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  • Answered
    English speakers across the globe have different ways to say things. In general your observation is correct that we do not use the word "acquaintance" as much. Using it, however, is not a problem as we should all understand it and don't really see it as meaning anything more than just that. So go ahead and call your acquaintances, acquaintances. no one will think you mean anything impersonal by it. There are a couple reasons why this has happened. Keep in mind that this is just my own theory... 1) English speakers like to use informal language that is localized. We here in NZ say "Cheers" instead of "thank you" but you'll still hear both and no one will think anything of hearing "Thank you" instead of "Cheers". 2) Our education system might be the issue too. In the southern hemisphere of the world we don't learn such words, or use them as kids. And because of that, as soon as we learn this word it's probably too late to get used to using it as we've already gotten used to using other ways to express the same thing. I think that's the main reasons this has happened.
    0 voted
    November 3, 2019
    1
  • Answered
    Both are natural but it depends on the context of the situation. In some cases, both can be used all the same. For example... "Stop! Why? There is a dog under the car" "Stop! Why? A dog is under the car" In this case, either could be used naturally. So it really depends on the context. So in what context is it used?
    0 voted
    October 29, 2019
    0
  • Answered
    Both are natural but it depends on the context of the situation. In some cases, both can be used all the same. For example... "Stop! Why? There is a dog under the car" "Stop! Why? A dog is under the car" In this case, either could be used naturally. So it really depends on the context. So in what context is it used?
    0 voted
    October 28, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Natasha Mitchell
    Well it's no surprise that people think English is a second language to you, you're Australian, it's clear why :P
    I'm kidding, you should get me being that I'm a Kiwi myself.

    I haven't traveled to many places but I have traveled to the other side of the world and back, But actually being in an English speaking country, we're constantly surrounded by many different accents and dialects of English, I have had dozens of Aussie, American and British and Canadian friends over my life, I've familiarised myself with many of their colloquial differences.

    Nothing bugs me more than how in some parts of Australia you guys put "Hey" at the end of sentences seemingly randomly, it's weird because I keep thinking they're say "Hey" like as to get my attention except after that sentence? XD
    I always feel like replying with "what?" after they say "Hay" to end their sentence... that messed up to me XD

    In general I kinda agree with you on many points there, I do feel that there is a problem with "correct", "proper" and "standardised" English, but there is basically two to pick from and although we don't strictly use it, when attempting to teach someone we should try.
    My schools were rather slack in teaching English, but even so I know if they taught it the way we Natives are teaching it here, we'd be even less informed on what traditional or "proper" English is.

    Lastly, you touched on a point I think needs more attention,
    the concept that because English is constantly evolving, that somehow justifies constantly changing the rules.
    The argument goes like this: because it changes often it therefore means rules must change often.
    but the counterargument goes like this: It only changes often because we allow the rules to change often.


    0 voted
    June 8, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Joseph Chiu
    I get what you're saying there, I would try to be as indifferent as possible although I know it seem counter-intuitive at first, the counterargument to the circumstance you proposed is that it could go either way without some evidence to consider.
    I've seen my fair share of so-called <em>"phd educated native speaker or a C2 level foreigners" </em>being absolutely full of fecal matter.
    That too is arrogance, but it's restricted to people who are "educated" in the English language that way.
    Nativity Arrogance is something that can be found in all forms of the English Speaker world, from the highest education echelons to the people who only think highly of themselves but are actually mere commoners.
    It can infect all walks.

    The tossup is between Incompetent Native and Educated Non-Native, it really could go either way, because logically It depends more on what you want out of it.
    If you want colloquial or regional understanding, then the native from there is best.
    If you want to pass some exam or test, or if you want some more broad understanding, then the person who has been through the test should be better because the Non-native English speaker can have the knowledge of the same Native language as the Learner.

    For example,
    A non-native English teacher who's native is Chinese might be better for a native Chinese speaker who is learning English.
    There are some things, differences in the two languages that only a Non-native teacher who shares a native language with the Learner can make sense of.
    Such things can be structure etc...

    So that's my take on this, I'm glad you see my point about Learners needing to Learn for tests and exams etc, and I see your points too.
    Thank you.
    0 voted
    June 8, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Matteo

    Hah, that first part of your first paragraph there is a bit funny albeit playing with fire and perhaps a bit arrogant <em>"If you ask me, that comes off as arrogant, especially when these people have absolutely no grasp of the English language. Beggars can't be choosers, amirite? (Read: joke/sarcasm)."</em> some might get a bit offended but not me, I see your point and actually that's an entire other Discussion to be had, American Standard versus British Standard, personally I can see your point, I get it.

    To address your statement here...
    <em>"I don't believe announcing the area you're from means you're trying to be "representative" of your region, just that those who aren't looking for that type of English can quickly glance and move on."</em>
    Perhaps I should have clarified that I'm actually talking about when answering questions, people state that they are native speakers, this is the real problem.
    It's more like some sort of flag wave when people state the country they come from, and yeah I agree that stating where you're from can be to give some understanding on what form of English you know.
    I think you and me are in agreement on this next part,
    When people state they're a Native speaker, that can be nothing more than a plea for some acknowledgment of their inherited authority they seem to think they have.
    And that's arrogant.

