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Pedants' corner

Another new 'hate' to add to my list

(102 Posts)
ExDancer Sat 11-Jan-25 11:48:16

These days I seem to go around looking for things to hate.
My new one is the word "to".
Many people, including the king, pronounce it as "ta", well not quite "ta", more a mixture of "ta" and "te".
For example "I'm going ta the shops", or "We need ta get out into the fresh air".
Grrrrrh

valdali Sat 11-Jan-25 19:49:45

& there's the Bristolian "where's it to?" for where is it? That's usually pronounced as OP's prefers, probably as it's at the end.

Kate1949 Sat 11-Jan-25 19:46:43

I love most accents. I have a very strong Brummie accent. Probably the most disliked accent in the UK but it's who I am.

Babs03 Sat 11-Jan-25 19:39:53

Oh dear you would hate the Lancashire way of missing the 'o' off the word 'to' so is 'I'm going t'shops' or 'I was going up t'hill'.

Ilovedogs22 Sat 11-Jan-25 19:33:45

HeavenLeigh

I’m not bothered in the slightest in how someone speaks, it’s how they are as a person that I go by,

Oh HeavenLeigh, you sound heavenly & measured, kind & very reasonable.
Are you sure your on on the right forum????? 😁

Franski Sat 11-Jan-25 18:58:53

I think it's hilarious when people think they dont have an accent. Doesn't everyone!?

vampirequeen Sat 11-Jan-25 18:10:38

My accent means that I drop vowels e.g. t'other, t'was, etc. Sorry.

My pet hate is the use of two times instead of twice especially in adverts e.g. two times as strong. Arrrrggggh it's twice as strong. I know that technically both are correct but two times as really grates on me.

Grammaretto Sat 11-Jan-25 17:53:14

I agree with you ExDancer. That ta always sounds downright lazy.

To all those who think life is more important than that;
This is Pedants' Corner and why are you wasting your precious time answering?

HeavenLeigh Sat 11-Jan-25 16:55:50

I’m not bothered in the slightest in how someone speaks, it’s how they are as a person that I go by,

Ilovedogs22 Sat 11-Jan-25 16:52:11

foxie48

Not really pendantry, more dislike of an accent. Sorry I'm being a bit pedantic!

😀

foxie48 Sat 11-Jan-25 16:23:18

Not really pendantry, more dislike of an accent. Sorry I'm being a bit pedantic!

petra Sat 11-Jan-25 15:55:35

He does it sometimes.
But I’m more interested in what he has to say than become fixated on his form of speech.

Baggs Sat 11-Jan-25 15:31:26

NonGrannyMoll

Mine is "gonna" in tv subtitles. No excuse for it.

Actually there might be an excuse for subtitle 'mistakes': AI interpretations of what is said. Probably more literal than a native speaker of the language.

That said, lots of native speakers of English say gonna. Years ago when I was doing TEFL we were taught that what is actually said, rather than RP or something technically grammatical, is more important for learners.

Kate1949 Sat 11-Jan-25 15:28:32

I have lived here in Birmingham all my life. When we first moved to this part of Brum, which is near the Black Country, we couldn't understand a lot of what people were saying. We went to buy some paint and asked the assistant if they had a particular shade. She replied 'If it A on the shelf, we A gorrit'..

NonGrannyMoll Sat 11-Jan-25 15:13:25

Mine is "gonna" in tv subtitles. No excuse for it.

petra Sat 11-Jan-25 15:11:07

Greyduster

If that’s all tha’s got ta be upset abaht, tha woun’t last five minutes up ‘ere, lass! 😉

Love it 😂.
On a serious note it must be a sad life to actually post that on here. 😥

JackyB Sat 11-Jan-25 15:00:04

I left the UK over 40 years ago now and I'm sure people were pronouncing it "ta" before I left. Sometimes it just fits better.

And I consider myself a Grade 1 pedant.

Baggs Sat 11-Jan-25 12:50:11

I'm a te pronouncer. If you can manage a slight northern "t'other" you'll get it about right 😂

Neither one nor t'other.

People where I live now say 'tae'.

Jeanathome Sat 11-Jan-25 12:47:28

My hate is vocal fry. I can't understand most of what the RF say, due to poshness.

FlitterMouse Sat 11-Jan-25 12:45:33

It’s called "vowel reduction" or "unstressed vowel reduction" and is common in upper class speech. Boris Johnson very noticeable does it too.

For example, a handkerchief in working class speech might be “’ankercheef”, but in upper-class speech it becomes almost “hnkchf”. Vowels are clipped.

The late Queen spoke like this so it doesn’t surprise me that the King does to.

HousePlantQueen Sat 11-Jan-25 12:39:55

Everyone should listen to The News Quiz, nothing like a bit of humour and mockery to give perspective. grin

pascal30 Sat 11-Jan-25 12:37:03

HousePlantQueen

When I take over the world, one of my first edicts will be compulsory grammar lessons for anyone using 'should of' instead of 'should have'.

The second will be to listen to the News Quiz on R4 to get a humorous perspective on news and politics.

I couldn't agree more ...

Love the News Quiz and miss Dead Ringers...

Baggs Sat 11-Jan-25 12:34:14

How long is your hate list, ExD?

And why do you need one?

Greyduster Sat 11-Jan-25 12:31:52

If that’s all tha’s got ta be upset abaht, tha woun’t last five minutes up ‘ere, lass! 😉

HousePlantQueen Sat 11-Jan-25 12:30:45

When I take over the world, one of my first edicts will be compulsory grammar lessons for anyone using 'should of' instead of 'should have'.

The second will be to listen to the News Quiz on R4 to get a humorous perspective on news and politics.

welbeck Sat 11-Jan-25 12:27:38

Life must be hard for extra sensitive people.