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From: pete@eurocontrol.fr (Peter Hullah)
Subject: Re: Differences between American + British english
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Message-ID: <1995Apr19.155308.24071@fozzie.eurocontrol.fr>
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 15:53:08 GMT
Reply-To: Peter.Hullah@eurocontrol.fr
References: <795681149snz@duntone.demon.co.uk> <797633329snz@psyche.demon.co.uk> <1995Apr13.181319.24740@inca.comlab.ox.ac.uk> <3mn3nk$2im@fido.asd.sgi.com> <1995Apr18.002621.24713@inca.comlab.ox.ac.uk>
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In article <1995Apr18.002621.24713@inca.comlab.ox.ac.uk>, ehrlich@sable.ox.ac.uk (Charles Ehrlich) writes:
> 
> Anyway, none of this has anything to do with the original point of this
> thread, which was differences between British and American English.  
> Someone who signed his post "Geronimo" (I'm sorry I don't have a name for
> him, as his original posting has yet to show up on my newsreader) insisted
> that Americans learn their grammar from illiterates in the streets while
> British actually make a point of studying proper grammar.  I disagreed
> completely - I think "Geronimo" has it backwards. 

I agree - one only has to note the use of the subjunctive by the average
"illiterates in the [American] streets" compared with the total ignorance
of it displayed by a large proportion of "educated" Brits. I can't remember
the last time I came across a Brit who gave a fig about "proper grammar"
(outside of this newsgroup!). The general British comment is along the
lines of "Language exists for communicating. As long as you understand me
what does it matter."

Pete

============================================================================

Peter H.C. Hullah                   B2.4 Nav. and Surv. Systems Group
e-mail: Peter.Hullah@eurocontrol.fr EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre
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