Gotten

[WinniePig]

I’ve noticed many Americans using the term “gotten” and assumed it’s American English. Fine. But it’s not a word I would associate with good grammar on this side of the pond. Anyway, I’ve read a number of threads on here recently where the OP has written “gotten” in their original post (and each time I see it I shudder). Even worse…the dodgy verb crops up in this news article on the BBC (third para from end). The BBC (holds head in hands).

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-60789542

AIBU to despair at how this horrible little verb is infecting the English language…

Yanbu. It's a feature of the English that I speak (Hiberno English).

YABU

Languages evolve - they take in elements from other languages, and change and shift over time ("Marry, lady, 'tis so"). It is natural for new words to be incorporated and have their usage change.

I am willing to bet, there were some Greek purists complaining about the "latinisation" of Greek when the Roman empire was around...

You know there's a whole topic for Pedants don't you?

Also, you should always check your own post for grammatical errors.

Yabu. D'oh.

YANBU. Only acceptable in the context of ill-gotten gains.

I hate it but I think it's probably here to stay!!

I think it’s also Scottish, not just American.

YABU

Its use in British English predates the colonisation of America, which is why it features in American English, though it subsequently fell out of favour in British English.

@SheWoreYellow

I think it’s also Scottish, not just American.

Why? I'm Scottish, but don't recognise it as something in common use in Scots. (East coast.)

@Palavah

YABU

Its use in British English predates the colonisation of America, which is why it features in American English, though it subsequently fell out of favour in British English.

Yup absolutely just going to say this. It's like Americans using Fall instead of Autumn, it was once used in Britain centuries ago.

A lot of American English is actually old English or which didn't evolve but remained in the old form in North America, or regional/ dialect English which became mainstream. Gotten is actually the old form, so going "back" to gotten is de-evolution not evolution of language...

Of course language evolves all the time. The language you are speaking is not the same as 50 years ago even. Phrases, idioms, changes of word meaning happen all the time.
I am sure every single generation is irritated by trends and changes to the language they have grown up with.
It is the
It is thought by some that gotten was a past participle used at the time when America was colonised by the English. It was widely used in this country up until about 300 years ago. So there you are.

I agree but I believe Shakespeare used it so it's not a new infection.

YABU. I think it could be a useful word, so I'm happy for it to make a comeback. I'm all for picking up new ways of saying things.

I have no problem whatsoever with it returning to popular use. It seems bizarre to somehow accept that ill-gotten gains is acceptable whilst asserting that gotten can’t be used in any other context!

Some people seem to feel really affronted by the fact that language continues to change, just as it has always done, and always will. It shows a lack of adaptability!

Gotten. Gotten. Gotten. Gotten.

Are you feeling infected yet, OP? The English Language doesn’t belong exclusively to the English, who have managed to invent some real howlers in their regional dialects (which they invariably find charming).

Forget, forgot, forgotten.
Get, got, gotten.

Why would one be wrong and the other correct?

It's just one of those words that went over to the US 500 years ago and is now making its way back!

YABU to have gotten so wound up about it

@Palavah

YABU

Its use in British English predates the colonisation of America, which is why it features in American English, though it subsequently fell out of favour in British English.

I came on to say this. I like gotten and use it. It was the original form. It follows the same past participle construction as forgotten, hidden, given, taken, proven, ridden...

I think it sounds better: 'By this time I had gotten myself a drink' - 'By this time I had got myself a drink'

Another Americanism which has crept in is ‘going shopping Tuesday’ No dear, it’s ‘going shopping ON Tuesday’. That one really winds me up.

This again.

Gotten is commonly used in UK regions, where it has been used forever

Do you have the same issue with the word forgotten?

So, in short, YABU

'Gotten' appears 23 times in the King James Bible, which was compiled by English scholars in England in 1611, as well as being used by the very English William Shakespeare.

Just because American speakers of English tend to use it more nowadays than many British speakers of English in no way makes it 'not a proper British English word'.

Cannot bear it!

Why? I'm Scottish, but don't recognise it as something in common use in Scots. (East coast.)

It has been used in Scotland all of my life. So it's fair to say it's Scottish. I'm from the northern isles, where the kilt isn't a traditional garment, but just because it's not from my area, doesn't mean I would deny it's Scottishness