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?

well written English is a bit different............

Years of experience and what qualifications?

i am not sending you my CV and certificates Graphista...:)

Ok then - so a basic 12-week online tefl course I'm guessing.

I'd love you to try telling any of my former lecturers that there are no rules to the English language.

Applesauce I'm inclined to agree especially as this is their only posting history on mn.

I think there is a big difference between not speaking English correctly and using colloquialisms or localised language. Language constantly develops and changes. I get more annoyed with people who go on about it all the time as if its the be all and end all when everyone is understood anyway - which is what it is all about in the first place

@FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast how come? I'm not being goady,just trying to understand where you are coming from.

Despite not being a native English speaker I have quite set views as to what is proper English and what isn't.

excuse me? I am not a pig or a troll thank you. I don't believe how snotty and rude people get about the English language . Yes i have been teaching as a second language for years, yes i have a degree in it, and yes i have teaching certificates. What i am telling you is standard lesson one in applied linguistics.
Unbelievably rude.

@RB68 well in certain circumstances it can be the be all and end all , like writing a CV,answering in an interview,having a meeting etc. I work in a school,I got pulled up for my 9 not being English.

no Graphista i havent done any online courses, thanks,.

To answer the original post, I don't think that many people would judge a non-native speaker on grammatical inaccuracy. To echo many PP, I am in awe of anyone who can speak a second language.
I also notice when native speakers use incorrect grammar, but that is the curse of a teacher. I'd rather not notice.
The inaccuracy I notice the most is, "I was sat..." instead of, "I was sitting..."
I honestly hate the teacher voice in my head noticing it. It's like a tic.

Most British people speak very poor English, eg ‘I didn’t do nuffin to no-one, like” so most people don’t judge non-native speakers. Their English is much better than my Polish, Hindi or Romanian. Innit, bruv?

@BonnieF I can teach you one of those.

i have never met anyone in my life who has said that Bonnie.
I think it's really funny that people are trying to be right on about non native speakers, while saving their rudeness and snobbery for native speakers.

Do I judge people who end every sentence with "innit"?
Do I react when someone insists on using a word they cannot say properly (think, specific)?
Do I die a little when I hear "H" (aitch) pronounced, "haitch"?
Do I want to correct someone who finishes each sentence in a question when a question is not being asked?
Do I struggle when someone insists on speaking patois when I have heard them speaking to their parents with middle England accents just five minutes before?
Yes. I am afraid I do.
Maybe it's my age.
Burn me now.

Only one person being rude on this thread love.

As language is communication it is helpful if there is agreement about the rules and alphabet/ words/ phrases that constitute the language otherwise communication becomes more difficult.

Therefore I would say there is a 'correct' or at least verifiable form of English. That should be what we are taught in schools and local dialects and slang are a part of English as well but are less useful as communication as they tend to shut people out of a conversation if they are not familiar with the dialect/ phrase.

I have two high functioning and highly pedantic Autistic children who constantly correct poor English usage. They apply the rules they have been taught with an iron hand and would look askance at any one arguing that whatever a native English speaker says is "correct" just because they are saying it. Now I am more live and let live as English is a fluid and constantly changing language so hard and fast rules cannot be applied there are already lists of exceptions to most grammar "rules". BUT there has to be some agreement or what is the point of having a language and calling it English. The key is to know the rules and understand how to apply them ... You know like Jazz and Art in order to be creative you have to know the underlying structure first.

In my experience, 'native' English speakers have a terrible command of the English language. I often have to bite my tongue when talking to people at work, my current pet hate is people who say Haitch when they mean aitch. I also find it close to impossible to understand anyone from North of Oxford. Dh has family from Ireland, and when they speak amongst themselves, they may as well be speaking Swahili.

haitch is perfectly correct...
and if you have problems understanding anyone 'from North of Oxford' may i respectfully suggest that you listen a bit more closely?

Four fried I done and I seen are widely used where I am from too, but not by everyone here or even a majority. It is not a dialect, it is incorrect use of the language.

nope sorry PInk, but if people say it then it's not incorrect... this is because there is no aca......
do you know what fuck it i cant be arsed.

As far as non native speakers I am generally highly impressed with any one speaking a second language. I would never judge harshly, will only correct usage politely in order to confirm I or they understand what is being said/ heard and mistakes are to be expected. I don't judge native english speakers unless they are swearing at me inappropriately or if I find what they are saying offensive. I may make assumptions about the area they are from or their emotional state from what they say and how they say it.

Fourfried

You should visit Leicester. I can assure you that the phrases in my previous post are relatively intelligible in comparison with the way many of our natives speak.

ha ha ha OK Bonnie i believe you...