Plural and Possessives

[star-warrior]

The dog chased its own tail.

(its is the posessive for of it)

It's a really nice day today.

(it's is a contraction of "it is")

Something else : the use of ' as the quotation mark instead of ". I prefer " in writing. For instance:

Jenny ran out of the store screaming, "Daddy, the car's on fire!", but she was drowned out by the exploding fuel tank.

 

[LoveIsNow]

Why has this come about, he ask's?

Actually in that case you're using it in a conjugation of a verb, not a plural.

 

[Joshua_me]

The pepper mocks me.

 

[G-Lexington]

>>>it seems to be decided upon by illiterates and the rest of us are being forced to endure it.

The illiterates outnumber the scholars. So yes, the scholars must adapt for their benefit. In fact, the only way to avoid having "textspeak" become standard is to somehow evolve the technology beyond the need to type letters at all.

Lex

 

[bankside]

Language ought to be decided by scholars instead of the masses. The illiterates outnumber the scholars, so there ought to be some means of social enforcement.

The French have it right with l'Academie française..

 

[ronboy]

It's time for me to weigh in with an American educator's take on this subject.

Whether or not they realize it, every teacher is an English Language Arts teacher. In order to communicate ideas in the content areas, (Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Art, Music, Business, Health, etc...), teachers have to be able to use the language correctly and effectively. They also need to teach how to use the language correctly.

At the elementary school level, the push, for the past ten years, has been to teach, in such a style, that students will be successful on the state assessment tests. So in the Literacy realm, there is a heavy emphasis on teaching how to answer reading comprehension questions, how to use documents and literature effectively to write essays. We are told to use literacy programs (like Rigby, process writing, and 6+1) that incorporate no solid English grammar instruction. The younger teachers, (especially those on probation) do what they are told, afraid to "rock the boat." The experienced teachers know this, and add their own grammar instruction to the programs, if they are ambitious enough to do that. The conventional wisdom among educators is that, the more they write, the more that students will want to learn the conventions of writing. I do not believe this.....

I am hopelessly "old school" when it comes to teaching grammar. When I was teaching Grade 6 English at the Middle School level, I was only one of two 6th grade English teachers who taught spelling each week. Because it wasn't specifically written in the curriculum map, all of my colleagues (except for one) decided not to teach spelling. I was the only 6th grade English teacher who regularly used the district approved grammar textbook, published by MacMillan/McGraw Hill. I still taught writing, and literature, but at least two days wach week, we did grammar instruction on the parts of speech, the elements of a good sentence, and correct usage of punctuation. Many of my students had never had such intensive instruction on conventions such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and using punctuation, so they thought that the mechanics of English were fun!

And when I moved back to elementary, I did not forget this. I still manage to get some "mechanics" instruction in each day. I believe that the knowledge that the kids gain from working with the parts of speeh and editing incorrect sentences each day makes them stronger writers. I can't ask my students to write in complete sentences if they have no clue of what constitutes a complete sentence.

Okay, I've had my say. I'm done now.....

 

[SonOfSlobone]

^Why isn't Minnie on that shirt, if girl's do indeed rock?

De Minnie Mouse non curat lex...

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Frankly I don't give a shit if kids learn to spell as long as they're learning to think. Which they're not doing either...

 

[bankside]

How do you socially enforce a living language?

Well, partly through etiquette. Opportunities for career advancement or public office. That sort of thing.

 

[Yooper]

It's time for me to weigh in with an American educator's take on this subject.

**snip**
At the elementary school level, the push, for the past ten years, has been to teach, in such a style, that students will be successful on the state assessment tests...The conventional wisdom among educators is that, the more they write, the more that students will want to learn the conventions of writing. I do not believe this.....

I believe that the knowledge that the kids gain from working with the parts of speeh and editing incorrect sentences each day makes them stronger writers. I can't ask my students to write in complete sentences if they have no clue of what constitutes a complete sentence.

Okay, I've had my say. I'm done now.....

Thank you. We need more educators that actually are interested in educating their students. I am so sick and tired of hearing about the damn tests I would like to scream.

There's a whole district here in Colorado that started school sometime around last August 5th just to 'have additional time to teach the test'. Honestly. That is the entire focus of the district. Not focusing on the nearly FIFTY PERCENT dropout rate, or the fact that over 80% of their Graduates that actually attend higher education require at least one remedial class when they arrive at College.

