Grammar

[Love,]

How important is good grammar to you?

 

I know there are people from various countries whose presence grace this forum.

Most of what you do on this forum consists of reading versus viewing photographs, watching videos or listening to audio recordings.

 

If someone is from an English-speaking territory of the world and he or she consistently and intentionally produces run-on sentences, uses outlandish acronyms, spells words phonetically, avoids spell check - does this bother you? Do you wish you could just be direct and tell them that they need to get an English grammar tutor?

[KimboCosmo]

I hope you are not referring to me! Personally, if ANYONE ever had ANY problem with the way I talk, then by all means, tell me. That doesn't mean I'd care, though. Also, if someone is from the U.S., you know, there ARE different accents and ways of talking even in the same country. I don't think you really specified what country, though. I think some people CAN focus to much on needless things. I think as long as you can get what they are trying to say, then it's ok. I know when I start learning French, I'd hope they didn't think of me like that. Especially if the person is an honest, good person. That is what we call "knit-picking" here. Why would you want to do that? Just curious...do not be offended, please, as that is not my intention. Edited August 5, 2007 at 02:25 AM by KimboCosmo

[Love,]

With assurance, it's definitely NOT you, Kim. Edited August 5, 2007 at 06:42 AM by Love,

[Bellamy]

I hate grammar.

End!!!

[Krys]

it doesnt really bother me as long as they can get the message through. even i dont use proper grammar at times

[neilg]

Well, having a BA and an MA in communications means that grammar is very important to me. I subconsciously correct people when they use the incorrect word or phrase, or if their spelling is not correct. It's an awful trait, which irritates the hell out of people, but I just can't help it!

 

It doesn't bother me so much if foreign people get English wrong - I think it's quite endearing, and reflects how complex English is. Even as fluent speaker of English, there are occasions where even I have to stop and think, 'is this the correct word?!'. I am understanding when foreign people speak to me, because I expect them to be understanding if I try to speak to them in their language!

[freakyali]

Well, I'm not English, but I have to admit that grammar is really really important to me.

I mean ... I try to do my best when I talk or write in a foreign language ... and I know that I probably do a lot of mistakes, but when I talk in my own language I want to do it with a perfect grammar, with the right words and phrases.

 

I can't stand people who keep on getting wrong just because they don't think of what they are saying or writing ...!!!

But, you know, I can't do pretty anything to help them ... if they don't wanna change and improving their mother-language studing ... I can't do this for them!!!

[Alice]

If someone is from an English-speaking territory of the world and he or she consistently and intentionally produces run-on sentences, uses outlandish acronyms, spells words phonetically, avoids spell check - does this bother you? Do you wish you could just be direct and tell them that they need to get an English grammar tutor?

 

I have an impression that you are not interested in how good grammar is important for the users of this forum. I think you actually wanted to point out that people make mistakes and that you feel like correcting them and telling them they need to get an English grammar tutor. I wish I were wrong.

[LaFeeRailleuse]

Grammar is important to me. Well, I mean I try my best not to make any mistake. No matter if it's my language or any other language.

 

But I think it's different when you read a post from someone who's not writing in his own language. You have to make an effort because obviously there could be a few mistakes.

Anyway, that's what I do when non French-speaking members come to the French part to post.

 

On the other hand, if you tell English-speaking people that "they need to get an English grammar tutor", I guess they'll be offended !

 

 

[Mozinha]

I have bad grammar issues since I haven't had an english class for 8 years. Of course I end up forgetting many rules and other stuff. Most of my english I get it from reading and from television and also from comunication with other people who speak english. So my english is very very far from perfect but I think it's good enough to make myself clear and to send a message on the boards.

 

I know my english might bother many grammar freaks but I won't even apologize. I try my best and my english is decent. This might sound a little defensive but the truth is I already closed my account on 2 boards on different subjects only because they had grammar freaks criticizing my every sentence. Some members even put me on ignore just because my mistakes bothered them.

[Bellamy]

I know my english might bother many grammar freaks but I won't even apologize. I try my best and my english is decent. This might sound a little defensive but the truth is I already closed my account on 2 boards on different subjects only because they had grammar freaks criticizing my every sentence. Some members even put me on ignore just because my mistakes bothered them.

I hate grammar freaks.

[LaFeeRailleuse]

I know my english might bother many grammar freaks but I won't even apologize. I try my best and my english is decent. This might sound a little defensive but the truth is I already closed my account on 2 boards on different subjects only because they had grammar freaks criticizing my every sentence. Some members even put me on ignore just because my mistakes bothered them.

