Wakefield have fallen to the forces of the retarded
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The Register said:
Wakefield does a Brum with possessive apostrophes
Second council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the t
t-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®
SourceSecond council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the t
t-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®For gods sake, what next are we going to have text friendly street names with pretty coloured shapes so that spastics can just scribble a drawing instead of writing the address down?
Yours,
Angry of Cairns
Edited by Silent1 on Sunday 15th February 08:21
They have to do it, because the general public don't understand or even recognise the apostrophe. We have had to stop penalising the poor use of apostrophes in job applications (under instruction) because very few knew the rules for use. That included the people sifting the job applications (not my team I hasten to add, who still highlight the error even if we can't penalise it).
I got an O level in English (grade C) and generally my spelling grammar and punctuation is OK (checks spelling). Recently I had a job application where the spelling was awful, the grammar wasn't articulate, the handwriting was poor and the general presentation untidy. He failed. I skipped through to the qualfifications bit expecting to see at least a D or even an E at GCSE English. In fact this person had an A in English language and an A* in English literature. There is no way I could let this man write business letters to customers (most of what they do is stil handwritten because they are out on the road most of the time). One of the people who works for me is an English examiner and has been since the 1980's. He considers the current A grade to be in the order of a D in old money.
I think it was Alice in Wonderland where it was pronounced 'All must have prizes'? Looks like nobody is brave enough to say otherwise and the world is being adjusted to match.
I got an O level in English (grade C) and generally my spelling grammar and punctuation is OK (checks spelling). Recently I had a job application where the spelling was awful, the grammar wasn't articulate, the handwriting was poor and the general presentation untidy. He failed. I skipped through to the qualfifications bit expecting to see at least a D or even an E at GCSE English. In fact this person had an A in English language and an A* in English literature. There is no way I could let this man write business letters to customers (most of what they do is stil handwritten because they are out on the road most of the time). One of the people who works for me is an English examiner and has been since the 1980's. He considers the current A grade to be in the order of a D in old money.
I think it was Alice in Wonderland where it was pronounced 'All must have prizes'? Looks like nobody is brave enough to say otherwise and the world is being adjusted to match.
Silent1 said:
The Register said:
Wakefield does a Brum with possessive apostrophes
Second council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the tt-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®
SourceSecond council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the t
t-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®For gods sake, what next are we going to have text friendly street names with pretty coloured shapes so that spastics can just scribble a drawing instead of writing the address down?
Yours,
Angry of Cairns
Edited by Silent1 on Sunday 15th February 08:21
The problem is that we are diluting the true English p0pulation. In another ten years we will be the minority in our own country if any of us are still here.
There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
singlecoil said:
Silent1 said:
The Register said:
Wakefield does a Brum with possessive apostrophes
Second council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the tt-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®
SourceSecond council drops 'confusing' punctuation
By Lester Haines • Get more from this author
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2009 11:03 GMT
Wakefield Council has done a Brum and dropped possessive apostrophes from street names, prompting a further wave of linguistic indignation from the good burghers of Middle England.
According to the Telegraph, the move is intended to "avoid confusion". The council's director for planning and property, Ian Thompson, defended: "Apostrophes are not generally used in street names as they can lead to problems and confusion when data is transferred electronically for other uses. To avoid confusion our practice has been not to use apostrophes."
Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign kicked off the protests, demanding: "I'd like to know if they are planning to remove apostrophes from all council documents as well. All the feedback we have had suggests that people want to hold on to the apostrophe. I think the council should listen to its rate payers."
Next in line was John Richards of the Apostrophe Protection Society, who said: "The council should aim its efforts to ensuring that apostrophes are used correctly, not deciding to erase them altogether. It is choosing the easy way out, dumbing down and showing contempt for the large number of area's residents who take a pride in the English language."
Finally, Allan Blaza of the splendidly-titled Pontefract Civic Society insisted: "I think it's a cop out. I'm sufficiently rigorous when it comes to the English language, which is a magnificent language, to feel sure that all the grammatical necessities - not niceties - should be observed."
It's been a bad couple of weeks for our beloved mother tongue, what with apostrophes dropping like flies and the revelation that people simply can't spell "embarrassment" and struggle with "accommodation". The solution is, of course, to "free up" the language, as suggested last year by John Wells of University College London.
Wells tempted the wrath of the t
t-O-Tron by declaring: "Text messaging, email and internet chat rooms are showing us the way forward for English. Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically. It's time to remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal (principle?) mark of being educated." ®For gods sake, what next are we going to have text friendly street names with pretty coloured shapes so that spastics can just scribble a drawing instead of writing the address down?
Yours,
Angry of Cairns
Edited by Silent1 on Sunday 15th February 08:21
SS HSV said:
The problem is that we are diluting the true English p0pulation. In another ten years we will be the minority in our own country if any of us are still here.
There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
Which English population is that? The Normans? The Anglo-Saxons? The Vikings? The Romans? The Celts? The Picts?There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
SS HSV said:
The problem is that we are diluting the true English p0pulation. In another ten years we will be the minority in our own country if any of us are still here.
There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
I thought that councils produce their literature in a variety of languages to cater for this. Perhaps the street names should be translated as well?There are so many other languages that English is not a priority anymore. You're better off starting to learn Urdu, Polish, or Chinese :tolleyes:
It’s not just apostrophes though; it’s grammar in general, from seemingly all walks of life. Just last Friday, my Italian boss asked me to ‘decipher’ an email he received from one of his UK customers, who owns a rather large business. He could not work out what “some ware” meant, in the context of finding out a retail price on a product. What the two words should have been was “somewhere”! This was just one of many errors.
I wonder if the complete lapse in spelling and grammar is due in no small part to reading going out of fashion, and letting the PC try and sort out the mess of words they now try to write.
ETA – it is not surprising local authorities feel the need to ‘dumb down’ English, when those letters and emails were made public from one of Ken Livingstone’s cronies, who was paid a huge salary, I was astonished at how bad they were structured, both in spelling and grammar – I strongly suspect there are a lot of people in the public sector with very highly paid jobs who have the same ‘command’ of basic English spelling and grammar – dumbing it down for all will go a long way to hiding their own deficiencies.
I wonder if the complete lapse in spelling and grammar is due in no small part to reading going out of fashion, and letting the PC try and sort out the mess of words they now try to write.
ETA – it is not surprising local authorities feel the need to ‘dumb down’ English, when those letters and emails were made public from one of Ken Livingstone’s cronies, who was paid a huge salary, I was astonished at how bad they were structured, both in spelling and grammar – I strongly suspect there are a lot of people in the public sector with very highly paid jobs who have the same ‘command’ of basic English spelling and grammar – dumbing it down for all will go a long way to hiding their own deficiencies.
Edited by chris watton on Sunday 15th February 10:45
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