S?

shoeaddict
By shoeaddict

is it rude to correct co-workers if their grammar or pronunciation might give you a nervous breakdown?
to cut the story short,the guy im working for obviously doesnt want any correction to his perfect "english".
imagine my horror when he refused to believe the OXFORD dictionary when i showed him the word "scissors".he argued that in his country,everybody uses the word scissor and that the dictionary i showed him is WRONG and a FAKE!
or when he says "give me two piece",rather than 2 pieces.
is it cultural,congenital or chronic?
HELP...i need to teach them,,,or else i might try cutting all of them into piecesessessess!!!with a scissor!!!

By Mandilulur• 18 Mar 2009 02:11
Mandilulur

Bleu, you are giving me a real inferiority complex!

Mandi

By Lovelyrose• 18 Mar 2009 02:02
Lovelyrose

In my country people do.

By bleu• 17 Mar 2009 11:47
Rating: 3/5
bleu

alfa Q, Languages are like that:

Spanish is written exactly as it is said. It's also convenient that "and" and "or" are "y" and "o" (just single letters)

French writes more letters than the sounds that are pronounced,"Ils mangent" (they eat) is pronounced exactly like "Il Mange" (He eats). They also have 25 verb tenses

Arabic doesn't write everything that's pronounced (the same written word can have 3 or 4 meanings without the diacritics, but as a native speaker, and within its context you can know what it is)

In German, you don't write something like "Color Printer", it's written like "Colorprinter" (Farbdrucker).

By GodFather.• 17 Mar 2009 08:24
GodFather.

They are confused.. This confusion is all because Uncle Sam and way English is across the Atlantic. If they had not distorted the English so much as we have today they would not be arguing with the Oxford Dictionary..lol

Anyway Heero got to agree with you for a change that you cannot correct a 45 year old Manager of Arabic Origin with a western passport..lol

-----------------

HE WHO DARES WINS

By alfa Q• 17 Mar 2009 08:19
alfa Q

You write something but read something else in english. For example word 'you' should have been 'u'. People with knowledge of hindi & sanskrit will understand that in these languages we read exactly what we write.

Sorry for diverting the thread but are there other languages also which read exactly what they write?

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 23:30
anonymous

we know what people mean. We must sound odd to them too, we use 'local speak' etc. I say things like minging and cheers and Dora used Bristols the other day (by the way, I howled laughing, ages since I heard that).

But come on be fair, they are trying their best at what is a very difficult language. We English speakers are not perfect, so why should other people be?

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By bleu• 16 Mar 2009 23:27
bleu

Inglish iz a funi languaj, therz alwaiz meny waiz to write/right/rite a wurd.

By shoeaddict• 16 Mar 2009 23:19
shoeaddict

nyahahahahah...NICE SAVE....lol

By bleu• 16 Mar 2009 23:14
bleu

Both Oxford and M-W are wrong, it's spelt cizorz

By shoeaddict• 16 Mar 2009 22:24
shoeaddict

thank you for asking if my grammar,spelling or pronunciation is perfect,i know mine isnt but Oxford is. in addition,im not perfect but i do aim for it.

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 09:18
anonymous

Yeah ....Alpha Wolf & Dora....right.....thanks :)

By Alpha_Wolf• 16 Mar 2009 09:14
Alpha_Wolf

The girl in your office is a Filipina.

Male = Filipino

Female = Filipina

Just in case you are wondering...

_______________________________________________________

"A Wise Man knows what he does not know!"

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 08:51
anonymous

They are staples and one would ask.....Have you got any staples?

By Alpha_Wolf• 16 Mar 2009 08:51
Alpha_Wolf

Well "a" staple would be one individual "wire". Since they come in a strip one might ask..."May I have some staples?"

_______________________________________________________

"A Wise Man knows what he does not know!"

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 08:47
anonymous

Alpha_Wolf...so does one ask.... "Can I have a staple?"

By Alpha_Wolf• 16 Mar 2009 08:37
Alpha_Wolf

It is called a "staple"

_______________________________________________________

"A Wise Man knows what he does not know!"

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 08:20
anonymous

shoeaddict, one can only correct anothers grammar if one is sure that they too have correct grammar......yours isn't quite perfect, is it?

By mjamille28• 16 Mar 2009 07:56
mjamille28

""How much cellphone do you have, I saw you using a different model everyday". .....

lol tatzkie, and he's got the nerve calling people stupid eh?..... hahaha indeed! :P

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 07:51
anonymous

So are these Stapler "Pins" or "Wires"?

I used to say "Pins" and the Filipino girl in the office was adamant it was "Wires"....and not "Pins"....

