You are quite right that "classist" is most definitely not in the OED. But then show me any work on good English that suggests leaving out capital letters!!

It's in the OED online. I can't link because it requires a log in, but I screen grabbed it here: Clicky.

Just wanted to let you all know that I have just spent an hour reading this thread -and really enjoyed it!

Seriously!

The OED responds to linguistic change. "Classist" (if not incorporated yet and I am not bothered to find out) is bound to be included in forthcoming editions. It is widely used in technical literature (principally political and sociological) so it has excellent credentials.

You're welcome! FWIW, I think your English is great. Why the full stops but not the capitals? American English is addicted to retaining full stops after abbreviations and, for some reason, I find it personally (personally, mind, not shouldn't be allowed) grating. Odd, aren't they, our personal foibles?

Not strictly on topic but thanks for alerting me to the OED online, I can log-in via my institution. It'll save me lugging my pocket version about...3 years into a PhD and I'm a tad slow on the uptake

Anyways, as you were (was) people, back onto the topic now...

No worries! I only found out after I graduated! (I still have an Athens login due to a module I'm taking late so I'm making the most of it!)

At risk of increasing tension further and toppling you from your fence, I would point out that RP refers to pronunciation, not grammar. It is not a variety of English, either. Even on the BBC (!), I wouldn't expect a newsreader to say "That were the news", or "You was watching the Ten O'Clock News". It isn't correct.

Did anyone else hear Craig say 'we was' tonight?

I replayed it twice and I'm positive he said to Ricky G after his tango.

I didn't notice that, but I definitely heard Len say wasn't when he should have said weren't . I wondered if it would get its own thread.

i feel flattered that you took my post personally and i obviously appreciate all your comments, but it was a plural "you" - i used your post as a launching pad, which clearly riled you and for which i gladly apologise

thank you for providing evidence. i couldn't link my OED either, so i opted for merriam-webster, seeing as i don't consider our american brethren to be linguistically challenged.

i haven't used capitals in years. i'll gladly admit it's lazy, but i honestly don't think it's symptomatic of a psychological disorder.

also, compared to - say - german, english uses much less capitalisation. it doesn't make german any easier to read, in my opinion (and, ironically, or maybe unsurprisingly, there is a very vocal "less capitalisation" movement in the german-speaking world)

Don't be - in view of the fact that it was my post you quoted I think it was fair to assume your comments were a direct reply to me.

You did well to thank gorlagon for his/her succinct summary of your long and tedious post. Let's hope you learnt a lesson in plain English.

Is yoru also in Websters dictionary - I've searched for it in vain?

no, but i did find the word "typo" - what i didn't find in my grammar guide is your erroneous use of the question mark at the end of your final sentence - unless, of course, you're not sure or you can't remember whether you searched for it in vain, in which case the question mark would be appropriate.

i don't do succinctness. to me language is like food, i like to savour it. though i do appreciate that some people subsist on the linguistic equivalent of fast food

My question mark was correct - as you would know if your knowledge was even half of that you imply.

A question mark is always placed at the end of a sentence, even when the question is followed by further comment.

I do find the inclination to add 'ness' to an adjective to form a noun very clumsy, and it exposes a lack of vocabulary. It's my opinion that brevity or indeed concision would convey your meaning with equal clarity.

Your analogy between language and food was very good. Of course a surfeit of either can produce unwanted side effects; in the case of food a tendency to gain weight - in the case of language, verbosity can make one a figure of fun.

Oops a daisy - did I say verbosity instead of verboseness?

I havent watched scd since Alesha took over, but unfortunately had to suffer some of it tonight as i was at my dads and he loves it. She is diabolical. I am gobsmacked as to just how cringy she is. Her grammer is pretty grim, almost unacceptable in a way. She comes across as quite rude and pretty much full of herself, i actually cannot stand listening to her. I cant watch it again next series unless they get rid. Personally i think they will.

You are without a doubt a 100% double cream Internet eccentric! I see that other posters in this thread have had some fun with you, very successfully tearing you to shreds. Most amusing. Unfortunately your sneering and pompous attitude opens you up to such comment.

Ironically enough I broadly agree with your observations on regional dialect. However, to support your argument you have ignored the notion of context, and that's the critical aspect. That's why your argument falls apart.

You obviously have passion for language, and some knowledge, but not enough. Normally I wouldn't launch into an ad hominem, but you are really asking for it!

Your rejection of capitals is utterly ridiculous, contradictory and, as others have said, a definite cry for attention. Your position makes no sense whatsoever.

You seem to pride yourself in your knowledge of English, yet your posts are meandering. long winded, aggressive and pompous. You eschew capitals, making your posts harder to read, and you 'don't do' (utterly grotesque phraseology) succinctness - in effect you are rejecting the whole basis for the creation of language -to convey meaning effectively.

This is nothing to do with a fast food approach, it's to do with mastering the form, and you have a long way to go in that regard.

A quite excellent post.

It does seem that twen_angst is somewhat desperate for approval as an intellectual. Sadly the main point of language seems to have been forgotten. Its purpose is to communicate and the clearer the better.

The comment about German was amusing and totally missed the point. Of course when the point hits home, it's always good to avoid it! German capitalises nouns and the purpose of this capitalisation has little to do with readability. Capitals at the start of a sentence is all do with readability.

"i haven't used capitals in years". Your communication must be limited to plenty of other lazy people then. If you were anywhere near the business world your ludicrous uniqueness would not be tolerated.

As a small attempt to return to the subject of the thread, Alesha says "you was" to be different. She knows it's wrong but has no intention of changing. Your adamant refusal to use capitals falls into the same category - arrogant and pig-headed.

Exactly.


Exactly.

parthena

Oh, don't topple me! I might get splinters!

Yes, I know what RP is, but do you catch my drift? For me - and actually, I am someone who finds "you was" to be tooth-numbingly grating, so in some ways I'm playing devil's advocate - too much objecting to varieties of English like this is part of the rigid attitude that meant we DID only hear RP on TV for so many years, when it was actually spoken by very few people at all - and they were the elite.

I do feel quite strongly that there are plenty of better criticisms to make on Alesha's judging. And I feel slightly uncomfortable laying into her on one that potentially has all kinds of potential for regressive follow-throughs.

I find "you was" irritating. I feel "you was" is sometimes used through ignorance but as often form a correct part of one or more varieties of English. But most importantly, I feel that it's not something that should form part of a yay or nay argument/debate over Alesha's tenure as judge.

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