Host vocabulary

Junkwoman · ‎10-04-2021

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.

maximillian · ‎03-12-2010

@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.

RespectLife · ‎02-27-2012

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

Pezzie · ‎12-12-2011

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.

zitawins · ‎02-28-2017

@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.

Ballyho · ‎03-04-2023

Agreed!!!

Also - nother - is not a word!!!

Junkwoman · ‎10-04-2021

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.

luvmybeetle · ‎08-10-2013

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.

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

@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".

jackiejenny · ‎10-23-2011

@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."