By tatzkie• 16 Mar 2009 06:35
tatzkie

I remembered my Indian colleague before when I was working in Dubai. He always brags about how Filipinos are so stupid. One time I heard him asking another colleague "How much cellphone do you have, I saw you using a different model everyday". Awwwwww! I sighed in disbelief upon hearing his remarks.

By tatzkie• 16 Mar 2009 06:20
tatzkie

There are people like that who pretends to know all even if they don't. We should accept corrections because that is where we learn. Nobody's perfect huh! Even the brightest person can commit wrong grammar.

By Lovelyrose• 16 Mar 2009 05:06
Lovelyrose

Most people don't like to be corrected so let then live like ignorants...

Laugh a lot with that and don't boder..really, forget it...you know you are right...

Have a nice evening without "scissors".

:))))

By Mandilulur• 16 Mar 2009 03:18
Mandilulur

I used an incorrect Arabic plural the other day and was very grateful when my friend gently corrected me. I won't make that mistake again, although I will make many others!

Mandi

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 00:40
anonymous

I agree. But let's give this person respect. They have not got it right, but they tried and they are proud. Shoe was/is trying to help so good for her/him.

Both are good people.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 00:09
anonymous

Yes i beleive there must have been a pride issue. Pride being one of the many downfalls of humankind.

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 00:07
anonymous

I agree but as I said before that may have been a knee jerk reaction or pride speaking.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 00:02
anonymous

It's just when they start saying the oxford dictionary is wrong that there is a wee bit of an issue.

By anonymous• 16 Mar 2009 00:00
anonymous

No it does not. Who cares. Anybody that speaks a second language in my mind is respected and if they make mistakes so bloody what.

Correct them if you think it will help but on the whole, we know what they mean and are trying to say, so just respect the fact they have taken the trouble to use English.

They are a far better person than me.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 23:56
Happy Happy

Did you mean this extra "S" in " any differences::)))?

Intentional huh?

Salam

By adey• 15 Mar 2009 23:56
adey

No

killjoy

:(

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

By shoeaddict• 15 Mar 2009 23:54
shoeaddict

lol........

By britexpat• 15 Mar 2009 23:53
britexpat

In the overall scheme of things, does it really make any differences ?

By adey• 15 Mar 2009 23:48
Rating: 4/5
adey

Perhaps shoeaddicts colleague can borrow some of the spare 'S's of months and clothes for his scissor and piece. lol

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 23:46
anonymous

my personal gripe is making a word plural when it is singular.

But really I am not entitled to that gripe, I can only speak English. They at least try and so what if it is not perfect?

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 23:42
Happy Happy

Some pronounce it as in Montheses..:)) I make even worse pronunciation faux pas.

Salam

By adey• 15 Mar 2009 23:39
Rating: 3/5
adey

red rag to a bull for me is the common 'Clothes' pronounced as 'Clotheeeees'!!!

makes my teeth itch! lol

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 23:35
Happy Happy

Tu parle francais aussie?

Salam

By shoeaddict• 15 Mar 2009 23:29
shoeaddict

j'adore that the differences in all of us makes it all the more interesting and fun.

By arecel• 15 Mar 2009 23:27
arecel

ah ok. thanks happy, another lesson learned in ql:-)

http://www.buhayqatar.com

mo lang!

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 23:25
Happy Happy

"what to do yani?", in this context it means "what to do,huh?"

Salam

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 23:24
anonymous

to be honest, would it change your life that much if he did start speaking the 'Queens English'. Even those of us that speak it make cock ups.

This person is trying and I admit if I was trying to speak Arabic and somebody corrected me, I would be grateful.

However, we are all different.

At least you are trying to help and that says you are nice enough to try and help, instead of laughing at him.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By arecel• 15 Mar 2009 23:22
arecel

happy, i think its arabic? my leb supv always say, "what to do yani?". what is yani, btw? :-)

http://www.buhayqatar.com

mo lang!

By arecel• 15 Mar 2009 23:21
arecel

perhaps because of the proliferation of fake items, lol.. i remember one supervisor told one of my friends ( a gay) that his kind will not go to heaven. my friend asked, "says who?". "the bible", said my supervisor. to which my friend sassily countered, " check your bible, perhaps it is pirated" :-)

http://www.buhayqatar.com

mo lang!

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 23:19
Happy Happy

In Turkish it means "New".

Salam

By shoeaddict• 15 Mar 2009 23:18
shoeaddict

thank you for the advice...do i ask for the garden or pinking?lol...lang nila!!!

By shoeaddict• 15 Mar 2009 23:16
shoeaddict

im not bothered by his way of saying it.what im bothered about is the smug way he said that the OXFORD dictionary is wrong and fake.and btw,i converse and understand their dialect too well.

