Should some spellings be removed?

[ReinWeisserRitter]

"I don't like having to remember how to spell properly and communicate easily, so no one else should have to, either."

 

[omega 616]

Sure lets make it easier rather than educating people. That's the problem with everything these days, rather than trying to fucking educate themselves people demand things are made easier. If people want to look like a moron on the internet let them, I just can't wait for them to try that shit on a job application or university report.

Then lets let language stagnate and not change it out of fear that it may be "dumbing" it down. Well, it already has changed a lot so lets go back to it's original form?

As someone else has already pointed out, language evolves on its own, it doesn't need an active cull to take place that's just going to leave people confused.

I wasn't saying to do such a thing, I was saying that I suggested a topic to be discussed and all I have gotten is "your stupid", even you posted something that could be taken as aggressive "Well then I recommend a speech coach." . If we constantly say "no, that's wrong" and correcting it/maintaining it then it will never evolve.

Like in that vid I posted in the OP, if you started saying "actioning" people would say "that's not a word!" but that's how words like "tabled" started, right? I am not saying we should start saying actioning or that we shouldn't, just why be so strict about it?

Just like how I read somewhere that humans have removed themselves from evolution with all our drugs and health care.

 

[Alrocsmash]

Get smarter...problem solved.

Isn't being intelligent wonderful?

 

[ntw3001]

The english language evolves over time, slowly as what is required or needed of it changes, not by some lazy fucks attempts to make everyone WRITE like they do. Accents are accounted for, even generates their OWN written words and variations on, which by all means, write and spell how the fuck you want but do not go through the fupping dictionary and wipe your arse with it because...well, you feel that your own terrible accent homogenises certain groups of words and everyone should do the same.

This. Well, maybe I'duse a different selection of words, but essentially written and spoken language change at different rates because they're used in different ways. If you want a form of written English that corresponds to changes in spoken English, look at text speak; it's used in a manner similar to spoken English, is subject to the same kinds of pressures, and is perfectly understandable and usable to its intended audience. In the same way, formal spoken English (such as that used in speeches) is more similar to written than conversational English. We're comparing formal written English to informal spoken English. We might as well ask why the Queen doesn't alter her speech to match the type of language used in text messages.

 

[omega 616]

"I don't like having to remember how to spell properly and communicate easily, so no one else should have to, either."

Get smarter...problem solved.

Isn't being intelligent wonderful?

Hey, look everybody! More people who don't get it!"

The video isn't supporting your argument. He's talking against people that are adamant about a grammar that was abandoned before they were born, like ending a sentence on a preposition or the difference between "fewer" and "less." There's a huge difference between subtle changes in an ever-evolving language and completely destroying the most basic of words. Saying "there beign rediculous" is not what the video you linked was defending.

Getting too caught up in rules and such can be restrictive, but you should be able to tell the difference between words that have different spelling, pronunciations, and meanings (where, were, we're? REALLY?). Spelling shouldn't be a problem either, almost every browser and word processor corrects tell you when you're wrong. You have to go out of your way to misspell most words. It's ridiculous.

All I can say is go to 1:44 of that vid if Oscar Wilde can not give a shit about it, then "I will let that which does not matter truly slide" as was said in Fight Club.

 

[DaWaffledude]

Because they're different words. They just look and sound similar.

 

[Blend]

Because removing such creates ambiguities in the language?

This.

If we just had 'were' as a cover all word for where, were, we're etc, it would be confusing as hell.

Would it? I doubt it. You can quite easily distinguish between them in spoken language from the context of which they are used so why not in text?

John and Jill where clothes. John and Jill where at home. Where are John and Jill. Where john and Jill.

Are you telling me these confuse you? That you can't tell what each where supposed to mean?

What about "There ball was there" is that also confusing even though the either there can only have one meaning based on it's context?

Great video really liked it. But completely missing the point if you are trying to use it to justify this nonsense.

I'll leave it at stating the most blatant and glaring reasons of why just no to this.

Where, were and we're are all pronounced differently in spoken language and it's not left up to context to figure it out.

Nuff said.

 

[Keava]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

 

[ultimateownage]

Okay, 4 tones and neutral. It's been years since I learnt Chinese, I can't remember any of it. Whoops.
That just emphasises my point, though.

Heh... no sweat, I was going to make a jibe at even that! I'm a Cantonese speaker, so we've got eight intonations... -_-

I probably should have specified Mandarin, too. Damn Chinese, why are you so complicated?!

 

[Versuvius]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

The next logical step is to have a piece of paper, on it is a picture of a toilet, food, drink and other basic things. When we want something we make loud, incomprehensible trumpets with the back of our throat, tapping on a picture. Obviously that will make everything much more streamlined, efficient and acceptable to people who don't want to learn English

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Hey, look everybody! More people who don't get it!"

I think I get it quite well. There's no reason you'd advocate something like this other than you didn't feel like doing it the way proposed, and the only reason for that is that you're too lazy to, and expect others to be as well.

Sure, you can say otherwise, but it'd be bullshit.

