AIBU to ask if the English are judgemental against people speaking improper English?

[ConfusedWife1234]

Hey,
I am not a native speaker and I always wondered how English people think about people who make grammatical or other errors when speaking/writing their language. So far most did not say a thing but what are they thinking?

G CSE isnt really the point, i am talking about spoken language.

ha ha that is true Neil,.

It's a semi class thing, it's nothing more than putting people into boxes.

If you would take the proment posters on mumsnet and general theme as an example, you're in a schrodinger's cat scenario of not judging others on what type of job, income or lifestyle etc they are in, but on the converse everyone wants to highlight some imaginable social markers, be it fruit bowls, food, tech for children etc.

There is a reason why the rest of the net laughs at peak mumsnet moments, its best ignored and get on with your life as you see fit.

I'm second language english and dyslexic to boot, I get far more leeway than others who do not follow some abbitary norms.

@outabout it's easier for foreigners to distinguish between their,there and they're for example,because when they learn them they learn them according to their meaning. There is no phonics involved either,you learn the word you need and the grammar rules ,which makes it pretty easy. Heavy exposure also helps to develop an "ear" for it. I remember in school being unable to actually remember all the rules,but if it sounded right it was right 90% of the time.

thank you painted., I was starting to feel like a lone voice there...

Language is changing of course, but being a native speaker doesn't mean yours is always proper useage.

I think that generally most English speakers are pretty tolerant of non-native speakers who make mistakes. I also think that as a rule we are quite good at working about what people mean, even if their English is very basic.

Of course, as many others have said, lots of foreigners speak fantastic English and are often better at English grammar than native speakers.

out I wonder if that is because a lot of long French words are actually quite similar to English ( due to having the same Latin roots)?

I think it is more accurate to refer to "standard" English than to "correct" English. And those standards constantly evolve.

" being a native speaker doesn't mean yours is always proper useage."

yes it does.
for example, Neil started his sentence with, 'I seen'. That is perfectly correct if that is what he says, as a native speaker.

And if a non native speaker says it presumably?

Another example: I speak a version of English in which "gotten" is standard. But in British English, it is usually considered non-standard.

I'm only judgemental if the person is a native English speaker who should know better. I'm much more accepting of mistakes from a non-native speaker - I can't imagine being fluent in another language, never mind always being perfectly correct!

English people are used to foreigners speaking bad English so you won't be judged for that. Some people don't like foreigners but that's a different matter.

It's worse in other countries where few foreigners attempt their language, any mistakes will hugely entertain people. You don't get that here because we are so used to it. Plus many native speakers don't even use the standard forms either.

I take my hat off to people who bother to learn English, I certainly don’t judge them if they get it a bit wrong from time to time.

I massively judge native English speakers though

For example, the actress on the Baileys advert who pronounces mischievous as mis-chEEv-EE-us. Gaaaah!!

Yes op, I am judgemental, but in the opposite way to how you are asking.

Nothing but respect and time for people who are here, speaking a second language even if they are incorrect. I don't however have time for the plums who cannot figure out the difference between they're/their/there or to/too/two when it is their only language.

i must say it is really impressive the way that some people have learnt English to such a high standard, especially if they are from eg China

yes but hungry hippie its all very well calling them 'plums' but what other language has three such similar words for such different things? it is not that easy for everyone.

I'm only judgemental if the person is a native English speaker who should know better. I'm much more accepting of mistakes from a non-native speaker

This is what I alluded to before, this type of judgement is fine but this poster would jump at other making similar judgements based on income/job lifestyle and use lack of education, government etc as an excuse.

Its a minefield, its a protectionist club that want to set certain rules boundaries whilst apparently having working class routes whilst also wanting to showcase how middle/upper class they wish to be.

Its a weird, white women english trope, pretend that they are above putting people in boxes and yet still doing so.

I can just about speak normal English and I’m born and bred English. I always say this to my non native English speaking friends at work. They always ask me questions about grammar and the right words to use. I try to help them out as best possible. Although I have helped some pass thier advanced English exam which is something when I just about passed my own English 😂

NeiltheSloth the opposite is my experience. I taught English in my house to foreigners for a few years and they nearly always overestimated their language ability, whereas English speakers ime who speak another language (as do I) usually downplay their fluency.

I think on the whole that native English speakers are very tolerant of foreigners trying to speak English. I did read that you can get by in English with about 300 words; we don't decline our verbs, agree our adjectives or have loads of cases. Speakers of other languages sometimes genuinely cannot understand if the sentence is not correct.

Wow! Fourfried if you are a genuine English teacher that is actually quite worrying.

Even dialect has accepted rules.

Yes language evolves but you can't just say anything and if the other person by dint of sheer luck understands it say that is correct English.

A student wouldn't get away with that excuse in exam conditions so therefore it's not a valid argument.

@FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast actually other languages have them too,if not with three then at least two .

graphista yes I am an English teacher, that is, an English language teacher, which doesnt mean i will be teaching your child in school, it means i teach English to people who are learning English as a second language.

I do know quite a bit about it, having many years of experience.

Please can nobody complain about my errors, i am using a small keyboard in the dark.

@FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast does that apply to written English as well or just spoken?

graphista there ARE NO RULES,, can you not understand that? there is no academy of English.
Our grammar is descriptive, not prescriptive,
Why do people have such a problem with this simple fact?

Well I'm Scottish rather than English but I don't judge non-native speakers. I know learning other languages is hard, and when I speak my second language I make mistakes. I'd hate to think someone was judging me.

I do judge British born and raised people who say things like "Was you out last night?" or "I were just in the house".