By arecel• 15 Mar 2009 23:13
arecel

shoeaddict, just ask for a pair of shears...:-)

http://www.buhayqatar.com

mo lang!

By arecel• 15 Mar 2009 23:12
arecel

what to do yani? (is this the correct spelling? ekkkkk) :-)

http://www.buhayqatar.com

mo lang!

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 23:02
anonymous

got one here and I still make mistakes lol.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 23:02
anonymous

Dude, you need to tell this fool what's up. he obviously has waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much pride.

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 23:00
anonymous

shoeaddict, if his less-than-perfect English bothers you, why don't the two of you converse in his native language?

By Happy Happy• 15 Mar 2009 22:55
Happy Happy

You can click on edit for corrections. Or do you want me to bring you Oxford...lol

Salam

By Oryx• 15 Mar 2009 22:54
Oryx

you workmate is a twat pure and simple to say that about oxford dictionary....

I use 'correct' English at work...

but outside i lapse into dialect

he your colleague want to be ignorant then thats his choice...

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 22:53
anonymous

reaction*

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 22:52
anonymous

anybody that can speak a second language. I can't. I speak English and even then I make mistakes.

Just let it be. This person is trying. As the English Teacher said above, you speak in the correct way and they may follow.

I think they were embarrassed and their swipe at the Oxford dictionary was a knee jerk reation.

My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.

By shoeaddict• 15 Mar 2009 22:44
shoeaddict

im very tolerant in the way they butcher the english language,but that being said why did my co-worker say that the OXFORD dictionary is wrong and fake?

By virgo825• 15 Mar 2009 08:12
Rating: 4/5
virgo825

and use the words correctly regardless of what his reaction would be. Having taught English before, I sometimes have the habit of correcting people. However, I eased up and just continued using the correct words and sentence construction. I think the best way to teach English as a second language is to become an example yourself. Most people retaliate and rebel against direct instruction. Even if they know that they need help in speaking the language, they would rather go on with the incorrect usage rather than follow somebody correcting them on the spot. But, mind you, perhaps he's already using the correct words in front of his friends and colleagues when he's miles away from you. :)

I also agree with Maui. Increase your tolerance and just keep on with your manner of speaking the English language fluently. That way, you will become a good influence and a positive channel of instruction.

"Could you please hand me the pair of scissors that you have borrowed? I need to cut off these three pieces of loose threads. Don't give me the scissor. Otherwise, I'll just use a knife."

If he insists on borrowing your "scissor", then in a gentle manner, you may reply - "May I borrow your screw driver? I need to loosen the screw of my pair of scissors, so I could give you a scissor." :)

Just kidding!

Please carry on. We're both not native English speakers, ourselves, if I'm not mistaken, so we also need to understand others who are just starting to learn the language. We're just lucky that the medium of instruction in our schools back home is English. If not, we shall also be like them.

Let us share our luck as we teach by influence and not by imposition.

By deedee• 15 Mar 2009 08:08
deedee

I used to be aggravated, now I quite enjoy hearing people butcher the English language. Plus I remind myself that I cannot even attempt to speak theirs.

By SAMAEL• 15 Mar 2009 07:19
Rating: 5/5
SAMAEL

screw the tolerance... teach them a little bit better english, do correct them. Make them take notes, and give them a monthly test. Inform them that they need a 90% to Pass. If not they get mauled by a polar bear in the desert and dragged back to town by a 6 door landcruiser.

just my suggestion

____________________________

By om Maui• 15 Mar 2009 07:06
om Maui

increase your tolerance. you are in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual environment.

By heero_yuy2• 15 Mar 2009 06:51
heero_yuy2

You gotta love them all when they mix up in one office and see how a company survived amidst all their "Englishes".

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

By mjamille28• 15 Mar 2009 06:21
Rating: 4/5
mjamille28

nobody's perfect,... if they don't want to be corrected, then just leave them be, it's their loss....

By anonymous• 15 Mar 2009 02:11
anonymous

Mas mierda, pura mierda, que mierda, todo es una mierda, esa mierda,

Que mas mierdas quieres?

No jodas con tu mierda!

Vete al carajo con tu mierda!

Westerners will do a mental count of Hadji's inside any aircraft, at any airport, before take off...

Peter Russel

By mallrat• 14 Mar 2009 23:52
mallrat

.

.shoe, just let live and let live...

.you don't want to eat "scissor"

.

By shoeaddict• 14 Mar 2009 23:42
shoeaddict

thanks for the advice.though im scared that when i laugh he might SHOVE in my mouth the scissor,3 piece of thread and the OXFORD dictionary.lol

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