When did "I seen" become acceptable?!?!? VENT!!!!

[RN4Babies]

My ex brother in law said "I seen" all of the time; it was like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Everytime he said it, one of my sisters would say (under her breath), "saw".

 

[MoniqueU]

I seen drives me up a living wall, 2 people I don't like at all say that and anytime I see it or hear it, it's like nails on a chalkboard to me.

I also dislike I axed instead of I asked. And the mixture of spanish and english words locally here drives me up a wall too. It is like whole generations and classes of people make no attempt to speak, read or write proper english. At least give it a try. Watch a few news programs on tv and you can learn how to speak properly pretty fast!!!! That may not help with the rest of your education but at least it's a start.

I make tons of typos so I probably seem stupid to some but I do TRY!!! No one is perfect but there are some mistakes that just blow me away.

 

[Ember]

I think my favorite on the boards are the people are renewing their wedding "vowels." I always think "A, E, I will marry U!"

 

[tasha99]

I agree that "I seen" is regional. I heard it a lot when I lived in Kentucky.

The reaction people have to "axed" is interesting to me because it doesn't seem like people have the same type of response to other accents. Switching sounds around is called metathesis, and kids do it a lot when they're young (pasgetti, etc). It's part of African American Vernacular English, and while not "correct," I think the only reason it's considered worse than a Southern drawl or east coasters leaving off their "r's" is the African American part. It's sad to me that someone who "paaks their caaa" looks down their nose if someone axes them where they parked it.

 

[NotUrsula]

"Pleaded" is actually acceptable, and has been for quite some time. I think that actually used to be the preferred term. "Pled" or "Plead" are also acceptable.

AFAIK, in the US, "plead" is normally used only in the context of legal proceedings, as in "plead guilty".

If I were to say that I pleaded with you to stop saying "I seen", that would be the correct form in that context.

 

[MoniqueU]

I agree that "I seen" is regional. I heard it a lot when I lived in Kentucky.

The reaction people have to "axed" is interesting to me because it doesn't seem like people have the same type of response to other accents. Switching sounds around is called metathesis, and kids do it a lot when they're young (pasgetti, etc). It's part of African American Vernacular English, and while not "correct," I think the only reason it's considered worse than a Southern drawl or east coasters leaving off their "r's" is the African American part. It's sad to me that someone who "paaks their caaa" looks down their nose if someone axes them where they parked it.

Oh that reminds me of a semi friend I have from Ware, MA. I can NOT understand half of what he says, he must be born and raised there, I don't know. The accent is so thick. And yes I do notice those from the East Coast saying and pronouncing things very strangely to me at least in person. My best friend is from the south and has a drawl but both she and her husband pronounce things correctly and I think it is cute. I can understand them. I don't care if things are regional or cultural or racial, if it is wrong it is wrong. No I am not perfect but I am a 5th generation californian who manages to complete a sentence without the phrase like OMG in it every other though I have.

 

[FireDancer]

The ax thing drives me crazy too. I don't understand the need for violence in asking a question. Another classic is substituting f for th. I have no idea what direction souf is and have never had a birfday. I have no issue with kids mispronouncing words as they learn to speak but an adult should know how to speak their native language properly. I don't even care if people who speak English as a second language screw it up. I poorly attempted Italian while in Italy but I at least made an effort which is all I ax.

Nothing, however, is as bad as the use of leet speak in inappropriate situations. UR is not the same as your. In a text message to a friend, fine. In an email sent at work to a coworker or in a paper handed in to any level of educator...NO.

I have no problem calling out bad grammar to anyone who doesn't have the ability to fire me. It has become a rolling joke with my friends. If someone says something like "I seen that" I will say something like "What language was that because it sure as heck wasn't English".

 

[KyraS]

The one that drives me crazy is,

"Where you stay?"

OMG!!!!! It is "Where do you live?" It just sounds so stupid!

 

[MoniqueU]

The ax thing drives me crazy too. I don't understand the need for violence in asking a question. Another classic is substituting f for th. I have no idea what direction souf is and have never had a birfday. I have no issue with kids mispronouncing words as they learn to speak but an adult should know how to speak their native language properly. I don't even care if people who speak English as a second language screw it up. I poorly attempted Italian while in Italy but I at least made an effort which is all I ax.

Nothing, however, is as bad as the use of leet speak in inappropriate situations. UR is not the same as your. In a text message to a friend, fine. In an email sent at work to a coworker or in a paper handed in to any level of educator...NO.

I have no problem calling out bad grammar to anyone who doesn't have the ability to fire me. It has become a rolling joke with my friends. If someone says something like "I seen that" I will say something like "What language was that because it sure as heck wasn't English".

Right on!!!

Another one I see on the Dis constantly is thru. I am not an english major but unless you are talking about a drive-thru isn't this totally incorrect? Isn't it though or threw? I could be mistaken but that one drives me nuts as well. Also when people ask for advise. I would advise you to ask for advice!!!

