Grammar & Slang

yea, a wack conversation with someone doing the same damn thing is what inspired this thread. at first i questioned if i was being too rigid but the more i was forced to listen to this foowell i was just thinkin, "you know how to talk, quit bein lazy." lol and the thing is, sometimes i catch myself talkin a lil too relaxed at times and just stop. get my thoughts together. and return to the convo with a tighter groove in the speech boogie. :smt001

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but as much as these language trappings work your nerves, I gather from your post that this doesn't occur during every conversation.

Try walking in my shoes when I tell you the language trapping that most annoys me. It's the use of the word "like".

I've found its nerve working usage is not limited to one demographic. No matter the ethnicity, place of residence, background, position, status, or even the environment and / or circumstance in which the conversation is taking place, be it the boardroom, bedroom or basketball court, it seems to be spread equally amongst all. Here are some examples:

1. "I'm, like, so upset right now".

2. "Those boots are, like, so cool".

3. "Well I, you know, like, know what you mean and everything but, like, I so don't get it".

4. "I was, like, thinking that I could...you know...like, like, like, take those papers over to the trash can and put 'em in".

5. "Have you ever written any, like, books?"

6. "When she said that to me I was like oh hell no"

7. "Yeah, that's cool and everything but, like, I'm really not into that".

8. "So he called me and was like "are you going?" and I was like "hell no" and he was like "blah, etc, yada..."

9. I was in a Target store a few weeks ago and overheard a cell phone conversation. The woman was holding a DVD and said "well I was going to pick it up if you wanted to see it because it's only, like, $9.00". After she put it down, I walked over and saw sticker price. It was $9.00.

I can not put into words how much the use of the word "like" as given in the above examples gets on my nerves. It's a challenge to focus on the point they're trying to get across. And I repeat, damn near everyone does it. It's so prevalent that, even when grammatically correct, I don't want to hear the word "like". In fact to balance its overuse, I've completely stopped saying the word "like" even when appropriate.

Instead of "they look like twins", I'll say "it's almost as if they're twins". Instead of "that sounds like fun", I'll simply say "sounds fun". Instead of "yeah, I did like that movie", I'll say "it was pretty good".

With all that being said, I recognize that this isn't something people will or even should change because I only know one other person who finds it annoying. Everyone else seems fine with its use so it's now accepted vernacular. However, it would be impossible for me to date or be involved with someone who has the "like" or "like totally" syndrome.

 

like, what's your problem...???? :smt077

like, you know it had to be said :smt050

 

Have you been hanging around my friends? :smt043

They have a bad habit of using 'like'. Within a 20 minute conversation one friend used like 27 times. I eventually hung up on her and said I'm not talking until you drop the word "like".

 

Yeah, that bothers me a lot, too. Another phrase that a few people I work with use when talking is, "you know". It's almost replaced "like" in a sentence. I can't stand it, though I try not to let it bother me.

 

very important when it comes to a mate...equally important when it comes to my son...co-workers and employees i take country of origin and background into consideration...friends i give alot of slack to...i will admit half the time i am the one asking for an explaination of what was just said because i do not keep up on slang

 

I'm surprised no one mentioned the phrase, "know what I'm sayin-know what I'm sayin".......I hate when someone says that 57 times in 57 seconds.... NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT F*CK YOU SAYIN!!!

...Or how about when someone says..."forreal-forreal" 14 times in a row....ggggrrrrrrr:smt013

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm from the gutta too, but I was also an Honors English student and a damn fine writer as well. So I can communicate in the streets as well as communicate with my Director and CPO everyday.

....damn, some folks really need to elevate their vernacular prowess....I hate having to dumb-down just to communicate.

(Sorry fellas, I use swag a lot too....just cause I'm Swaggalicious)

 

i like your breakdowns based on relativity. and i agree fully.

 

no, it does not happen in every consversation... yet all too often with some folk. good point on the annoyance of the over-use of "like". another one i will add to that list of over-use is "uhh..."

 

:smt045

 

I say like. Not how valley girls say the shit.

I won't way "I was like at the mall".

I will say "I was like 'you lyin'", and he was like "I shit you not".

If I'm quoting somebody, or myself, I will say "they/I were/was like".


For the most part, I don't even notice the word, it's said so much. But there are a few occasions when it sticks out and annoys me. I depends on the person's voice, basically.

 

lol...double :smt045:smt045

 

so you have to be good at everything this days if you not you good for nothing?

 

Nobody says, "know what I'm sayin'", out here, so I guess I'm lucky. People around my area say "you know" sometimes.

I use for real, a lot, but I don't use it 14 times in a row. :smt037

 

Not at all Nyx. I don't think that's what people were implying sweetie. Sometimes there are just little things that other people say that bother them. I don't hold anyone to a particular level of eloquence, and it's not something I'm picky about. For some people it's more of a preference, but I don't think anyone here would think someone was good for nothing regardless of how they speak.

 

...only cuz you and Espy bring it out of me....."know what I'm sayin":smt043:smt043

 

Very correct, your language is one of the ways, how you sell yourself. I am definitly no friend of slang or slipshood words or pronounciation.

It also shows the respect you have for a person and for yourself.

On the other hand it is also one of the first connections you can make with someone you don´t know. The impression of the first seconds remain mostly very long in peoples mind. So I guess it´s smart to show some manners..

 

"slipshood words"? hmm... i think i need to look that one up

 

I am innocent..the dictionary told me that!!lol It´s the translation of the word I would use in my language..

 

oh. got it. lol