tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post6902282751885551606..comments2024-03-04T16:39:30.609+13:00Comments on Lindsay Mitchell: Coddington on BennettLindsay Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-76494056533718617192010-04-27T09:19:15.049+12:002010-04-27T09:19:15.049+12:00No, the use of foul language is a particularly NZ ...No, the use of foul language is a particularly NZ problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-65228489569191573582010-04-27T00:15:20.702+12:002010-04-27T00:15:20.702+12:00An excellent post Lindsay. One of your best and ex...An excellent post Lindsay. One of your best and extremely pertinent.<br /><br />I have been in London since the end of July and I just cannot believe how poor at basic English enunciation and expression the English people I talk to are. Their comprehension is also lacking and the situation is no different to NZ - in fact it may be worse.<br /><br />The one thing in their favour is that the young girls and teenagers do not use foul language to the same extent that they do in NZ. Then again I may just have been lucky.pdmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-5012848613709859302010-04-26T17:10:28.141+12:002010-04-26T17:10:28.141+12:00Quite right. Forgot the rule about removing the ot...Quite right. Forgot the rule about removing the other person and seeing if the sentence still made sense.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-4378249342918417142010-04-26T16:30:50.277+12:002010-04-26T16:30:50.277+12:00Ah, I think you'll find it should be "th...Ah, I think you'll find it should be "that tickled both Robert and ME" Lindsay....if you want to post on correct usage it does rather pay to ensure that yours is....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-28876918359332041712010-04-25T21:48:15.585+12:002010-04-25T21:48:15.585+12:00I guess also Lindsay, under MMP we are more likely...I guess also Lindsay, under MMP we are more likely to get a Parliament representative of NZ, rather than 120 achievers of above average intellect.<br /><br />Sadly for you all, this one actually does represent NZ and Bennett is by no means the worst.Cactus Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136331420768264938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-27925568711254123282010-04-25T17:11:12.480+12:002010-04-25T17:11:12.480+12:00Paula Bennett is the Minister in charge of our low...Paula Bennett is the Minister in charge of our lowest denominator. Who cares how she speaks?Cactus Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136331420768264938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-32910841198134820572010-04-25T15:07:08.347+12:002010-04-25T15:07:08.347+12:00Dave, I meant to express that which Oscar Wilde pu...Dave, I meant to express that which Oscar Wilde put so beautifully, "language is the parent and not the child of thought" when I wrote, "Freedom of thought and freedom of expression rely on the ability to think and communicate. Language is the tool by which we achieve both."<br /><br />An individual cannot think to any depth without words to think with.<br /><br />I was thinking further about the business of cursing also. Swearing acts as a safety valve. If it no longer serves that purpose because it has become part of the everyday vernacular, then another outlet will replace it. Maybe that is why we see so much more physical manifestation of anger and frustration.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-68782724858673112492010-04-25T15:04:55.657+12:002010-04-25T15:04:55.657+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-85670237584837700602010-04-25T14:23:35.954+12:002010-04-25T14:23:35.954+12:00Good stuff Lindsay. You are on the right track; ...Good stuff Lindsay. You are on the right track; Yet still you underestimate language. Oscar Wilde pointed out that "language is the parent and not the child of thought".<br /><br />The most significant single cause of the rottenness of our state education system is the refusal to regard the teaching of vocabulary as the most fundamental prerequisite of all learning. One consequence is that many kids leave school capable of reading, but with a vocabulary which limits their reading to comic books, rendering them childlike for their entire lives. Another consequence is that many teachers cannot themselves read adult literature. If you don't believe me, ask a primary school teacher to name the last book they read from cover to cover. Amongst other things, it is highly unlikely that they have ever read any serious literature about education; Many will unashamedly admit that such books contain too many 'big' words.Dave Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05990096427496982088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-72150636104366963762010-04-25T14:12:16.029+12:002010-04-25T14:12:16.029+12:00English is an extraordinary language, appreciated ...English is an extraordinary language, appreciated even more for those of us for whom is not our mother tongue.<br /><br />A week ago I saw Michelle Obama being interviewd on TV. She uttered "you know" countless times during a very short period.<br /><br />A local example of speech laziness is the Prime Minister, who has an atrocious diction. Key abuses the language on every occasion he opens his mouth.Manolonoreply@blogger.com