topic Re: Host vocabulary in Suggestion Box

Host vocabulary

Junkwoman — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:23:27 GMT

Some of your hosts use a nonsensical phrase that needs to stop. Example: “This dish is comfort food personified.” Personification means to attribute an inanimate object or feelings with human-like characteristics: examples: the sun mocked me, the stars are winking, etc. A meal or a sweater or a blanket cannot be the personification of anything. Also, please say, “between you and me or to Shawn and me”. It is grammatically incorrect to use the pronoun “I” except as the subject of a sentence. I know people mistakenly believe this construction “sounds proper”, but that misconception leads to poor grammar on air. Thank you.

Re: Host vocabulary

maximillian — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:35:11 GMT

@Junkwoman

I happen to agree with you. However, the more you watch and listen to some hosts (a few are very precise and correct with our English language), you will become aware that proper use of the language is not a concern of theirs. Being entertaining (THE buzz word these days, unfortunately) is front and center. Evidently ENTERTAINMENT makes sales, Giving good product information is not really a priority and proper use of English certainly doesn't matter to most hosts.

Re: Host vocabulary

RespectLife — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:39:25 GMT

It is not a major concern anywhere!

Certainly NOT taught in schools.

Since the influx of emails and texts....abbreviations and 'shortened' words and phrases are common and generally accepted.

My work emails are filled with it.

Cursive writing and 'proper' English are long gone....and no one cares much anymore.

SMH, IDK, LOL

Re: Host vocabulary

Pezzie — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:53:48 GMT

For me, it's more important that the hosts giver pertinent information of the item being presented. Yes, proper grammar is important, but they are selling me a top, or vacuum, not teaching an English Lit class, so, I cut them slack on their vernacular. It's what I call "familiar speaking" as opposed to more formal or proper way, that one would use under a different setting.

Re: Host vocabulary

zitawins — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:06:11 GMT

@Junkwoman Thanks for posting that. I've gotten tired of being the grammar police so I often don't comment, even though what I hear on the Q makes my teeth hurt.

Re: Host vocabulary

Ballyho — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 22:25:51 GMT

Agreed!!!

Also - nother - is not a word!!!

Re: Host vocabulary

Junkwoman — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:26:37 GMT

Proper English still matters and is absolutely required by my employer. Grammar is also taught in schools nationwide. In fact, children nationwide are required to take standardized tests to measure grammar and writing proficiency. College freshmen who are unable to pass a writing proficiency test are required to take a remedial English class and pass the subsequent tests before they are allowed to progress into the college curriculum. Teachers are actually fired if their students cannot pass these proficiency tests in public schools. This is common knowledge. Some hosts are highly educated and have prior broadcasting experience, so I would think they had to take some English, speaking, writing, or communication classes at some point. Informal texting is a different code from professional communication. It’s called code switching, and most people toggle between formal and informal speech depending on the situation. My brother is a local newscaster in a very small news outlet, and he’s reprimanded if his grammar isn’t correct. I would expect a big budget company to have similar standards for communication.

Re: Host vocabulary

luvmybeetle — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:33:41 GMT

I agree with all of you. My pet peeve is when I hear Valerie Parr Hill say "at how" for everything. "Look at how this fits here". There is no need for the AT. I think the English language has gone down a messed up road. If I hear my children saying something incorrectly I mention it to them. My son says, "OK fine".

And then when everything is "literally". Jane T. does that a lot. OH, and that's another thing. A LOT is two words people, not one.

Re: Host vocabulary

walkingal — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:51:38 GMT

@luvmybeetle wrote:
I agree with all of you. My pet peeve is when I hear Valerie Parr Hill say "at how" for everything. "Look at how this fits here". There is no need for the AT. I think the English language has gone down a messed up road. If I hear my children saying something incorrectly I mention it to them. My son says, "OK fine".

And then when everything is "literally". Jane T. does that a lot. OH, and that's another thing. A LOT is two words people, not one.

