English Gobbledygook | ExpatWoman.com
 

English Gobbledygook

170
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 11:31

Are there any native English speakers on here that feel they’ve started to struggle with the language since living in the UAE?

I’m asking because I’m having to think really carefully when composing an email. When I read it back to myself it sounds awful. I’m sure if I was back in the UK people would say what on earth is she on about?! :biggrin:
The same thing happens when I’m talking to someone and can’t remember certain words or expressions to use.

It's obviously happening because I’m usually talking to someone who’s first language isn’t English and their way of speaking is rubbing off on me. For example, when I phone the company’s driver I ask him things like “you come to office, yes?” I’ve even caught myself talking to my other half this way lol. It's so frustrating!

On a similar topic I’m having to stop myself saying vacation, garbage etc. As an English person it’s just not the done thing. Even saying “lunch” instead of dinner doesn’t sound right :lol:

Anyway, sorry I’ve wasted 2 minutes of your time reading this drivel. It’s been a long week…..

8965
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 16:19
I love this thread, I too have had to change from Potaita to Potaytow ! Vacation, garbage, lunch and dinner feature in my vocabulary now instead of holiday, rubbish/bin, dinner and tea. I have just been back to the North West of England and suddenly felt very posh! We must be from a similar part the Uk ( I am from the NW too) I still say Dinner and Tea time though, some of my UK Southern colleagues correct me to which I reply we had Dinner ladies at school not lunch ladies :biggrin: I say dinner and tea too, apart from when I'm having food at work then it's called snap :biggrin: So far I'm just managing to resist the American words. A mate of mine over here's from Barnsley and he's succumbed even though he's retained his strong accent. To hear him say elevator and garbage is pure gold. My ex was from Donny and snap was a word he and his Mam used often ;-)
943
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 16:17
I can so relate to this! I also have developed this tendency to neutralise my British accent considerably when talking to people that speak limited English, and quite frankly I end up sounding like an idiot - it's not even something I can control it just happens! Thankfully on the flip side I can also slip back to my usual accent in places like work. I find I have a switch in my brain that just flips on and off. Although I definitely have started using phrases that I wouldn't have said before such as garbage, vacation, chips (or crisps), etc. Also the other "Dubai" phrases. Having said all of this I think the deterioration in English in general is also as a result of social media and not just the fact that people speak with different accents here. For example, on Whatsapp a lot of us tend to just cut corners in the way that we write as it's too much effort to bother with being very proper in a casual conversation. My accent's still there (one of my Indian colleagues says I sound like Geoff Boycott!) I just have to concentrate to speak in a slightly different way. As an example, I usually use flat vowels but I'm not sure if people would understand me so where I would say usually potaita (or taita lol) I feel I need to say potaytow. Not sure if I'm describing it very well..... :biggrin: Also, I don't use the word "The" in sentences either. I say "I'm going t' shop" instead, for example. If I pronounce it properly though, it doesn't feel right. I used to think it was a glottal stop but that's not exactly the same thing. Apart from "lol" I don't use text speak. Even when I send messages I use commas and apostrophes, it takes me ages! I would love to study dialect, accents and language one day, those subjects have always fascinated me. I definitely don't use text speak - "Wt ru on abt" "2nite" "becuz" "gr8" - I'm too old for that! But I will use words like wanna and gonna. I guess what I mean is that when we write in terms of social media, we write as we speak and for me at least words go straight from my brain to device, not really thinking about if it is correct. Sort of how I write on here. Whereas before writing was more formal and we used to spend more time talking to each other rather than writing. I do still use punctuation though!
170
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 14:39
I love this thread, I too have had to change from Potaita to Potaytow ! Vacation, garbage, lunch and dinner feature in my vocabulary now instead of holiday, rubbish/bin, dinner and tea. I have just been back to the North West of England and suddenly felt very posh! We must be from a similar part the Uk ( I am from the NW too) I still say Dinner and Tea time though, some of my UK Southern colleagues correct me to which I reply we had Dinner ladies at school not lunch ladies :biggrin: I say dinner and tea too, apart from when I'm having food at work then it's called snap :biggrin: So far I'm just managing to resist the American words. A mate of mine over here's from Barnsley and he's succumbed even though he's retained his strong accent. To hear him say elevator and garbage is pure gold.
8965
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 13:59
