English?

I hear a lot about making English the national language in our land. My question is, which English? I do hope we do not adopt the English used on television and radio. Those people can’t make a simple sentence.

How many times per day do you hear some ‘talking head’ say something like, "Joe Bob, he runs real fast? Who is the subject in that sentence - Joe Bob or he? Let me assure you that Mrs. Huey would smack you upside your head for saying that. Mrs. Huey was my high school English teacher.

Then there are numerous uses of ‘very unique.’ Unique is unique. There are no variations. It’s similar to being pregnant. One cannot be a little bit pregnant.

In an attempt to try to impress someone, obviously not me, there are always uses of words that nobody on the planet knows the meaning. Obtrude means push out or forward, just in case you didn’t know.

It is no wonder we have trouble communicating. We don’t speak the same language. Maybe that’s why so often when someone says something, another person hears something else.

As for me, I try to keep my conversation simple: hungry, coffee, nap time, shut up and get out of my way.

PMO
©2011