we don't intercept with Earth

Question

In this short clip of 'The Martian' the movie, this guy named Rich says at 28 seconds, "We don't intercept with Earth at all, but we come close enough to get a gravity assist and adjust course."

Here, "intercept" is clearly a verb, so I wonder how you could say "intercept with Earth" instead of "intercept Earth" at all. At first, I had thought that this must be some sort of space jargon, but then I realized that that was not the case.

So is this just an Afro-American being sloppy in his grammar (perhaps intentionally in this scripted acting) in an effort to present the character of Rich as a real black guy?

He also said, "I done math." at 1:04 of the video. Is "the" in "do the math" optional? Or is this another of those black English?

GPY · Accepted Answer

In my view, "intercept with Earth" is questionable but not glaringly wrong. It is possible that there has been a confusion in someone's mind between "intercept" and "intersect" ("intersect with" being a lot more common). I don't think this is an intentional effect, or anything to do with the fact that the speaker is black.

At 1:04 he does actually say "I done the math".

Clive · Answer

I think he says 'intersect', not 'intercept'. That makes sense.

I think he says I've done the math. Definitely 'the'.
The I've is often hard to hear, even in educated speech..

He is presented as an articulate and educated person.

Clive

GPY · Answer

CliveI think he says 'intersect', not 'intercept'.

That was my initial thought too, but after listening several times I thought it was "intercept". Now I've listened again, I feel uncertain.

Blue Jay · Answer

From 0:15 - 0:18 I hear ...starting its month long deceleration to intersect, then at 0:28 - 0:30 it sounds to me like we don't intercept with Earth at all.
At 1:04 it sounds to me like I done the math.

we don't intercept with Earth

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