I love this thread, I too have had to change from Potaita to Potaytow ! Vacation, garbage, lunch and dinner feature in my vocabulary now instead of holiday, rubbish/bin, dinner and tea. I have just been back to the North West of England and suddenly felt very posh! We must be from a similar part the Uk ( I am from the NW too) I still say Dinner and Tea time though, some of my UK Southern colleagues correct me to which I reply we had Dinner ladies at school not lunch ladies :biggrin:
409
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 13:54
I love this thread, I too have had to change from Potaita to Potaytow ! Vacation, garbage, lunch and dinner feature in my vocabulary now instead of holiday, rubbish/bin, dinner and tea. I have just been back to the North West of England and suddenly felt very posh!
170
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 12:39
I can so relate to this! I also have developed this tendency to neutralise my British accent considerably when talking to people that speak limited English, and quite frankly I end up sounding like an idiot - it's not even something I can control it just happens! Thankfully on the flip side I can also slip back to my usual accent in places like work. I find I have a switch in my brain that just flips on and off. Although I definitely have started using phrases that I wouldn't have said before such as garbage, vacation, chips (or crisps), etc. Also the other "Dubai" phrases. Having said all of this I think the deterioration in English in general is also as a result of social media and not just the fact that people speak with different accents here. For example, on Whatsapp a lot of us tend to just cut corners in the way that we write as it's too much effort to bother with being very proper in a casual conversation. My accent's still there (one of my Indian colleagues says I sound like Geoff Boycott!) I just have to concentrate to speak in a slightly different way. As an example, I usually use flat vowels but I'm not sure if people would understand me so where I would say usually potaita (or taita lol) I feel I need to say potaytow. Not sure if I'm describing it very well..... :biggrin: Also, I don't use the word "The" in sentences either. I say "I'm going t' shop" instead, for example. If I pronounce it properly though, it doesn't feel right. I used to think it was a glottal stop but that's not exactly the same thing. Apart from "lol" I don't use text speak. Even when I send messages I use commas and apostrophes, it takes me ages! I would love to study dialect, accents and language one day, those subjects have always fascinated me.
391
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 12:32
I also feel my English has gone down the pan here. I've had to simplify the way I speak and I tend to automatically switch over to the simple language if the person I speak to do so too. It gets a bit tricky in a group with various levels of English. I find it hilarious that even hubby uses the word "backside" now frequently. :-D
8965
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 12:24
I know exactly what you mean. I use very strange words here that friends and family back home wouldn't understand. If I use any slang then the non British ladies at work look at me blankly and sometimes words I use mean something completely different in their language ( That has been very funny at times) One of my closest friends is from Eastern Europe and when I met her Husband for the first time she thought we didn't like each other due to the "banter" we had. She has now started to understand it. I too use gas station ( At home either the garage or the petrol station) vacation ( holiday) wallet ( purse) backside ( behind)
943
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 12:14
I can so relate to this! I also have developed this tendency to neutralise my British accent considerably when talking to people that speak limited English, and quite frankly I end up sounding like an idiot - it's not even something I can control it just happens! Thankfully on the flip side I can also slip back to my usual accent in places like work. I find I have a switch in my brain that just flips on and off. Although I definitely have started using phrases that I wouldn't have said before such as garbage, vacation, chips (or crisps), etc. Also the other "Dubai" phrases. Having said all of this I think the deterioration in English in general is also as a result of social media and not just the fact that people speak with different accents here. For example, on Whatsapp a lot of us tend to just cut corners in the way that we write as it's too much effort to bother with being very proper in a casual conversation.
170
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 11:46
I can totally relate! My hubby tells me off when I start talking to him like it too. All hail the dinglish language! Don't worry Made in Sheffield, can you please kindly only waste just 1 minute next time. Shukran, thank you, thank you... One minute next time, yes? Yes? Good. Ok yalla see you :lol: Hahaha! I draw the line at "Kindly". I would rather use 10 "Pleases" than that blummin word! Now, pls do the needful and revert on the same then touch base round the backside in the second half once we've preponed ;)
420
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 11:35
I can totally relate! My hubby tells me off when I start talking to him like it too. All hail the dinglish language! Don't worry Made in Sheffield, can you please kindly only waste just 1 minute next time. Shukran, thank you, thank you... One minute next time, yes? Yes? Good. Ok yalla see you :lol:
 
 

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