Dumbing down!

**Lou Girardin** · 20th July 2005, 10:43

What is going on with autocue readers. They seem to be losing what basic pronunciation skills they once had.
Scintillating pronounced with a K, Estimates (as in "estimating the amount") as estimiting.
Give these morons 10 years and those of us that learnt English English will need interpreters.
The lack of any punctuation on the autocue is quite obvious as well. Carol Hirschfeild was a classic for getting a 'possum trapped in the headlights' look on her face as she deperately tried to decipher a sentence.
When Mr Hitcher wants to form a "preserve our language death squad" I'll join.

**placidfemme** · 20th July 2005, 11:04

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Give these morons 10 years and those of us that learnt English English will need interpreters.

speaking of which... last year on the news they interviewed someone in the UK who was speaking ENGLISH and they had ENGLISH subtitles underneath repeating what he had said

**idb** · 20th July 2005, 11:08

Originally Posted by placidfemme

speaking of which... last year on the news they interviewed someone in the UK who was speaking ENGLISH and they had ENGLISH subtitles underneath repeating what he had said

rtn as txt so tht ppl undr 25 yrs cud ndrstnd mbe?

**onearmedbandit** · 20th July 2005, 11:23

Heard so reporters saying something like '...said he had nothink to say.' Fuck I hate that one.

**Pixie** · 20th July 2005, 11:31

I recently heard Peter Williams speaking on the subject of playing "gulf" at "golf" harbour.
They can't even maintain a consistantly bad pronunciation pattern.
And the latest trend is to end words that are supposed to end in a -edly sound with a -ably sound,for example undoubtably instead of undoubtedly

**Fart** · 20th July 2005, 11:39

Wat engish yu talking abot?

**Lou Girardin** · 20th July 2005, 11:59

Then there's toower (tour), Hower (hour), that mythical land Noo Ziland.
And I still get confused with Maori place names. Where's Toopoh?

**Storm** · 20th July 2005, 12:28

I did hear of a flight yesterday that was going to "Cartire" Put that man on the hit list for sure

**Eurygnomes** · 20th July 2005, 12:28

I hate arks (ask) and people who stumble over specific (yes, I'm mightily picky), I mean...we live on an island IN the PACIFIC...now just put an s on the front...it'll be closer than the word you were attempting when you spat all over me.

(my punctuation, however, may leave a little to be desired so I'm not gonna go too far out on that. Needless to say, though, this is a forum - not a technical document!)

**Wolf** · 20th July 2005, 12:38

And "ackrit" for "accurate" - politicians, company directors and news preesenters are all guilty of that one.

Lou, Hitcher, I already have weapons and a lot of black clothes so count me in for that "Preserve our Language" Death Squad as well.

I also am rather annoyed with so called professional award winning presenters who still can't come to terms with the pronunciation of place names. In a misguided attempt at correct pronunciation of Maori place names, I have heard the creme de la creme repeatedly mispronounce the first half of "Taupo" but manage to get the second half right. That's what happens when you're more concerned with garnering support for starving African children than caring for New Zealand's homeless and hungry.

"Hi, I'm a famous personality, I win awards for smiling when I'm talking about plane crashes. I can't pronounce "Taupo" but I can turn up on an advert 14 times a day trading on my credibility as a news presenter and ask people to sponsor kids in Africa. Then tonight on the news I'll smile when I announce that the number of people living under bridges in Wellington has gone up."

**_Gina_** · 20th July 2005, 12:50

Originally Posted by Eurygnomes

I hate arks (ask) and people who stumble over specific (yes, I'm mightily picky), I mean...we live on an island IN the PACIFIC...now just put an s on the front...it'll be closer than the word you were attempting when you spat all over me.

I worked for a company whose Head of NZ Operations had difficulty with this word....needless to say I had difficulty respecting him.

Call me a grammamarian if ya want....lol

But my all time hate is tyre stores who spell tyre wrong.....i.e.
'Bob's Tire Store'

I will never buy 'tires' from Bob!!

**mstriumph** · 20th July 2005, 13:11

Where can I join, please, Mr Hitcher, Sir???
There is a special corner of hell reserved for child-molestors and people that mangle the mother tongue, either orally or in writing [think of all those misplaced apostrophes people -- doesn't it make you BOIL?? .... and the way they abuse the humble semi-colon...... ANIMALS!!!!!!]---- Off with their heads, I say - that'll teach 'em!!

[says she that can't spell ...

I guess that precludes any hope I had of joining the grammarian's hit-squad

]

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

What is going on with autocue readers. They seem to be losing what basic pronunciation skills they once had.
Scintillating pronounced with a K, Estimates (as in "estimating the amount") as estimiting.
Give these morons 10 years and those of us that learnt English English will need interpreters.
The lack of any punctuation on the autocue is quite obvious as well. Carol Hirschfeild was a classic for getting a 'possum trapped in the headlights' look on her face as she deperately tried to decipher a sentence.
When Mr Hitcher wants to form a "preserve our language death squad" I'll join.