. Do us a favor and stick your head up your arse ass and fart. That way you can blow your own head off.
Rett:
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Winston Churchill

Right back to the Senate committee for Un-American Activitees eh.
Macarthy lives!
Oh man, my friend, if you could only put yourself in my shoes as I so often do in yours.
Here I was talking about language and misuse of power. You got upset. Hey I didn’t say anything surprising.
Can you really not put yourself in my shoes?

Seeing America so powerful but so not completely right? I don’t attack America just because it is big, I attack it because it believes it is right, even when it sometimes is. You need people like me.
I am more like you than you seem to realise, we both acknowledge that no-one has the right to control us. I only suggest you don’t realise how much American propaganda has affected you. Sorry, I know that sounds patronising, but I have studied education systems and America has the most indoctrinational I have seen.

Your thoughts are your own, beware where they come from.

cheers,
Jess

accepted American dictionary authority when writing American in America. I’d prob’ly do the same if I were writing anywhere, though, simply because it’s American I speak … and write.

If you will look carefully at the dance you, Ronda, and I have going, you will note that among my comments is a reference to reliance on an Oxford English dict., as in a dictionary written for English/British folks. And esp. the reference to the statement at the end of that reference’s definition for vocal cords saying, in effect, the correct spelling is vocal cords … and not vocal chords.

I did not check the Internet, but the local city library here (where I hang out from time to time) does not have an Australian dictionary published for Australians. If I may go out on a limb and establish a presence among the squirrels, I daresay that if an Australian dict. exists, it would spell it the same—i.e., vocal cords—as the others do.

But then this whole pseudoargument is fallacious, delusive—a farce, a distraction—since the real battle lies under the covers. It’s nothing at all to do with spelling … or even rightness or wrongness.

I recognize that. Do you?

Yours,
Chuck

PS: Incidentally, rough shod [sic] is spelled correctly as one word, as roughshod, in both the British and American versions.

I really don’t understand why you bring up the question Jess. Somewhere on this website it states that the Official Languages of this website are American English and British English, so I see absolutely no reason why you should not use British spelling and usage if you so choose. I have noticed that the British and Australians using this website do tend to use the American spellings of words, but there is absolutely no reason to do so. If you wish to use British spellings and usage, then by all means you should do so.

As far as this website is concerned, if your not sticking up for your linguistic heritage, the only person to blame is you yourself, as far as I can see. No one here is preventing you from using British English.

Usually I use Merriam-Webster”s dictionary, but in cases of disputes over etymology, I would say the most authoritative reference would be the Oxford English Dictionary.

Sincerely,

Michael

I really don’t understand why you bring up the question Jess. Somewhere on this website it states that the Official Languages of this website are American English and British English, so I see absolutely no reason why you should not use British spelling and usage if you so choose. I have noticed that the British and Australians using this website do tend to use the American spellings of words, but there is absolutely no reason to do so. If you wish to use British spellings and usage, then by all means you should do so.

As far as this website is concerned, if you are not sticking up for your linguistic heritage, the only person to blame is you yourself, as far as I can see. No one here is preventing you from using British English.

Usually I use Merriam-Webster”s dictionary, but in cases of disputes over etymology, I would say the most authoritative reference would be the Oxford English Dictionary.

Sincerely,

Michael

The double post was not intended. I accidently clicked the submit button twice, and now I can’t figure out how to delete the second one.

Sincerely,

Michael

I am not blaming, am critiquing, opening a dialogue. As I said in response to Chuck, language is fluid and needs serious attention. Some differences are trivial, some significant.

Linguistic heritage is not an issue to me, good language is.

cheers,
Jess

years ago for Ebonics which would have totally destroyed the English language in America. English is a bit of a mixture with French, Spanish, German and who knows what else that has been added in over the centuries. Even here in the USA it is interesting from east coast to west coast and the southern states. In the south where I live, actually southwest now, a version of King George English is still spoken. Thus we have the Sirs, Ma’ams, and y’alls and terms like “I’m fixin’ to do that” etc., and the use of country words unique to the backwoods. I find the roots of certain words fascinating like “Testify” whose roots came from the old Roman Empire where the man would swear upon his testes he was telling the truth and if he was found out to be lying he lost them. Another fascinating word is the word Fuck, which originally was a legal term for “For Use of Carnal Knowledge” which usually involved cases of men using their carnal knowledge upon young or underage females. Interesting stuff English.BTW Me mum is proper English.
Rett:
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Winston Churchill

Even etymology is arguable though, fuck may have been a legal term but its saxon origins are way earlier.

