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'Lord Sugar' this and 'Lord Sugar' that ...


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Old 14-12-2012, 13:50
george.millman
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The very first thing I said after hearing Ashleigh talk in Episode 1 was "get her and Alan Sugar to liaise together and you'll eventually get a gramatically correct sentence!"

It grates on me so much, both of them mangling the English language so badly! I know people can't help their dialects, but as an English teacher I just can't get used to hearing it - nails down a blackboard time for me!

Just goes to show that your environment has a stronger influence on how you talk than your teachers do - despite most teachers using the correct conjugation for the verb "to be" themselves, they clearly can't over-ride the regional variations outside of school because some people will only ever hear and say it as "I were, you was, he/she/it were, we was, you was and they was" like Ashleigh, or hear and say "was" for everything whether it's singular or plural like Alan Sugar does!

I hope I don't sound like a grammar snob - I don't mean to - but when you teach and love English and see it for the powerful tool it is when used properly, it just sets my teeth on edge when dialect (as opposed to accent - that's different) leads to incorrect conjugation of the common 'helper' verb "to be". And, like it or not, outside of one's locality/local dialect, it does mean you stand out like a sore thumb - and, by extension, rightly or wrongly, it can lead to incorrect assumptions (about class, education, presentation etc) when grammar comes out in such mangled terms when among people who use "I was, you were... etc" correctly,

It might be fair, but then since when was life ever fair?!
I know exactly what you mean. I grew up and live in Bristol, but I've always made a conscious effort to be articulate and well-spoken, and I don't have a Bristol accent. I can slip into it very easily if I want to, but for the most part, I purposely talk without an accent, and using correct grammar. I don't have an issue with people that don't, but I always like people that do.

I think sometimes people think that I'm a lot more middle-class than I actually am from the way that I talk. Maybe I give off an impression of being privately educated and born with a silver spoon in my mouth... I just like to talk well and I feel that in doing that I can express myself better, there's nothing wrong with that.
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Old 14-12-2012, 14:27
SillyBillyGoat
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I still love Jim accidentally calling him just Sugar.
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Old 18-12-2012, 09:43
lammtarra
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Nick and Karren both address Lord Sugar as Alan, but refer to him as Lord Sugar.

Probably this distinction between name and title is similar to what the candidates are used to at school, with their head teachers. We all do it with doctors, for instance, and are familiar with the expression, "being on first name terms".

And before Lord Sugar, there was Sir Alan, and in America, Apprentice candidates address Mr Trump rather than Don or Donald.
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Old 18-12-2012, 11:04
StrmChaserSteve
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http://news.sky.com/story/1026863/gr...s-gifts-stolen

Respect to Lord Sugar. Very kind of him, hope the scumbags are caught
---
Lord Sugar ‏@Lord_Sugar

Disgusting that xmas presents were stolen from @greatormondstreet kids . Replace them and send me the bill to @******
---
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Old 19-12-2012, 13:49
Galaxy266
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Apparently those who knew him before he was awarded his titles are allowed to call him Alan! Nick and Margaret certainly would come into this category, I don't know about Karren.

"Yes, Lord Sugar", all said in unison. It's like being back at primary school!
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