 

 

Wow. It sucks...

I don't get why some people would react this way. I think it's great that internet allows us to meet people from many different countries. We should take advantage of it and not ignore those people...

[Love,]

If someone is from an English-speaking territory of the world and he or she consistently and intentionally produces run-on sentences, uses outlandish acronyms, spells words phonetically, avoids spell check - does this bother you? Do you wish you could just be direct and tell them that they need to get an English grammar tutor?

 

I have an impression that you are not interested in how good grammar is important for the users of this forum. I think you actually wanted to point out that people make mistakes and that you feel like correcting them and telling them they need to get an English grammar tutor. I wish I were wrong.

 

Alice, you and I are aware that life does not exist only on this forum.

 

Also, I would like to say that I like to initiate conversations that get people to think - that is what makes a forum active.

 

I hope this answers your question.

 

Anyway, carry on, folks!

Edited August 5, 2007 at 07:16 PM by Love,

[Céline's Blues]

I don't like grammar at all. I NEVER EVER learn grammar when learning languages. I don't even know the tenses in English. Grammar sucks and confuses! To hell with grammar! Burn the grammar!!!!!!!

[celinerific]

I don't mind people who are from different countries that have some trouble with their grammar. It's natural. As long as I can understand what they're saying, I'm good to go!

[Bellamy]

I don't like grammar at all. I NEVER EVER learn grammar when learning languages. I don't even know the tenses in English. Grammar sucks and confuses! To hell with grammar! Burn the grammar!!!!!!!

[KimboCosmo]

With assurance, it's definitely NOT you, Kim.

Ahh ok, gotcha! I wouldn't think so.

[kathyc25]

I can tolerate some grammatical errors...but its when people use words like 'ain`t' and 'brang'...that drives me nuts! Or when people TyPe lik dis u no?

[Krys]

TyPe lik dis u no?

 

i cant tolerate that either. sometimes they change the whole spelling of the words you can even understand a bloody thing!

Edited August 8, 2007 at 06:05 AM by lamourpourCeline

[gizapup]

It bothers me when native speakers of English make mistakes. Everyone should at least master their own language. It doesn't bother me that much when a non-native speaker of any language makes mistakes as long as his/her message can be understood.

[kathyc25]

It bothers me when native speakers of English make mistakes. Everyone should at least master their own language. It doesn't bother me that much when a non-native speaker of any language makes mistakes as long as his/her message can be understood.

 

agreed

[freakyali]

Also, I would like to say that I like to initiate conversations that get people to think - that is what makes a forum active.

 

 

And this is a great thing!!!

I mean, a forum is a "place" were you can discuss on everything you want, but if there are some intelligent topics, that make people think, it's not a bad thing at all ... I think it's a really good thing!!!

 

so if you wanna open any topic like the ones you talked about .. count on me!

I'll do my best to make my messages understable

[Célinefull]

As a student of applied linguistics I can safely say that no person has perfect grammar.

 

That said, it is certainly important to have good grammar particularly in written texts because there are no paralinguistics to aid in comprehension. I don't think however that it's productive on a forum for people to be critisised constantly for their bad grammar - particularly if they are not English language speakers - I feel sorry for those that have had negative experiences though

[tativale]

...but its when people use words like 'ain`t' and 'brang'...that drives me nuts! Or when people TyPe lik dis u no?

Those things drive me crazy too! hehehe

I don't care about grammar although I love to write. I don't care about those 'beautiful, fancy' words.... that show how good our vocabulary is.... I'm more into simple things, simple words because then everybody can understand the message.

 

Of course my English is not that good.. and I make lots of mistakes -- some are even funny & I laugh at them later when I realized that I typed something completely wrong. Firefox is good because it helps me to spell the words correctly, at least LOL hehehe after so many years not studying English... I forgot how to spell some words.. sometimes I forget how to spell, sometimes I know how to spell but I forget how to pronounce the word. Sometimes in a conversation I pronounce a word not correctly... lol and it's funny lol I don't think when I speak in English... and because I don't speak English that much anymore... it's normal.

 

One thing that also irritates me is when a person can't tolerate when a foreign person makes mistakes while speaking that person mother language and that person doesn't even know any language properly... and he/she thinks that she has the right to judge others who studied a language and is trying to be nice talking to them in their mother language.

 

No-one knows everything, nobody can speak a language 100% perfect, with no mistake. Grammar is a just a detail, the most important thing is what we say, the words that come out from our mouths! hehe I think we should worry more about what we say instead of being worried about 'how' we say things (technically).

Edited August 11, 2007 at 03:10 AM by tativale