Threads that go off topic - here and other forums.

And if all else fails, the written version is much more standardised. Reminds me of my first visit to the UK in 1973. We stayed at a farmstay in Devon - we had not a hope of understanding their dialect of English, nor they ours; but a notebook and pencil rapidly overcame the issue!

John

English in England is rapidly deteriorating into American English.
Words like 'dove' instead of 'dived' and 'snuck' instead of 'sneaked'.
As for common grammar, Grrrrrrrrr!

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

"it makes no sense." I here this complaint all the time, yet it is becoming a universal language, not just because it is the language of the internet, but primarily by virtue of it's ability to be understood when spoken poorly. This is a virtue that few if any other languages have.

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I tell students English is crazy, but very useful and adaptable.

Eight years ago I was on a Mediterranean cruise. My wife and I sat with a young English couple who were perfectly understandable with little trace of any accent. I said that I had discovered why the British nation was in decline. No-one spoke English, just 47 different dialects. They laughed and said that if they drove 10 miles to the next village they couldn't understand them :):)

Quite understandable considering that prior to WW II, a vast majority of the population never ventured further than five miles from where they were born.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

Quite understandable considering that prior to WW II, a vast majority of the population never ventured further than five miles from where they were born.

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Well they've come a long way. I think it's out to 10 Miles now. Not that I can talk. I've traveled far and wide but I'm still residing 1.95 Miles from where I was born.

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

Well they've come a long way. I think it's out to 10 Miles now. Not that I can talk. I've traveled far and wide but I'm still residing 1.95 Miles from where I was born.

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Does that make you feel rejected, continuously being sent back?;)

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

Well they've come a long way. I think it's out to 10 Miles now. Not that I can talk. I've traveled far and wide but I'm still residing 1.95 Miles from where I was born.

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Good effort, wonder if anyone else gets closer than that? I'm out, I'm now 16,876KM from where I was born. :D

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Good effort, wonder if anyone else gets closer than that? I'm out, I'm now 16,876KM from where I was born. :D

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By pushbike or walking?:D

I am 23hrs away by plane,dunno how manyK's;)

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

Does that make you feel rejected, continuously being sent back?;)

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I only feel rejected when I'm sent back from Queensland. Anywhere else doesn't bother me.:cool: