PROPER ENGLISH.

I have been reminded in the Sunday press by Matthew Engel of his ongoing war with his opposition to the Americanization of the English Language, and join his cause with considerable alacrity. He was even given time on Radio 4 to carry the fight to the creeping enemy, when it was transferred to the world wide web.

From my personal perspective, not being an academic, more a bath and dance man, rather than 'barth and darnce'; I'm strictly north of the River Trent. My enjoyment of Runyonese (Damon Runyon) is permanent. However, proper English is sacred, and must remain so.

The major problem appears to be the ease with which youngsters pick up this ridiculous jargon, which they must use at school, unchecked by their teachers. This is surely a disgrace. It would seem that a child can't complete a sentence without including a totally superfluous 'like'. Mind you, most BBC reporters must be on a 'focus' bonus, when 'concentrate' or perhaps 'polarize' would be the correct word. Is there no escape from this dross?

The strange thing here is, that when in the USA, I'm conscious that the locals love talking to someone speaking the language correctly, or certainly with an essence of Britishness.


HAVE SOME PRIDE.