Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

The American accent IS "British" pronunciation, only not RP, but instead an amalgam of Southwest Dorsetshire with their flat a's and voiced frontal r's, combined probably with Scots-Irish along with certain influences from the Scandinavian immigrants from Sweden who populated much of the current Midwest:-)

@Rubaszny-Rumcajs,

Firstly, I think you meant prOscriptive, secondly, the degree of "penetration" into the world markets is only due to the presence internationally
of mostly US-companies, in addition to the attraction of rock music, namely Elvis and the Beatles and the rest is history, no mystery!

Regarding the admitted importance of English as passport to the globe, I ask for the zillionth time, would you keep your passport in as orderly, clean and presentable condition as possible, or rather all dog-eared and dirty?

Only you can answer that...yet somehow, I already know unfortunately what the answer will be.

Language / Harmless old-fashioned Polish swear words/phrases [159]

Older Poles with possibly limited schooling were probably conflating two separate idioms which sounded to me as though they belonged together.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Heck, when I was a boy, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I can still remember corrective re-casts of people's speech, right on the air live:-) This was for rank-and-file Americans, Rich, not NYC college types!!

Off-Topic / DALMATIA - How much Poles love Dalmatia ? [123]

Spoke to soon, he's at it again:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

First time for everything, Rich!

Thing is, what was once everyday vocab when yours truly was coming up, has become high-level and less frequent nowadays:-)

Off-Topic / DALMATIA - How much Poles love Dalmatia ? [123]

Good point, Crow. Is it only my imagination here, or is Crow actually starting to make bother grammatical and logical sense?
:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

I wasn't accusing anyone in particular of being a buffoon, really, truly!
In my idealistic zeal and determination, I can come across somewhat truculent on occasion, this is surely true.

Not on purpose though, I can assure you.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

I never said that, Rich, and you know it.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

But if the precise nature of an idea, any idea, is in fact MIScommunicated because nobody's listening to the answer since their brains are sleeping at the switch, so to speak, we're not really communicating, we're approximating, aren't we.

Could be too that one of many reasons for the rampant rate of divorce throughout the world, particularly since the advent of digitalization, is that couples are too busy fighting over what something is "like" (that maddening filler word of the empty-headed) rather than what it "is"!

Not too long ago, a youngish woman at a party my wife and I attended, who it turns out was from Turkey, was chatting with us at our table amid a sumptuous buffet supper, and happened to ask me what I do for a living. I replied that I'm a college professor, at which point she chimed in, "Oh, you're like a teacher?" I answered her in what I thought was a witty rejoinder, "As a matter of fact, I really am a teacher, no foolin'!" Her English sounded as though she just arrived from California, and so not hearing any interference, I figured she understood American-style sarcastic humor.

Well, I was wrong. She got the tip of the iceberg as though she were an American, yet missed the subtlety of the joke by a country mile.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

No thanks necessary, as it wasn't entirely meant as a compliment!

I grew up during the Sputnik Era, mid-to-late '60's, when foreign language learning in this country was at a level higher than it's ever been. The differences between the way I was raised and now are so frightening, it's almost as though I were a stranger, both in my own country, more to the point, in my own language.

You can accept things as "normal" since you doubtless never knew just how great, how mind-blowingly wonderful, the good times were. I only attribute this to latent naivete. As the offspring of slightly older parents, not two teens or twenty-some-things who shacked up on some commune and started making babies, I was born with a whiff of the FRD-Era in my nostils, as part of my pores practically, and the aroma of prosperity and discover has not diminished.

Therefore, when I see the wanton indifference with which human language is being trampled upon twenty-four-seven, guess I go a bit bonkers every now and then.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

As long as this sort of attitude keeps up, might as well simply all pack it in and emit a series of grunts, wheezes or barfing sounds to "get the message across".

Doesn't say much about the message then, does it!

Can't say as I blame your feelings any, to be honest. You're doubtless too young to have experienced English, even American English, in her heyday:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

As Americans typically vulgarize their mother tongue everyday, even if it's their adopted "mother" tongue, I've have been wondering for some time now whether or not the molestation of a language is as bad as that of a person; in both instances violation has occurred!

No end intriguing how Europeans who are most up in arms over foreigners destroying their beloved mother language, often pay little regard to how they mutilate English:-) Let's hope the latter doesn't end up sooner rather than later on a list of endangered languages LOL

Language / Harmless old-fashioned Polish swear words/phrases [159]

In all likelihood, pawian.

Language / Harmless old-fashioned Polish swear words/phrases [159]

The difference then between "psiakrew" vs. "psiakrew bydlo"?
Always been curious about that, but even native speakers seemed hard pressed:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Answer to your question by way of a quote from the movie "The Fountainhead" :

Toohey: Mr. Rorke, I want you to tell me in no uncertain terms exactly what you think of me!