I have friends with children in that district. I've seen the 10th graders work...she gets only A's and B's and I was writing better sentences in 5th grade. The 8th grader is even worse although she is also getting A's and B's. It is so very sad. These kids think they are doing great but once they get out in the real world they will find how far behind they are.

 

[Kurn]

Since the apostrophe looks like a spermatozoa, maybe the phenomenon is a phenomenon of repressed antagonism bubbling up in people's heads. "Damn that spermatazoa-thingy! I won't look at it!!"
Maybe brutal, jealous husbands are saying to their wives who work as file clerks and secretaries,"I FORBID you to use that thingy that looks like another man's spermatazoa!!"

 

[subfer1]

I think the problem comes mostly from the fact that this people don't give a fuck about their writing style. So why should us? We can already tell they need to review some grammar and writing.

 

[blackbeltninja]

I always thought it was relating to people not reading enough.

I mean, theoretically, if you're exposed to something being used often enough, it should sort-of become something almost sub-conscious - like immersing yourself in another language to improve your learning of it. Since most books, newspapers, journals and magazines actually have correct grammar and syntax unless there is a point in not using it - direct speech, say - I'd always hoped that if people read more they'd figure it out for themselves.

I'm with Swellegant on this one - I switch off after a few clear errors and dismiss the person as ignorant and unobservant and not worth my time. Particularly if it's an advert or in a brochure, because if you won't spend money on putting your best foot forward and getting the thing proof-read properly, how do I know you'll put the effort in anywhere else?

On a related (spelling) note, I saw a truck full of plumbing supplies and plumbers which was called JK Pluming Services, or something similar. For fuck's sake, if you don't even know how to spell the title of your own fucking profession...

-d-

 

[rareboy]

Actually in that case you're using it in a conjugation of a verb, not a plural.

Which I've also started seeing in print...but I didn't have room in my title to describe this atrocity.

 

[gsdx]

"Languages change."

I've heard that argument many times in this forum.

But this isn't dropping the 'u' from 'colour' or switching the 're' in 'theatre' to 'er', not to mention the many, many decades it took for that to happen and to be accepted as common spelling.

This is the creation of entirely new languages, and I mean 'languages' as in the plural. There are several new versions of English being created at the same time, and none of them have any relation to another except for the root language. Texters have their own version. Gamers and techies have theirs. Even the Haz Cats have a version of their own.

And look how quickly they are being created. Within a few years, people writing the same language can barely understand each other. Imagine the world a few years down the road. English may still be an official language, but which version?

 

[bankside]

I'm not sure I understand. We already have a standard written English, which one must master if one hopes to advance in a career where a knowledge of the standard is a requirement. While I am sure there are exceptions, someone whose written English is so poor as to be an embarrassment will probably not be on a career path where it matters.

How are you suggesting that the code for standard English be imparted? Most college campuses have a writing center where sub par students are sent for remedial work.

As for the spoken language, it is as much a social class and education issue as anything. One learns the language from one's peers. There are, in a sense, multiple Englishes out there. But only an "educated" dialect, in whatever country it's spoken, holds the key to advancement.

Well, I generally agree with your points. The thing is, I like it that way. I'm afraid that there would be a tendency for "linguistic relativism" to be co-opted by some kind of larger social movement for "equality" that would give credence to these debased forms of the language.

My view of equality is that we should give all people the opportunity to learn the language properly.

But this isn't dropping the 'u' from 'colour' or switching the 're' in 'theatre' to 'er', not to mention the many, many decades it took for that to happen and to be accepted as common spelling.

Them's fightin' words! Accepted?!? Maybe in the Colonies. Pish.

 

[nick1976]

There is a virus sweeping the globe that must have hatched in the school system over the last decade'

More and more, I see people using apostrophes in the plural instead of possessive
nouns and pronouns.

Why has this come about, he ask's?

hello baby

 

[dpnice]

i want to be fucked by a strong dick

Really nick the least you could have done was to put a capital letter and a full stop in your first sentence on JUB.

Especially as it occurred in this thread.

 

[dpnice]

Why, then, did you capitalize non-proper nouns?

What? Aren't they all titles of courses run in schools and therefore proper nouns requiring a capital letter.

 

[bankside]

Keeland, you are taking the modern British view. The traditionalist view would hold that it is obligatory to use capital letters for a title. You are entitled to take the British side (even though it's wrong- lol) but in that case you should spell it "capitalise."