For today's English lessons - Why do we speak the way we do?

[packman]

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly. But that’s what most of language is: Not the little things that textbooks tell us we’re getting wrong, but the solid ones we always get right. Non-native speakers, however, might get them wrong, and that gives us a good opportunity to get a peek at the rules we don’t otherwise notice.


1. WHY “MY BROTHER’S CAR” AND NOT “THE CAR OF MY BROTHER”
2. WHY ABSO-FREAKIN’-LUTELY AND NOT ABSOLUTE-FREAKIN’-LY
3. WHY “WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT HE ATE?” AND NOT “WHAT DID YOU MUMBLE THAT HE ATE?”
4. WHY “I CHEERED UP MY FRIEND” AND NOT “I CHEERED UP HER”

Open up your textbooks to the following lessons:

http://extragoodshit.phlap.net/4-more-unofficial-rules-native-english-speakers-dont-realize-they-know/#more-517700

[mitch96]

1. I always get a chuckle when a non native speaker says something a bit "off"

"May be into helping you please" always got me.
m

[abqtommy]

2. Ho hum... I finally had one teacher in high school who admitted that

when it comes to language, and specifically English in any form, including spoken, written, facial expressions and body positions, THERE ARE NO RULES. I find that I understand almost all of the English I hear being used and that's what language is for, communication. The major exception is some of the presenters I see on the BBC NEWS whose accents are so thick I don't understand what they're saying and am glad to have the video so I have a clue.

[mitch96]

5. "presenters on the BBC NEWS "

I've heard it called "BBC english" or like what the Queen speaks.. Received English..
m

[geardaddy]

8. Received Pronunciation

RP is what BBC newreaders are supposed to use.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Received_Pronunciation

[mitch96]

10. Yea, that too!! ;)

[abqtommy]

9. Nah, it's not the language, it's how it comes out of their mouths!

[The King of Prussia]

12. We call it

"The Queen's English" or "Received Pronunciation". I think of it as the mark of a twat.

[3catwoman3]

3. I love stuff like this!

Thanks for the link.

[Control-Z]

4. That was a fun article.

Was it an article fun? I think not.

[Wounded Bear]

6. You just ruined Borat for millions of people...

The fact is, we learn our speaking skills by listening to those around us, not from classrooms or books. Native speakers suffered through all of the embarrassing gaffes as children. Non-natives and newcomers have to go through the learning pains as adults.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I also love the rule about the order of adjectives

that I didn't know was a rule but that I've always followed anyhow. It's quantity or number; quality or opinion; size; age; shape; color; proper adjective (place of origin or material); purpose or qualifier. So: One small-handed six-foot 72-year-old round orange American faux-presidential baby-man. Mix up those adjectives and the description sounds as wrong as its subject, e.g.: One faux-presidential American orange small-handed six-foot round 72-year-old baby-man doesn't have quite the same zip to it.

[zanana1]

11. As a third generation Franco-American, I say...

"Trow me down de stairs my hat".