@luvmybeetle Your mention of VPH using "at how" reminds me of grammar school. Any time the nuns heard us end a sentence with "at" as in "Where's it at?" they would say "It's between the "a" and the "t".

Re: Host vocabulary

jackiejenny — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:57:49 GMT

@walkingal wrote:
@luvmybeetle wrote:
I agree with all of you. My pet peeve is when I hear Valerie Parr Hill say "at how" for everything. "Look at how this fits here". There is no need for the AT. I think the English language has gone down a messed up road. If I hear my children saying something incorrectly I mention it to them. My son says, "OK fine".

And then when everything is "literally". Jane T. does that a lot. OH, and that's another thing. A LOT is two words people, not one.
@luvmybeetle Your mention of VPH using "at how" reminds me of grammar school. Any time the nuns heard us end a sentence with "at" as in "Where's it at?" they would say "It's between the "a" and the "t".

Mine would say "right before the at."

Re: Host vocabulary

Carmie — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:59:18 GMT

Grammar is awful everywhere in America. My local newspaper's website makes me scream. I can't believe they pay people who start a sentance with " Him and his brother"........ it drives me nuts.

They also don't know when to use I and me.

Re: Host vocabulary

jackiejenny — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:06:55 GMT

@Ballyho wrote:
Agreed!!!

Also - nother - is not a word!!!

Your post reminds me of the oft spoken "go head" by PJD.

Why they haven't gotten her to correct that by now is beyond me.

It seems like an easy fix and drives me nuts.

Re: Host vocabulary

Kallena — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:32:04 GMT

I was feeling old on Tuesday morning while watching Get Ready Gorgeous. Ali kept saying she was "snatched". I had no idea what she meant...hahahaha! Apparently, it's a thing the young people say.

Re: Host vocabulary

CalminHeart — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:11:05 GMT

@Junkwoman wrote:
Some of your hosts use a nonsensical phrase that needs to stop. Example: “This dish is comfort food personified.” Personification means to attribute an inanimate object or feelings with human-like characteristics: examples: the sun mocked me, the stars are winking, etc. A meal or a sweater or a blanket cannot be the personification of anything. Also, please say, “between you and me or to Shawn and me”. It is grammatically incorrect to use the pronoun “I” except as the subject of a sentence. I know people mistakenly believe this construction “sounds proper”, but that misconception leads to poor grammar on air. Thank you.

I don't blame them for the words they use. I can't imagine talking about most products Q sells for 10-20+ minutes and would probably resort to inaccurate grammar and words too.

My dad has a PhD in English and History and taught his whole life. He always taught us to not be critical of another's grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.

Not everyone has the same capabilities. Just like I'm not a math wizard, someone else might not be gifted in vocabulary and grammar.
Not everyone has access to good schools
There are countless regional differences in this country. I can drive 2 hours south and hear an entirely different accent and use of language.
It's just not nice.

Re: Host vocabulary

sandy53 — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:37:09 GMT

My dad has a PhD in English and History and taught his whole life. He always taught us to not be critical of another's grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
Not everyone has the same capabilities. Just like I'm not a math wizard, someone else might not be gifted in vocabulary and grammar.
Not everyone has access to good schools
There are countless regional differences in this country. I can drive 2 hours south and hear an entirely different accent and use of language.
It's just not nice.

However, if you make your living talking on TV, you should know and use good grammar. The same is true with writing. If you make your living writing, you should be able to do it correctly.

Re: Host vocabulary

Love to Run — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:57:15 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:
It is not a major concern anywhere!

Certainly NOT taught in schools.

Since the influx of emails and texts....abbreviations and 'shortened' words and phrases are common and generally accepted.

My work emails are filled with it.

Cursive writing and 'proper' English are long gone....and no one cares much anymore.

SMH, IDK, LOL

@RespectLife How unfortunate that you didn't learn grammar in school. As a teacher, I've never worked in any school where literacy and grammar aren't at the forefront of education and precisely the reason obsolete skills like writing in cursive are no longer stressed--kids need more time to read and write.