Local dialects are a really interesting thing. Incorrect English or necessary diversity? I would never question Irish dialect, it is gorgeous, rich and has contributed heaps to literature, and bullshit. On the other hand I have wrathfully condemned gangsta style in poetry. History may prove me a squirrel on a broken branch.

cheers,
Jess

The most telling point in divergent dialects I have noticed is between the North East and where I grew up. A lot of people up north think that because we speak slower and slur a lot of words we are a bunch of uneducated hicks that still hang out in the woods and play the song from Deliverance, “Dueling Banjos”. They seem to think we’re all “Rednecks” in the common usage of the word these days. Most of us are or were “Rednecks” in the original meaning of the word which was “A member of the southern working class”. This was because of being out in the sun and the back of the necks getting burned from the sun. Now “Redneck” has come to mean a bible thumping, gun carrying, bigoted southerner of which you will find very few. Also, another difference I have noticed living here all my life, but also doing a lot of traveling up North is the bars. Up north they will sit and drink and get into arguments and curse each other and that is it. Down here if you get into an argument and you curse someone you best be ready to fight. This is especially so if you are not friends and you dis-respect someones wife or girlfriend or daughter as the case may be. Interesting to say the least. If you call someone an S.O.B. or an M.F. you better be friends and joking or be ready to fight. That is a throwback to the old days when manners were the thing southerners prided themselves on.
Rett:
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Winston Churchill

a cumulative writing would include these major languages (dialects, accents etc …) French, Cambodian, Peurto Rican, Indian (India) the Britians and a few other minor mixes MY GOD we need a standard! This community was born here in America ! Not to misunderstand I welcome all. Damn, do we really need to have a look at the official language? If, in fact that is what we are doing?
Mark

geeze if ya don’t understand it go investigate it - it’s what we’re here for eh?
Mark

they manipulate it in order to sneak by the people what they really want by use of symantics. The problem with this is it sets a bad example. These ideas filter down to smaller businesses that take up the practice. 5 bucks for a foot long sandwich but the picture shows a 12 inch ruler against a line. The line is really 3 feet long lmfao. Maybe not so good an example but I think it is there, hopefully.
I think we are talking about manipulation of the English laguage to export deceit and that is propaganda yes? I recall listenning to Chomfski from MIT. He spelled it out so clear in his lectures. However he failed to mention this all sets example and trickles down.
Mark

your concern, Jess, yet I can’t but feel you could have said what you had to say in a kinder way. A longstanding admirer of yours, I’m disappointed in the way you’ve chosen to expres yourself with regards to this issue. The “misunderstood European” feeling goes only so far when it comes to language; that’s what translators and translations are for. I’ve heard the term “arse” more than a few times in films both European and American. I count myself as an American, though I’m not very proud of what the people in power are doing right now.

Let’s not forget, though, about the “American Imperialism” that defeated Adolf Hitler or managed to get the concentration camps in *France* shut down.

Anyway, I’d encourage a more relaxed approach. No one is any better than another or necessarily more talented for being American or European.

Best!

dust up? “I can see clearly now” or at least a bit more I think (or thought).
Thanks

ROTFLMAO. I enjoy the debates Jess. *L* You do raise some damn good arguments I must admit..uh oh, I didn’t say that did I? Please tell me I didn’t say that…
Rett:
“On life; Ah such a wondrous thing, beauty and love to behold and experience! On death; I can wait to see…” Rett 2008.

when you see one -obviously from your years of looking in a mirror. Use what ever term you like who gives a damn!

As for our imperialism in America -through English? Oh please you pompous arse. American English like the English used by the former penal colony of Australia differs from British English. So what. Use the English you like and be prepared to answer questions from or ignore those who do not understand you.

You had problems in the sandbox as a small child didn’t you?