Ok I feel better for a couple of months.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

"I seen" is like nails on a chalkboard to me. "Where you at?" is another one. Verbs are a good thing, particularly when they agree with their subjects! I will admit that I am bad about "he goes..., she goes... I went..." as evidenced by my tag. I picked it up from a friend and don't even realize I'm doing it!

Axe for ask always makes me laugh too!

What about all the incorrect/funny things your kids say that become so endearing?

Like the one time my DD had to find pictures of word with the "B" sound, and I sadly had to let her know that the thing she carried her books in was a "back pack", not a "pack-pack".

I notice my older daughter (11) continually uses wrong prepositions. (She learned to speak late, and was adopted at age 2, which I'm sure contributes to the problem). I'm always correcting her. I was trying to think how I learned them, I realized most people just pick up correct usage.

It's the same way with reading. You don't realize how difficult the English language is until you have to work with kids who struggle with reading. I always picked things up naturally and never had to consciously think about "the rules" of English language. When I did my student teaching we explicitly taught those rules through a program called Wilson Reading. It opened my eyes to all these nuances of the English language that as a proficient reader I never had to think about!

I am much more forgiving of these grammar mistakes in my students because many of them are language delayed and also have fine motor difficulties that make speech very difficult. The "th" and "r" sounds in particular are very hard for them.

 

[jenfur]

DD and I would drive all of you crazy. We don't use "I seen" we use " I seent it". Of course its all in jest (Pineapple Express). My mom has always had the most proper english and I must say that it drives me crazy! There are a few things that drive me annoy me language wise but I have found that I enjoy the various accents and cultural lingo at least in casual settings. Business is a different thing altogether. Now, Dh says bury when he means berry and harry when he means hurry. THAT drives me crazy.

 

[Kies99]

I seen a thread on this issue not too long ago, but I can't find where it's at.

 

[Barb]

Using "I seen" ranks right up there with how are "yous" doing? I cringe every time I hear either of these being used.

 

[mlynn]

My SIL always uses "brang"( I don't even know if there is a spellilng for this "word"
"look Aunt ____ brang cupcakes"

 

[starwood]

One that drives me crazy is - on the court shows - she borrowed me the money instead of loaned me the money.

 

[perdidobay]

While we're all venting (we are aren't we?), my MIL says "kindly" instead of "kind of", as in "I kind of wanted a soda." But that drives me crazy too... shoudn't you use somewhat or rather instead of "kind of"?

 

[Sorsha]

I am stickler for grammer, and I am not shy about correcting people. My kids call me the "Grammer Police". Some of the things that bother me:

"I seen it." No, you SAW it.

"John and me are going to the movies". No. I always tell them to separate it in their heads and make two sentences. John is going to the movies. OK. Me is going to the movies. No, not so much.

"I don't want none." (or any other double negative) NO. If you don't want none, then you must want some, right? This works really well at dinner. Me: spooning up broccoli. Child: I don't want none. Me: puts broccoil on plate. Child: But I said I don't want none!! Me: I know, that's why I gave it to you. Now you don't have none, you have some.

"She brang me some." NO!! My standard response to this (so much so that my children now say it automatically without me even opening my mouth) is "Brang is not a word, it is the noise a cymbal makes when you hit it."

"He axed me to do it." UGH - makes shivers run down my spine. He did not AXE you, axe murdering is illegal.

I think a lot of bad grammer is just ingrained. My DH was brought up in a very uneducated home. He was always spoken to in this way, so that is how he learned to speak. After 16 years with me, I have him mostly retrained. The kids pick it up from their grandparents and from school. I nip it in the bud.

 

[baby1disney]

OK...I'm going to get SOOO Flammed for this...but here I go:

What is everyone's deal?!?!? I mean...is it REALLY that serious???? And why does everyone assume when people (or certain people) mis-use words, that they're not educated? I mean, seriously!! Just because I may misspell a word, pronounce it wrong, or get the meaning of it mixed up DOES NOT mean that I'm dumb, stupid, ignorant, etc.

Maybe I haven't been taught the proper way of using it, the environment I grew up in, or whatever the reason. I hate that more than anything when people automatically assume your dumb because you may not know how to use or pronounce a word(s)!!!

Do you know how many people I have seen misspell words, leave out words, or completely just mess up a whole sentence on here?!?! TONS!!! Do I think they're stupid or incapable of holding a decent conversation because of their misspelling(s)???? No. Maybe they were in a hurry or whatever the reason.

I understand that some word usage may cause people to go bananas over, but please don't assume that they're stupid or didn't get a good education just because of this reason. They're probably a lot smarter than you give them credit for.

 

[Sanchez]

I am stickler for grammer, and I am not shy about correcting people. My kids call me the "Grammer Police". Some of the things that bother me:

I think a lot of bad grammer is just ingrained. My DH was brought up in a very uneducated home. He was always spoken to in this way, so that is how he learned to speak. After 16 years with me, I have him mostly retrained. The kids pick it up from their grandparents and from school. I nip it in the bud.

Oops.

 

[Sorsha]

Oops.

I said I was a stickler for grammer (or grammar, indeed) NOT spelling. Spelling is something at which I suck. (see? No dangling at)