 

[omega 616]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

Hey another one not getting it, I am getting a collection going! How fun. This is just a topic, not a request to change it.

Lets be honest, how much of the English language do you actually use on a day to day basis? For example when was the last time you used ... livid? hyperbole? Asinine? They aren't even that uncommon. It's not like we struggle to find words, I bet most of the dictionary goes unused.

Although, if we went back to pictures it would probably make life easier for people who travel ...

Sure, you can say otherwise, but it'd be bullshit

I love when people do that "you can either agree with me or you are stupid/wrong".

No, I really am just bringing this topic up to talk about it. I am not bothered about if it did change or not ... wont effect me in the least.

Got by this far without knowing it, why learn now?

 

[SckizoBoy]

I probably should have specified Mandarin, too. Damn Chinese, why are you so complicated?!

Ha, I knew what you meant... though thinking about it... I work with a Chinese girl and she speaks 'Suzhou-ese' to one of her customers (they're both from Suzhou) and good grief, I can't understand a word! Even Shanghaiese (about a hundred miles to the east), I'm OK with...

So to answer: because they're/we're awkward, thasswai!! XD

Allow me to illustrate.
Spelled correctly:
"We're where we were."

Now with 'were' pulling double duty:
"Were were we were."

Now imagine that in a Liverpudlian accent... not pretty...

 

[Kinokohatake]

I don't know proper english=it should be changed into a ridiculous mess.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

Hey another one not getting it, I am getting a collection going! How fun. This is just a topic, not a request to change it.

Lets be honest, how much of the English language do you actually use on a day to day basis? For example when was the last time you used ... livid? hyperbole? Asinine? They aren't even that uncommon. It's not like we struggle to find words, I bet most of the dictionary goes unused.

Although, if we went back to pictures it would probably make life easier for people who travel ...

What don't we 'get'?

If you mean something other than what you're OP states, than you didn't do a very good job of getting your idea across. And you want to simplify the language even more? You can't even get your point across now.

 

[manic_depressive13]

all they do is swap "s" for "z" a lot (presumably to get better scores in Scrabble)

Holy shit, you're a genius. I can't believe I never realised this before. It suddenly all makes sense now. Those devious bastards.

 

[Versuvius]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

Hey another one not getting it, I am getting a collection going! How fun. This is just a topic, not a request to change it.

Lets be honest, how much of the English language do you actually use on a day to day basis? For example when was the last time you used ... livid? hyperbole? Asinine? They aren't even that uncommon. It's not like we struggle to find words, I bet most of the dictionary goes unused.

Although, if we went back to pictures it would probably make life easier for people who travel ...

The proposal that separate words that sound similar and are spelled in a similar way should all be turned into a single word is asinine. In fact, it's suggesting we remove tenses altogether. Which is also asinine. It makes me absolutely livid.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Hey another one not getting it, I am getting a collection going! How fun. This is just a topic, not a request to change it.

Lets be honest, how much of the English language do you actually use on a day to day basis? For example when was the last time you used ... livid? hyperbole? Asinine? They aren't even that uncommon. It's not like we struggle to find words, I bet most of the dictionary goes unused.

Although, if we went back to pictures it would probably make life easier for people who travel ...

My gripe with that is: what're we going to do with technical language then??

Also, are you idealising a future with no thesaurus?

 

[Elate]

I'm sorry but you're wrong, each word is pronounced completely differently, so spelling them all the same would make absolutely not sense.

Where - Wh-air
Were - Wur
We're - Wee-er
Wear - Wair

There - Th-air
They're - They-er
Their - Thair (ok less so on this one)

This whole discussion has as much use as a chocolate tea pot, you may as well say "Why don't we remove capital letters?" or "Who needs full stops?"

Sure I agree with Fry's point about people going overboard with corrections, but he doesn't mean we should go around butchering our language for no reason, they're there (see what I did there) for a reason, because without them who would you know whether I meant "There there" or these here?

 

[omega 616]

Yes. Let's simplify everything because some people are too lazy to learn basic ideas. Maybe when we're done with were and where we could start eliminating other words. First we will change English into Simple English which only consists of 850 most basic words and then, then we could even return to simpler methods of communication like pictographs so that everyone knows what's up.

No. Sorry. The idea is to get people to use their brains more - not less, else we might just go back to living in the moist cosiness of caves.

Hey another one not getting it, I am getting a collection going! How fun. This is just a topic, not a request to change it.

Lets be honest, how much of the English language do you actually use on a day to day basis? For example when was the last time you used ... livid? hyperbole? Asinine? They aren't even that uncommon. It's not like we struggle to find words, I bet most of the dictionary goes unused.

Although, if we went back to pictures it would probably make life easier for people who travel ...

What don't we 'get'?

If you mean something other than what you're OP states, than you didn't do a very good job of getting your idea across. And you want simplify the language even more? You can't even get your point across now.

I am ok with not knowing the differences so just saying "ha, your stupid" is not getting what this thread is about. I am asking what you would think of unifying it into one word ... hell, even 4 radically different spellings ... I am asking for your opinion on that, you think it's confusing then okay.