Bryan

I didn’t choose to be offensive. You asked a question in a very offensive manner. I don’t think my response was offensive, but if it was, I was only responding to the tone which you set by the way you put the question. You have this pattern in which you insult people, and then when they become offended, and you immediately back off and apologize. If you’re really sorry, why do you repeat this pattern, over and over again? You may have apologized, but at this point, you have apologized so many times that your apologies have become meaningless! You have apologized many many times on this website. Soon, I have no doubt you will start with the insults again. I don’t see why you brought me back into the discussion, but since you did, I felt I had to respond.

Michael

I thought this was a debate of the the English Language.
I would hate to see a true Brit come in and put you all in your place, because from what I’ve read so far not one of you asshole’s, as we say in “American” speaks or writes English. Back in the 17th century all this conversation mattered, but today poetry is about understanding. I don’t think that as far as I notice, I had a problem understanding what people have written on this site. sometimes we have to let go of the small things so we can enjoy the bigger picture. American is a unique langauge and it can not be copied. I know because I’ve travel to many parts of this world and nobody can capture it like us.
Jess enjoy the poetry and forget the rest!
Eddie

a man does not know love, he does not know God

Thes bin too much chuntering here tha knows. (Chuntering is a good old Yorkshire word). Seethee, nobody’s posted since here since 7th Sept but this “true brit” Yorkshireman cannot resist “putting all you ex colonists in your place”. Tee hee. Glad to see you’ve all calmed down. May all our language\languages grow. Poetry is indeed about interpretation. P.

Proper English to me is like fundamental. There is no way one can improvise (so to speak) before the knowledge of the fundamentals. For me the fundamentals are an ongoing challenge to simply know let alone use. At times I am guilty of a lower form ya know? lol But I continue to take the challenge and support any others who do.
Mark

Old bandits are really young rascals.

-took me to task once, declaring one should use not “proper” but “correct” English! Fair point I said, recalling Latin roots, grammar etc. (Not that I ever Took Latin but still…). I too strive to maintain at least a decent standard of correctness and “properness” most of the time, but sometimes I like to let my hair down (or at least I would if I Had any, tee hee). For me I get annoyed that South East England dominates this issue. The Americans do not bother me. To spell “night” as “nite”, for example, is quite neat. OK sometimes I misunderstand some American slang, but I get there eventually. Enough from me now.

America English etc
so close and yet so farr
add dialects and local sayings
and well
its a Hodge Podge

My great surprises here
are finding out I have consecutevly
(e.g.)
been spelling plain ol words wrong
for years and years
I am glad Americans are who they
are and Canadians are what we are
so much difference
and I am suprised that there are
not even more differences in
the way spelling and word usage
goes about its way

Read Atwood or Milton Acorn
compared to Sexton or Plath

In its second meaning the term describes the imperialistic attitude of superiority, subordination and dominion over foreign people— a chauvinism and comportment relegating foreign people to a lesser social and or political status. To clarify the distinction, the French colonies in North America treated the native races with great diplomacy,[citation needed] whereas the British colonies early on began treating native Americans chauvinistically, as savages and lesser creatures.[citation needed]

You have insulted us again. How would you like it If I called you from the land
down under where women glow and men plunder?

It’s wrong to snicker, but I can’t help laughing at the fact that you just quoted a Men At Work song as a rebuttal…… LMAO! You go!

~Jess K.
—————————————————-
- “Everyone needs believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer!”
- “Constipated people don’t give a shit…”

I am LMAO too, take that for calling me an imperialistic (gee I had to use that out of context . Being American and all. Men at work (or layed off) in America!

Patty

I beg of you, Please for God’s sake do not apologize to me. You see my real
dad was a drunk and he did that 1,000 times per year. Then my step-dad lets
put him down for 1,000 total…. Then my ex let put him down for every other day
They were the sorriest people I every knew………… Yea I have had a
total of 1 trillion. You might as well skip it….. Thanks.

Patty

mostly amused. This whole thing started when I thew a hissy fit over MS Word continually defaulting back to US dictionary in spellchecker.
I guess the real culprit is Bill Gates.
cheers,
Jess

want “proper” English, you would have to go back to the year of our Lord, 17 whatever and learn to speak ye olde English. Thanks goodness, although it had it’s charm, thank the heavens we are past that. *LOL*
Respectfully,
Rett:
“We can all be thankful that Picasso wasn’t a plastic surgeon.” Rett