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Tanit Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

spoken English

0Hi, 02br
02br
00This time I am not posting a question ... I just wanted to share something about grammar and coherence in "spoken English." 02br
00I'm writing a report about the impacts of a stadium on a city centre, and a part of the report is based on interviews I've done. I've transcribed all af them, and I can ensure everybody it was a nightmare!!! Here is an example -- it's not really typical, I've chosen it on purpose: 02br
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01i00You know, ehrm, I think, you know, it does make an effect … it does have an effect, but … I’d say it depends on the match, if it’s a, I mean all depends, it does very much depend on the teams that are playing. If it’s international match, you know, and it’s like France or someone who’s coming down, you know, perhaps because you’ve got all the … you know, rather than … you got the whole team, you know, you have the European Championships and it’s not just, you know, it’s not just ehrm England and Wales, it’s, you know, Chelsea and whatever playing02i00 ...02br
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00("..." indicates a pause -- apparently, there are no missing words)02br
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00I might have made some mistakes in transcribing (not easy for a non-native to listen to "non-BBC English"!) ... but I was wondering, why on earth do I have to struggle so much and try to improve my grammar when native speakers speak like that???02br
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00Well, I hope someone will cheer me up and give me a good reason why ... 050010id9
  

Top answer

0Hi Tanit,02br 02br 00Let me ask you this. ) 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive010id1

— Clive

  • 0Hi Tanit,02br 02br 00Let me ask you this.
  • ) 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive010id1
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6 Answers
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0Hi Tanit,02br
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00Let me ask you this. 02br
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00First, would speakers of your native language (Italian?) all speak perfectly constructed and complete sentences?02br
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00Second, 05000 what is the Italian equivalent of 'ehrm' (01i00which is usually transcribed in English as 'em' or 'er'02i00.) 02
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0 Hi Tanit,02br
00 I know you won't like my answer, but... what's wrong? That part of speech was ok. My goal is to talk like that. Ok, not really like that, but that was not "non-English", so it was ok in the end (I guess). You say, "Why do we struggle with grammar..."? I'd say learners shouldn't study prescriptive grammar. And the reason is simple, no one talks the way prescri
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Tanit12cite10Hi, 12br
12br
10This time I am not posting a question ... I just wanted to share something about grammar and coherence in "spoken English." 12br
10I'm writing a report about the impacts of a stadium on a city centre, and a part of the report is based on interviews I've done. I've trans
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0Hi, Clive.01blockquote
01cite10Clive12cite12br
10First, would speakers of your native language (Italian?) all speak perfectly constructed and complete sentences?12br
12br
12blockquote
10What I didn't say in my previous post is that the guy I interviewed is a sales manager, really kind and nice (and handsome,
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0Hi, Kooyeen,01blockquote
01cite10Kooyeen12cite10I know you won't like my answer, but... what's wrong? That part of speech was ok. My goal is to talk like that. Ok, not really like that, but that was not "non-English", so it was ok in the end (I guess). 12blockquote
10I never said it's "non-English", I said it was ""non-BBC English.
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0Hi, Goodman,01blockquote
01cite10Goodman12cite12br
10First, I think it's a misconception. Being a native is not a guarantee for the ability to use English properly. However, I completely understand your point because I personally experience it everyday. ... . Nonetheless, it makes it hard to conduct any kind of meaningful dialog with him, and
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