The Grumpy Old Fart, Really Arsey, Tell It Like It Is Thread...

[PapaFrita]

This is what irritates me oh so much! I was born in Hungary, moved to the US in 1989 (I was 9) and did not speak one word of English. Of course I had to learn, and going to school helped immensely in that, along with the ESL tutor that i had. HOWEVER....WHY is it that those who are born in an English speaking country can't be arsed to learn their own language, but expect - some demand! - that all foreigners learn it and speak it. To them I say - learn to speak it correctly first you bunch of f'ing hypocrites!

Hmm...whaddaya know...I do feel slightly better now!

I like you
Ok, I have some more questions. Do you still practise your Hungarian? Are there many dialects in Hungary? Do you speak any other languages? What grammar base does Hungarian have? You know; latin etc, etc. Thankies. Never had a Hungarian student.

 

[Groom42]

This is what irritates me oh so much! I was born in Hungary, moved to the US in 1989 (I was 9) and did not speak one word of English. Of course I had to learn, and going to school helped immensely in that, along with the ESL tutor that i had. HOWEVER....WHY is it that those who are born in an English speaking country can't be arsed to learn their own language, but expect - some demand! - that all foreigners learn it and speak it. To them I say - learn to speak it correctly first you bunch of f'ing hypocrites!

Hmm...whaddaya know...I do feel slightly better now!

EFL speakers have a huge advantage, in the fact that they are actually taught the rules of grammar in their own language. Some of which, German for example, are quite rigid. That is probably why so many English people struggle to learn foreign languages, as they don't understand the grammatical rules/terminology of their OWN flippin' language. When trying to teach a foreign language to an English student, it is almost impossible as many of them don't even understand the Verb/Noun/Adjective, so how the hell can you explain Past Historic/Future Perfect/Conditional ?

 

[The_snoopster]

Ok, well then I have another question. Every year thousands of foreigners come to England to learn English. They pay a LOT of money to learn and they pay people like me to correct their grammar. I myself speak excellent, near native Spanish but I make the occasional mistake and I LOVE it when someone points it out because then I can get better and it is important for me to do things correctly. A lot of English people, on the other hand, not only don't think it important to learn another language, but they say they 'can't be bothered' to write (or speak sometimes) their own correctly. Why is this? Some people say they can write correctly if necessary. Why only then? When I ride, I try to ride correctly all the time, not just at a show. This way it comes more easily. Why do people take correction as a criticism or slight (Ok, on HHO it CAN be!) instead of the chance to improve themselves?

I say good luck to them, and no I do not speak another language because I do not plan to emigrate to a foreign country I happen to love england too much to leave it, why is it so important to learn another language if you never plan to to speak it.

 

[PapaFrita]

I say good luck to them, and no I do not speak another language because I do not plan to emigrate to a foreign country I happen to love england too much to leave it, why is it so important to learn another language if you never plan to to speak it.

Speechless. Actually, no, not speechless. If you love England so much, why are you content NOT to perfect your English? Why is Ok to write Okish English?

 

[Fuzznugget]

I like you
Ok, I have some more questions. Do you still practise your Hungarian? Are there many dialects in Hungary? Do you speak any other languages? What grammar base does Hungarian have? You know; latin etc, etc. Thankies. Never had a Hungarian student.

I do still practice, as all family except my mother (who is still in CA) live there. We go visit about twice a year and talk on the phone quite a bit. Dialects? Yeah, there a few - generally the same as everywhere really, the dialects vary from region to region. Makes for some fun times trying to understand some of my grandpa's friends! I also speak (but am well out of practice) German and a bit of Spanish.

EFL speakers have a huge advantage, in the fact that they are actually taught the rules of grammar in their own language. Some of which, German for example, are quite rigid. That is probably why so many English people struggle to learn foreign languages, as they don't understand the grammatical rules/terminology of their OWN flippin' language. When trying to teach a foreign language to an English student, it is almost impossible as many of them don't even understand the Verb/Noun/Adjective, so how the hell can you explain Past Historic/Future Perfect/Conditional ?

Completely agree with that!

Speechless.

Yea, you're not the only one!

 

[The_snoopster]

Oh go and practise your english on someone who gives a ****. Adios Amigo

 

[Groom42]

Oh go and practise your english on someone who gives a ****. Adios Amigo

All in the spirit of the post............... T.I.L.I.I

 

[PapaFrita]

Oh go and practise your english on someone who gives a ****. Adios Amigo

Crushing retort. That's shut me right up.

 

[*hic*]

Oh go and practise your english on someone who gives a ****. Adios Amigo

What an idiot.

 

[Tormenta]

I mean, come on!! I was really enjoying the grumpy old fart thread. I did NOT wanted to be reminded of my English Teacher.

Another from me.

If I wanted to be stupid enough to wear my Joules, KP, whatever pinky, spotty, dubarry, Toggi suede, flouncy, stainable clothes through mud, shyte and hay and poo pick into the bargain then I would (If I had money to waste and a personality to go with it).

At best, I wear old jumpers, 3 year old paddock and long boots, joggers with holes, gilets with unremovable at 90c crap.

And like my horses, I don't need to be perfectly groomed every day.

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

I like you
Ok, I have some more questions. Do you still practise your Hungarian? Are there many dialects in Hungary? Do you speak any other languages? What grammar base does Hungarian have? You know; latin etc, etc. Thankies. Never had a Hungarian student.

