Even if one allows for the generally low intellectual quality of American politics, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) has, over several decades, managed to distinguish himself as a foolish and callow individual, often hovering right on the brink of outright stupidity.
Look at Graham asking a question during Lt. Gen. John Allen’s nomination hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services committee.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALLEN: It is a more aggressive option than that which was presented. GRAHAM: My question is, was that a option? ALLEN: It was not. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yes, that’s right, folks! He said “a option“.
With people of the calibre of Senator Graham in office, is it any wonder the United States is in deep, deep trouble?
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand men* on TV and on Radio NZ, say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not easy, so why do they do it? I don’t want to teach the world to sing, I want to teach New Zealanders (those on TV and radio at least) to “speak proper”. (* I haven’t heard a woman say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Sociolinguistics tells us that women are usually more careful to be ‘correct’, or at least, that was so when I was studying in 2003..)
Horrifyingly, I have recently heard New Zealand women* teachers in schools across the land, sweat on people who say ‘a orange’, etc, that is, using ‘a’ when they should say ‘an’, because the noun they then went on to say, started with a vowel. It’s not important, so why do they worry about it? I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”. (* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
It’s not important, so why do they worry about it?
It is important. People make instantaneous assessments of others when they speak. So when some people say “arks” instead of “ask”, or “1800s” instead of “nineteenth century”, or “a option” instead of “an option”, we automatically see such bumbling errors as a sign that they are less than competent. Linguistic competence is a useful gauge of someone’s basic intelligence.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
One of my favourites is saying “brought” instead of “bought”. Bonus points if the speaker apparently doesn’t know the difference when you point it out.
My pet hate is people saying “alluded” instead of “mentioned”.
It’s not important, so why do they worry about it? I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”. (* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
What is your issue, man? (And I know for a certainty that you are a man, or you wouldn’t have got so bitter and twisted about my saying I’d heard men make this mistake, even though I went out of my way to say that I was not picking on men!) You’re being particularly nasty when after whining that I am pedantic, you contrast that with your wonderful deep concern with war etc – I was involved in pacifism when you were still in nappies! Of course misuse of articles is important! Speaking “proper” (you didn’t notice my quote marks, did you?) is important for clear communication and also for, for instance, future employability! Two kids are up for a job. Candidate A says “And then I done a office skills course” and wonders why Candidate B who is careful not to make careless and egregious errors, gets the job! Why you had to bring race into it, is beyond me, unless you believe that I somehow denigrate or disadvantage Maori by calling for correct language use! If you’d had a look at the link, you’d see that most of my students are from Asia!
ALLEN: It is a more aggressive option than that which was presented.
GRAHAM: My question is, was that a option?
ALLEN: It was not.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
http://www.infowars.com/15000-us-troops-to-remain-in-iraq-renamed-diplomats/
I don’t want to teach the world to sing, I want to teach New Zealanders (those on TV and radio at least) to “speak proper”.
(* I haven’t heard a woman say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Sociolinguistics tells us that women are usually more careful to be ‘correct’, or at least, that was so when I was studying in 2003..)
I don’t want to teach the world to speak or spell proper, I want to teach New Zealanders (all of them not just Maori and those mysterious mythological folks called Pakeha that no-one can identify but also all the other NZers as well) and the rest of the world to “stop killing each other”.
(* I haven’t heard a man say this – which doesn’t mean they don’t, just that I have yet to hear it. Common sense tells us that women are usually more pedantic and worried about small issues of little ‘importance’, or at least, that was so when I was etc etc..)
http://www.englishusagewoman.blogspot.com
Of course misuse of articles is important! Speaking “proper” (you didn’t notice my quote marks, did you?) is important for clear communication and also for, for instance, future employability! Two kids are up for a job. Candidate A says “And then I done a office skills course” and wonders why Candidate B who is careful not to make careless and egregious errors, gets the job!
Why you had to bring race into it, is beyond me, unless you believe that I somehow denigrate or disadvantage Maori by calling for correct language use! If you’d had a look at the link, you’d see that most of my students are from Asia!