There's an insinuation in that sketch that Received speech is the only "proper" English. It's not; it's just one of several dialects. I was just noting that I didn't accept much of what was noted because the semantics behind the phrases have shifted over 400 years and an ocean apart. Might as well ask why the hell do people still say "God save the Queen." Save her from what? A whole host of people who don't think of that as being a verb in the subjunctive mood?
How does it insinuate that received speech is the only proper? That is how David Mitchell talks. Surely his dialect does not invalidate his point?
You really do not need to tell me about dialects. I'm Norwegian.
But then again, whenever someone is "knocked up," do you go for the pregnancy test or ask if they are tired?
I really don't know what you are on about.
Edit: I just realised you are probably talking about the herbs/'erbs bit. I believe that was a comic dig, the main purpose of which being to taunt Americans with a comparison to the French.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
This message last edited by Camilla on 21/05/2010 at 12:09:05 AM
From David Mitchell: Dear America
- 20/05/2010 03:16:38 PM
853 Views
As a non-native Eng-spleaking person...
- 20/05/2010 03:32:14 PM
536 Views
"Could care less is" a personal peeve of mine, too.
- 20/05/2010 03:43:08 PM
526 Views
Mine also
- 20/05/2010 04:08:23 PM
660 Views
Oh, and for the record: the use of "table" as a verb in politics still confuses me for about 5 sec.
- 20/05/2010 04:38:35 PM
566 Views
What a grating accent
- 20/05/2010 10:41:38 PM
517 Views
- 20/05/2010 10:41:38 PM
517 Views
what grammatical conventions?
- 20/05/2010 11:11:10 PM
493 Views
Subjunctive, reflective pronouns, things like that
- 20/05/2010 11:26:09 PM
510 Views
His main two points had nothing to do with all that, though...
- 20/05/2010 11:39:28 PM
626 Views
I know. I just merely said I disliked the accent and that the divergent dialects were just that
- 20/05/2010 11:59:25 PM
543 Views
How does that apply at all?
- 20/05/2010 11:43:49 PM
509 Views
Different rules for different dialects
- 21/05/2010 12:03:31 AM
636 Views
.... dialects?
- 21/05/2010 12:06:03 AM
594 Views
Yes, dialects
- 21/05/2010 12:20:09 AM
600 Views
Re: Yes, dialects
- 21/05/2010 12:24:25 AM
482 Views
Perhaps
- 21/05/2010 12:54:49 AM
577 Views
Re: Perhaps
- 21/05/2010 12:56:18 AM
507 Views
It really depends
- 21/05/2010 01:03:13 AM
687 Views
Re: It really depends
- 21/05/2010 01:05:21 AM
636 Views

*NM*
*NM*