I get a fairly noticeable eye twitch when people say, "you're bias" instead of biased.

I'm noticing more and more lately that an "h" sneaks in to follow the leading "s" in a word.

Example: "shtrong." --> "We're here to show that we're shtrong and capable."
I've heard this sort of thing a few times lately during the local news broadcast. [Insert facepalm.]. "Shtrong storms in our area this evening...."

how about salsER instead of salsa
or tortillER instead of tortilla?

Its worse than fingers on a chalk board.

quote:

Originally posted by Fusternc:
how about salsER instead of salsa
or tortillER instead of tortilla?

Never here in Texas, amigo.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
"The dump truck ran over my brother and myself."

Just a guess. Do you suppose that the increase in the number of people, who are native Spanish speakers, directly influences the increasing use of the reflexive in English? Perhaps the basic construct of the native tongue bleeds over into secondary languages for any person. Because Spanish relies heavily on reflexive constructs, perhaps its only natural for those people to adopt a similar pattern when speaking English.

As a similar example, consider Russians speaking English. Because their language lacks any infinitive/definitive article, they omit it when speaking English. They will say "I go get car now" because that is how they would do it in Russian, and it is awkward for them to add an "a" or "the" before the object. Likewise, Spanish speakers are bringing their rules and systems into their use of English. This ultimately is how language changes over time.

I'm just supposing here. I don't know.

SIL says "srimp" instead of "shrimp".

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
SIL says "srimp" instead of "shrimp".

That 007 guy stole all the "sh" sounds, so there weren't any left for you SIL (son in law? sister in law?).

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I'm noticing more and more lately that an "h" sneaks in to follow the leading "s" in a word.

Example: "shtrong." --> "We're here to show that we're shtrong and capable."

They've been watching too many Sean Connery movies.
 

quote:

how about salsER instead of salsa
or tortillER instead of tortilla?

That's one of my favorite colloquialisms ever!

quote:

Do you suppose that the increase in the number of people, who are native Spanish speakers, directly influences the increasing use of the reflexive in English?

It's an interesting hypothesis for sure. I always assumed it was from people being incorrectly scolded by their parents or teachers.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
"The dump truck ran over my brother and myself."

Just a guess. Do you suppose that the increase in the number of people, who are native Spanish speakers, directly influences the increasing use of the reflexive in English? Perhaps the basic construct of the native tongue bleeds over into secondary languages for any person. Because Spanish relies heavily on reflexive constructs, perhaps its only natural for those people to adopt a similar pattern when speaking English.

As a similar example, consider Russians speaking English. Because their language lacks any infinitive/definitive article, they omit it when speaking English. They will say "I go get car now" because that is how they would do it in Russian, and it is awkward for them to add an "a" or "the" before the object. Likewise, Spanish speakers are bringing their rules and systems into their use of English. This ultimately is how language changes over time.

I'm just supposing here. I don't know.

It certainly could be, and some linguist would have to make a study.

But the people I have known who used that reflexive construction have been native English speakers. I always thought they were trying to hi-falute a bit.

My mother-in-law pronounces guacamole as guaca-mole. Now my wife and I do it while we are at restaurants just to watch people look at us like we are stupid. Its fun.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:

They've been watching too many Sean Connery movies.
 

Hoaster instead of holster.

The shady-ass owner of a small local AK shop here years ago always pronounced the word 'sear' as shear.

These two really drive me nuts!

I see none of you have lived with an actual French person. Mispronunciation can be a way of life.

After decades in the US, she does really, really well, but sometimes gives herself away by putting the emPHASsis on the wrong syLAble.

Other times, she comes up with something so original, there is no telling what she is trying to say.

Then there was the time she announced she was going to pull the bad Herbs in the yard. She was talking about weeds, the French for which is mauvaises herbes.

She can fool even other French, though. A sales gal in a shop in her homeland announced, “You speak French really well for an American!”

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimg1960:
Crick/creek...

In NOVA, it's a "run".
 

Hence the Battle of Bull Run, I’m guessing

I’ve noticed that I do not say either crick or creek exclusively. Some creek names just seem to fit with “crick,” while others do not.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
She can fool even other French, though. A sales gal in a shop in her homeland announced, “You speak French really well for an American!”

Hey, at least she doesn’t serve you ground-apples with gravy.

Speaking of French words being butchered, I go nuts when I’m in a gun store and someone is talking about shooting “sabots” out of their muzzleloader, with a well pronounced “t”.

Also, pronouncing the “s” in Illinois.
Or the “s” in coup de gras.

I’m beginning to understand why the French are so annoyed by Americans speaking their language.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Hence the Battle of Bull Run, I’m guessing

Yes. Drive the GW parkway on the VA side of the Potomac, and you see several signs for the "runs" you are crossing over.
 

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

Spent seven years of my life in that neighborhood.

My biggest pronunciation bitch about there?

Kooawfee.

That's not New England, that's New Jersey. New Jersey is NOT New England. It doesn't even border New England.

The Philadelphia accent would drive some of you (youze) crazy as we speak in a way that influenced much of South Jersey and Delaware (Del'ware). The double negatives drive me crazy.
Philly Accent
My accent is slight as a first generation American that speaks other languages. I do say "wooder" and "dat ova dere". It really comes out when I am annoyed. The Philly accent is only in the White and some of the Jewish community. The Italian South Philly accent is much more in depth.

When I worked down South, I had to learn Redneckian and Ghetto speak. Reneckians put more emphasis on vowels and Ghetto uses a bit of Redneckian and also cuts word endings off and uses a thick, lazy tongue type of speech. For example, "Your hair looks nice" would be "Yo hai loo nah".

My favorite quote is one overheard in court, after testifying why I arrested a driver for various offenses. The defendant replied, "Mah licen dun got impended cause mah shuance dun collapsed." Translated, that is "My license was suspended because my car insurance lapsed." Yes, the Judge asked the defendant to repeat his testimony, and the courtroom was full of snickers (not the candy bar).

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

Spent seven years of my life in that neighborhood.

My biggest pronunciation bitch about there?

Kooawfee.

That's not New England, that's New Jersey. New Jersey is NOT New England. It doesn't even border New England.

I heard it all over NY and VT. Perhaps they were NJ transplants, but it was VERY common and VERY aggravating.