    I won't have much to say here on the TOEFL and IELTS stuff because I either agree or simply don't know, but nothing disagreed.
    I'm glad that you're aware of these things though, it's often the stuff that concerns me when Native Speakers add in their 2c (two cents) worth of misinformation when answering a Learners question.

    As for your last paragraph on Native Speakers, even native speakers get those big things wrong.

    0 voted
    June 7, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Nurdan

    Because you deserve some sort of reply...

    Okay, so i'm not entirely sure of how to reply to most of what you said, but i'll try...

    To answer your question "So how can a simple native teach his/her own language while does not have any certificate or belief which can give small supporting to teach?"...

    It's within everyone's right to teach what they know to people who want to learn,
    But native speakers should be courteous and inform the learner that they, themselves (the teacher) may be wrong about something they teach.

    Also, It's illogical to think that a Native Speaker without any education on the language would know more than a Non-Native Speaker who's mastered the language.
    I'll acknowledge that Native speakers will almost always know more of their Regional English, but the Standard that Learners need to know are often known best by non-Natives who've had to pass the same tests and exams before using that "Standard" of English.

    Finally, I'd like to address this point you raised...
    "Also, there are lots of English speaker natively. We can not generalise them in one shape. Some people are arrogant, some are not. It is not about the language that they speak :)"
    Let me clarify, I spoke only of Native English speakers because It's my Native tongue and I notice it more with them perhaps for that very reason that I too am a "Native English Speaker".
    Arrogance is a human trait in all humans, but I did not want to generalise the topic to such a broad issue as <em>"Arrogance in the Human race"</em>, I was intending to address specifically a trend I noticed among speakers of my native language, English.
    I didn't want to talk about other languages because I don't know about other languages, as simple as that.

    Anyway, Thanks :)
    0 voted
    June 7, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Joseph Chiu

    Cheers for the input, every bit adds to the discussion.

    On the topic of "Proper English", I used the term broadly there to differentiate between localised/regional language and standardised language as we Natives know there are two distinct "versions".

    The problem is that Native English speakers often use inherited regional language rules to teach English learners by despite that they may never visit the region where that for of English is used.
    The problem worsens when it turns out that the Learner needs to know something for a test or exam that goes by a different set of language rules, standard English.

    For the time being, we should ignore that there appears to be different varieties of "Standard English" because that's already an entire other discussion to be had and is besides the point, Regional English is often not the English that Learners need to know for tests and exams.

    I'll quote you to save time....
    " ...But one thing that native speakers will never get wrong is if something we hear makes us raise an eyebrow, how natural or awkward something sounds..."
    I think this is already wrong and untrue, more often than not I come across something that apparently is natural in another country and simply painful to hear in my own.
    So who's right when Native speakers disagree on what "sounds natural"?

    Also, just there you made a statement to sound as though you spoke on the behalf of all Native Eng speakers, and I disagreed, therefore you didn't speak for me.
    Lastly, I'd like to acknowledged that I probably make a tonne of mistakes myself, but if I could, I'd point out that I don't try to fake that I know more than I do.
    0 voted
    June 7, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Alice

    A good read, thanks for enlightening me on how many different dialects there are in the US, I knew there'd be different dialects based on the sheer size of the country but I had no idea it would be that varied.

    I would presume that public and private schools around the English speaking world would be relatively on par with one another.
    But still, that fact that English grammar and words are taught doesn't mean that grammar and words are actually learnt. I'm sure that it too must be comparable that in schools here I know the average Joe doesn't learn the exact rules of English well enough to teach a foreigner adequately to pass strict tests and exams.
    Therein lays the danger of Native English speakers teaching Non-Native speakers non-standard rules of language that could set someone up for failure.

    To answer your question to me, I would like to say YES or at least YES that I do try to be mindful of what I say, the way I say it and why I say it. I self analyse all the time, and I'm aware that's not normal :)

    0 voted
    June 7, 2019
    0
  • Commented
    @Abdullah

    I think I've already broached this before in other replies, but I'll say again in a different way to provide variety in reading material.

    specifically to you, aye, I am aware of "Grammar Nazi's" and how they're often cheeky smart-arse's being rude for laughs half the time.
    But this is not actually what I'm talking about.
    I wasn't talking about a speaker who corrects allot coming off as self entitled and arrogant,
    But more like actually about a speaker who believes their Nativity entitles them to some authority, which would be arrogant especially in scenarios where it turns out that they are actually wrong.

    I've seen it before, the results of this "identity politics" are evident when a Native speaker in the wrong is believed over a non-Native speaker who's actually correct.
    This is bad for English learners who need to learn a specific standard of English in order to pass tests and exams.

    As for your mention of Arabic in contrast to English, thank you for this extra bit of insight.
    I think it's also a sort of public service to correct someone when it suits, in general it's unnecessary in private life, but if I were holding a public speech I'd hope someone would correct my mistakes as soon as possible lest I look like a fool :)
    Some people will always be offended when corrected, especially when done publicly,
    I think it's a symptom of lacking humility.
    0 voted
    June 7, 2019
    0