There are those who - to my dismay and surprise - question whether regional English accents should be discouraged
I may have a two pence's worth of opinion on this vexed question vexed only if you limit your views based on the linguistics of the English language as spoken within the geographical limits of the US of A.
I take the position which covers the entire Anglophone planet Earth.
Doing that, I find that it is not at all a vexed question!
I encourage the various regional accents of English, throughout the world.
This English, as it is spoken to-day, that it has so many variations in usage and pronunciation, is a matter of joy and celebration!
It occurs to have so many kinds and manners of speech because of the natural progression of its expansion on this planet throughout the last five centuries as recorded and counted by means of the Gregorian Calendar..
I haven't had the time to read all 41 opinions so far entered in the debate, either pro or contra. Perhaps I am already repeating what has been propounded before my input on this matter.
Yet I continue, perhaps there is something which will be of value in the things I feel I need to tell you, and all of us, in this English speaking world of ours.
There is another limit to the hope of my opinion being taken seriously.
I am only a user of English, in daily life, and on an international scale, by means of my input in Helium.com.
I use other languages as well; 12 more ( twelve) languages I have at my disposal, in varying and descending level of fluency and daily use.
Let me tell now that I gained knowledge of those languages by picking them up like birds pick up seed whilst in flight.
I have no academic qualifications at all...
This is the time you might wish to stop reading and dismiss my opinion as worthless.
I do know what philology means, and I have proved I can spell this word correctly.
For those who feel that English should be spoken only in the manner it is spoken in England, I find that this position can be immediately contradicted, by a choice.
England has many more kinds of English spoken daily by the 50 odd millions of its people, than most of us English speaking people in the world are aware of !
Immediately this raises the question: Which English language spoken in England do you mean?
In that small number of people who live in the British Isles perhaps a bit more than 50 million souls there are so many variations of English that the people of the far North will have trouble to understand
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Lajos Becsi
There are those who - to my dismay and surprise - question whether regional English accents should be discouraged
I may
Misused Phrases
At work I had a habit of using some expressions from my youth in Ireland and some of my associates often
by Ben O'Neal
Say what you will about the English language, but for my money, there just isn't a more enjoyable collection of goofy sounding
by G E Barr
Gift Of A Writer With Mojo
As of late, I've read Percival Everett's, I Am Not Sidney Poitier. Everett lashes, ties bows
by EMoore
There are lots of wonders of the English that's still 'Greek to me'. But less I confuse myself and turn this into an international
View All Articles on:
Essay: In praise of the English language
Add your voice
Know something about Essay: In praise of the English language?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Featured Partner
Why Tuesday has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse Why Tuesday's featured...more
hide