As you know, I except American English for what it is, a deliberate attempt to be different from America's former colonial masters. However, TV, particularly US television, really does seem to be on a non-stop mission to bastardise the English language.
I've already written about those God-awful phrases, "You gotta love that...", and "zesty", so I'll not got into that all over again.
I wish the continuity announcers would stop telling us that tonight's TV line-up includes, "an all-new episode of [program name]".
Hello? English language logic anyone?
An individual episode is either new, or old. Unless they start producing the occasional partially-new episode of Frasier, consisting of half an old episode and half a new one, don't waste my time and yours claiming it's "all-new". It's a bit like lying. You're either lying, or you're not. You can't be "more lying".
I think this is just lazy grammar. If they were talking about a number of episodes, they could be referred to as all-new, provided each and every one of them was new.
I also wish advertisers would stop telling me that, "that's a $60 value, for only $19.95".
If they're selling something for $19.95, then that is it's value. Don't insult my intelligence by trying to claim that you're saving me money. If it was really worth $60, then you'd be selling it for that, you lying weasels.
Any comedy described as 'zany' will almost certainly suck.
When Fox TV announcers use the phrase, "With a surprise ending, you just won't believe!", they are lying.
They're lying, because judging by Fox's usual standards of creativity, their so-called surprise will be about as predictable as the fat lass getting booted off of American Idol (which I'm happy to report I have never watched).
They're also lying, because we the viewers, know that we're watching Fox, and know that Fox will sink to any level of common denominator necessary, to appease its advertiser's lust for ratings.
So, no surprise then, that at the end of "Who Wants To Marry A Child Molester" or whatever they come up with next, it turns out that the man behind the mask is actually the caretaker of the fairground we met at the beginning
OK, I could go on, but I'm in danger of this turning into a rant about Reality TV (which I refuse to do because every man and his dog has already written about it).
Besides, it's very late, and I need to get some sleep. In fact, tonight I'm going to get some all-new sleep.
Posted by Max at March 10, 2003 03:20 AMnon-stop mission to bastardise the English language
You mean like people who use "except" when they mean "accept?" :)
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Posted by: andy on March 10, 2003 10:50 AMJust have to add, as an amateur student of the subject, that I use more once-British/middle English phrases as a Virginian than the average Brit. Several hundred years ago, and even further back, it was acceptable to say "gotten", as a regular verb (i.e. "I have gotten my books"). (note my British placement of the period outside of the quotes and parentheses - taught that in American public school.) "Gotten" would never be said by most British now - my Leistershire friend Paul did a double-take of sorts when he first heard me utter it, resulting in discussion - but it is still in colloquial usage in Virginia, to where our Great, Great, Great GREAT grandparents came over. Middle English yet survives in the hills of Appalacia.
Heh heh, one could say that so much inference is necessary to comprehend American English, that you have be to a bit Smarter than the average bear to get it... ;) j/k!
Posted by: Pup on March 10, 2003 01:10 PMIt's so true, nobody would ever let one of us 'fat lasses' win anything! That's why you never see a one in reality tv shows...or maybe its becuse we're smart enough to not even deal with them...
Posted by: Connie Vandelay on March 10, 2003 02:39 PMPup, you're right! I've heard this said before. That after the Puritans were thrown out of Britain, (for persecuting both the British and the Irish - NOT for BEING persecuted as American history books will tell you (and guess who wrote those? Yep, the Puritans!)) the English language in Britian continued to evlove to it's present-day standard, whilst in the US, English was developed into American English.
At the same time, in some of the more far-flung parts of the the eastern US (someone telling me this mentioned some islands, but didn't name them), the language stayed very much the same as it was in Elizabethan times, right up until the invention of the radio! Or was it the telephone? I forget which.
Oh, and I routinely use the word 'gotten' - because I like the sound :)
I also like using the American "oftentimes" - it's also cute!
Posted by: Max on March 10, 2003 04:34 PM