I had a Hungarian lecturer and on a particularly long field trip we started discussing languages. Apparently Hungarian along with I believe Finish are the two strangest languages in the Europe. They have no traceable roots - they are not Latin, Germanic, Arabic, Scandinavian or even related to Hindu or other eastern languages which have some slight influence.

Where they originated, and how they have managed to resist all outside influence is a bit of a mystery. The general theory runs along the lines of tight insular communities, so foreigners were never welcomed in which meant that habits and language weren't absorbed. A geographic location that means they somehow managed to avoid major invasions that would have forced a new language on them.
Unlike English which has so many different influences if you're interested look up Melvyn Bragg's 'The Adventure of English' fascinating read.

I love the English language and wish I had a better mastery of it, reading the work of people like Milton and Thomas de Quincy makes you realise how little of it we use today.

However as a semi-dyslexic daughter of an English teacher I sympathise with people who get fed up with being constantly picked up on their every spelling and grammar mistake!

 

[Fuzznugget]

I had a Hungarian lecturer and on a particularly long field trip we started discussing languages. Apparently Hungarian along with I believe Finish are the two strangest languages in the Europe. They have no traceable roots - they are not Latin, Germanic, Arabic, Scandinavian or even related to Hindu or other eastern languages which have some slight influence.

Yup, and I think it's the 2nd most difficult language to learn, I believe the first is Japanese.

However as a semi-dyslexic daughter of an English teacher I sympathise with people who get fed up with being constantly picked up on their every spelling and grammar mistake!

I'm not an English teacher, but I have a feeling my kids are going to feel like this at some point.

 

[PapaFrita]

Yup, and I think it's the 2nd most difficult language to learn, I believe the first is Japanese.

I think it's actually German. Japanese is, of course, very very difficult to write as they've got 3 alphabets.

 

[PapaFrita]

I mean, come on!! I was really enjoying the grumpy old fart thread. I did NOT wanted to be reminded of my English Teacher.

I was being grumpy, I was being an old fart and I was telling it like it is. I tolerate mediocre spelling, grammar and punctuation every day. It irritates the hell out of me because I love languages and think they're worth the trouble of learning and producing correctly. I hardly ever comment an individual's g/s/p on this forum because it's not my business and I'm NEVER mocking or cruel about it but I WILL rant about it on relevant threads with people who share the same views as me. I also tolerate other people's rants even if I don't see what they're getting all wound up about (I don't mean your rants in particular) and I would appreciate other people extending me the same courtesy.
Also (and again, I don't mean you in particular) If I ask a polite question, I would like to be answered in the same manner.

 

[Fuzznugget]

Also (and again, I don't mean you in particular) If I ask a polite question, I would like to be answered in the same manner.

Oh there's a good subject for a rant: common courtesy, or the lack there of!

 

[Rosehip]

Oh there's a good subject for a rant: common courtesy, or the lack there of!

Abso-blooming-lutely!!
I could go on for hours about that!! xx

 

[eahotson]

As a truly OLD person I was taught the rules of grammar and it is helpful.

 

[Serephin]

I was taught grammar at school, although I did go to private school for my formative years, so maybe that is why.

 

[Fuzznugget]

I was taught grammar at school, although I did go to private school for my formative years, so maybe that is why.

Maybe they've stopped? I went to a public school (in the US) and we were taught grammar, as well as spelling.

Which leads me to my next mini rant: there is a difference between the meanings of 'aloud' and 'allowed'. 9 times out of 10 the word you are looking for is allowed.

 

[Penny Less]

Non horsey Grump
No I do not have kids, and No I did not want kids. I dont think Im selfish, what business is it of yours. From what I see of a lot of kids these days Im glad I havenet got any. No there probably wont be anyone to look after me when Im old, but Retirement and Nursing homes are full of people whose kids dont bother to visit.

WHy have I got to have three wheelie bins in my front garden of a terraced house. There is barely room for me to get to my front door. No I cant put them in the back garden and wheel them through the house thanks !

and another thing, why do we have to have fireworks going off for weeks my dog is scared stiff and I am not prepared to sedate him for weeks either even if my vet would allow me the stuff

Ta muchly

 

[Rosehip]

Non horsey Grump
No I do not have kids, and No I did not want kids. I dont think Im selfish, what business is it of yours. From what I see of a lot of kids these days Im glad I havenet got any. No there probably wont be anyone to look after me when Im old, but Retirement and Nursing homes are full of people whose kids dont bother to visit.

Hear Hear!!!!

Can I also add, my school taught me nothing other than the loo's at the front of the school were the best to hide in.

And one more thing......

Have a freaking BATH for gods sake - you are NOT self clean!!

 

[Penny Less]

I was actually planning to have a bath when I finished in here, blimey can you smell me from there !

 

[Rosehip]

I was actually planning to have a bath when I finished in here, blimey can you smell me from there !

Hahaha! Sorry Alma, that wasnt ment for you...but now you mention it!

 

[Fuzznugget]

I was actually planning to have a bath when I finished in here, blimey can you smell me from there !

OMG I'm so glad I wasn't drinking something when I read that!

 

[Rosehip]

Hahaha! This thread has that effect! xx

 

[FairyLights]

ANd another thing, why wont the planning people let me build a bungalow in my field so I can live next to my stables? Theres one 3 fields away but the people are farmers,and its for his daughter ,who isnt a farmer but works in an office. Unbelievable. I need to be nearer my horses and sheep ,rather than in the village, but they wont let me build a place :-(