Re: Host vocabulary

RespectLife — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:22:41 GMT

@Love to Run wrote:
@RespectLife wrote:
It is not a major concern anywhere!

Certainly NOT taught in schools.

Since the influx of emails and texts....abbreviations and 'shortened' words and phrases are common and generally accepted.

My work emails are filled with it.

Cursive writing and 'proper' English are long gone....and no one cares much anymore.

SMH, IDK, LOL
@RespectLife How unfortunate that you didn't learn grammar in school. As a teacher, I've never worked in any school where literacy and grammar aren't at the forefront of education and precisely the reason obsolete skills like writing in cursive are no longer stressed--kids need more time to read and write.

@Love to Run

Sorry but your post confuses me. I never said I didn't learn grammar in school.

It is NOT taught now.

My DIL, DH, DS are all teachers. Proper grammar and English skills are barely part of the curriculum any longer and most assuredly, not at the fore front.

Cursive has been eliminated.

I have recently trained two young people who graduated 2-3 years ago, and they have no skills necessary to work in an office.

Spelling doesn't matter....at long as the thought gets across.

Math doesn't matter since we have calculators and google.

Abbreviations and acronyms are what they use.

Can't keyboard properly, don't know how to write an envelope, can't balance a checking account and the list goes on and on.

My entire family are teachers including my mother (retired). NOT the fault of the teachers, but moreso, the fault of the District/State mandates that are more interested in other topics.

Re: Host vocabulary

RollTide2008 — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:22:50 GMT

My son is a high school senior. He's an underachieving student but can still read and write in cursive.

Re: Host vocabulary

lgfan — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:34:30 GMT

@RespectLife

"@Love to Run wrote:
@RespectLife wrote:
It is not a major concern anywhere!

Certainly NOT taught in schools.

Since the influx of emails and texts....abbreviations and 'shortened' words and phrases are common and generally accepted.

My work emails are filled with it.

Cursive writing and 'proper' English are long gone....and no one cares much anymore.

SMH, IDK, LOL
@RespectLife How unfortunate that you didn't learn grammar in school. As a teacher, I've never worked in any school where literacy and grammar aren't at the forefront of education and precisely the reason obsolete skills like writing in cursive are no longer stressed--kids need more time to read and write.

@Love to Run

Sorry but your post confuses me. I never said I didn't learn grammar in school.

It is NOT taught now.

My DIL, DH, DS are all teachers. Proper grammar and English skills are barely part of the curriculum any longer and most assuredly, not at the fore front.

Cursive has been eliminated.

I have recently trained two young people who graduated 2-3 years ago, and they have no skills necessary to work in an office.

Spelling doesn't matter....at long as the thought gets across.

Math doesn't matter since we have calculators and google.

Abbreviations and acronyms are what they use.

Can't keyboard properly, don't know how to write an envelope, can't balance a checking account and the list goes on and on.

My entire family are teachers including my mother (retired). NOT the fault of the teachers, but moreso, the fault of the District/State mandates that are more interested in other topics."

I agree with you RespectLife. I have also noticed that young people have little to no problem solving skills. If they are faced with a problem they just sit there waiting for someone else to solve the problem. They also cannot deal with a high amount of stress. I don't understand why cursive writing is no longer taught in schools. I am wondering how people sign their names on documents/checks.

Re: Host vocabulary

Marp — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:57:54 GMT

@Ballyho wrote:
Agreed!!!

Also - nother - is not a word!!!

@Ballyho

nother

nŭᴛʜ′ər

adjective

Other. Usually used in the phrase a whole nother, as in the sentence That's a whole nother story.
Other; -- variant spelling used mostly in the phrase a whole nother (i. e., a completely different), as though formed by splitting the word “another”.
Neither.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

You may find this of interest:

'Whole Nother': Wrong or Right?

The history of 'nother' goes back longer than you'd think

merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whole-nother