Tuesday, 27 December 2011

The Language Problem.

It concerns me a bit that a lot of people from non-English speaking countries read this blog. I wonder what they make of the language; I even wonder whether the occasional one here and there is using it as a language learning tool.

The fact is, the style I write in varies from the simple to the sloppy to the sharp to the formal to the idiosyncratic, and sometimes contains elements of several styles. I even make mistakes sometimes (gulp!) I suggest, therefore, that it probably doesn’t qualify as being suitable for use as a learning tool.

Maybe I should devise an advisory symbol that means  

Non-English speakers may regard this post as being a reasonable representation of half-decent English. 

And maybe another that means  

Persons of foreign identity shouldn’t read this because it’s crap.

But then, I can’t really call them ‘foreign,’ can I, because they’re not foreign where they live, are they? We British do that, you know. We call everybody else ‘foreigners’ whether they’re in our country or their own. Bit silly, really.

4 comments:

Maria Sondule said...

That's pretty cool, actually. You know your writing is interesting when you get people who don't speak your language reading your blog.

JJ said...

You're cool
Too, Sondool.

There, I wrote you a poem. Sorry the metre's crap.

Nuutj said...

I do not use your posts as language lesson. I read yours to learn life lessons. :) I really read blog posts in Lithuanian written by my sweet female friend Giedre by using google translate. No matter intentionally, or unintentionally, your writings and wordings influence mine.

Though I do not think that I have progress.

JJ said...

That's very gratifying, Mei-shan, but much of what I write is intentionally silly. I can't decide whether or not to take life seriously.