Threads that go off topic - here and other forums.

[JDNSW]

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

[Fifth Columnist]

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!

[DiscoMick]

"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.

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

[jx2mad]

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

[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.

[cuppabillytea]

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.

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.

[V8Ian]

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.

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

[Homestar]

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.

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

[scarry]

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

By pushbike or walking?

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

[cuppabillytea]

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

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