Rorke: But that's just it, Mr. Toohey, I don't think of you.

Life / The nature of Polish jokes? [128]

Don't know if the following applies as "Polish" humor, but I read it in Rzeczpospolita recently and found it amusing, so much so in fact, that I was heard chortling a few chuckles on the bus the other day alongside total strangers!

Boss: Ms. Teresa! As you know, we are a business, and as such begin the business day ON TIME! Are you aware, Ms. Teresa, that we begin work at 9:00 sharp?

Teresa: No, I wasn't. By the time I arrive at the office, there are already people working.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Apropos having the last word, I was in Denmark as a young grad student and remember clearly walking into a local pub somewhere in Copenhagen, "Den lille kro", if memory serves me right. At the tap dispensing area I saw a sign which caused me some amusement as an English native speaker, PLEASE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN AT THE BAR! I went over to the bar keep and, in normal English, (and not a mock Danish accent!), commented that maybe a hospital would be a more sensible place for same.

The gentleman, a Danish man of about fifty, was clearly annoyed and was unable to see the humor in the situation.
What became of the land of Victor Borge?
:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Oh, yes they do Milo! Grammar might well be an abstract construct, but rules there are aplenty.

Don't project your own indolence onto language, simply because perhaps you are too lazy to apply yourself:-)
Please realize that I LOVE the English language which is why I hate to hear or see it mutilated. at the same time rewarded, by no-nothings who never even graduated kindergarten.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Success is all relative, pal! Depends on your definition.

Sort of like "getting ahead". Sell your conscience, barter your soul, then it's always easy once
one forgets about the rules. If so, then why bother living, if life itself means nothing?

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

As neither of us would forgive somebody murdering our loved one, why forgive a growing societal trend which murders our mother tongue on a daily basis, and with dramatic regularity?? In my book, that's too forgiving, sir!

There's no reason, except for universal laziness. As you might also recall, laziness is considered to be a sin in the Bible:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Milo, do you want a workman to hang your paintings crooked, yet still hanging rather than straight, under the excuse of,
"But sir, we did put the paintings on your wall, didn't we?"

Come on, do the job right or don't bother doing it at all!! At least make an attempt to TRY to do it correctly.

The stench of chronic and careless incompetence can drive any thinking person to distraction.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

However again, is either extreme really that much more acceptable?

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

I'd be the first to admit that a veritable host of eager, friendly Europeans DEFINITELY enjoy
speaking English with foreigners!!

The issue is, does their enthusiasm keep pace with or does it outpace their actual competence
in the language?

Wanting to do or be doesn't always necessarily mean that someone is any good at it.
Only, let's give 'em brownie points for trying.

Condescension cuts both ways:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Apparently, Ironside, you're still asleep!

The bulk of Europeans, particularly younger Europeans, use English in a sloppy manner.
This is bad both for business, in the end, for life.

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Joker, haven't you heard? Complaining is practically a national pastime in some places; it's not an activity, but a way of life!
LOL

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

I posted that for those who do bother to learn the local language, on more than a few occasions, are met by locals who prefer for whatever

reason to steam roller through in English rather than permitting the foreigner the opportunity of addressing the native in the LATTER'S language,
in nearly every case, a more effective tack towards achieving the same goal:-)

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

@Rich, people CAN die easily from miscommunicated English, say, in some Third World doctor's office in which the staff confuse basic pronouns
such as "your test results" vs. "their test results" etc.. Are you kiddin' me, or what? Even in Northern Europe, I'd have my own person along to back up anything the physician said, were I not fluent in the language of the country:-)

@Ziemowit,

You already know that English has been referred to as Globish for many years now, Anglo-Creole, is also on the list.
The main complaint I have in terms of this entire conversation regarding the thread title itself, is that far too many Europeans especially confuse "communicating" in English, with "practicing" the language, much as any multi-lingual English native speaker abroad is practicing their foreign language skills.

Truth is, "bad" English has a sort of cool cache, I've always maintained, which "bad" German or "fractured" French simply don't.

It's rather like the Donald Trump, Curtis Sliwa effect of the Marlon Brandoesque wrong side of the tracks disregard for the aesthetics of established grammatical convention which tons of foreigners, particularly women, find absolutely the sexiest thing there is!

Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]

Good for you, Ziemowit!

Anglicization is a cancer, furrowing her way into the marrow of national identity, creating an odd mishmash, neither Polish nor English.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Maybe.

Genealogy / Birth in Lviv in 1926: Polish or Ukrainian nationality? [29]

Thanks for the explanation.