Comments on: On the future of English http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/ Lecturer, geologist and author: official website Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Smokey the Dog http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/comment-page-1/#comment-633 Smokey the Dog Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:37:00 +0000 http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/#comment-633 Well according to 1 Corinthians Paul was not a polished orator.<br /><br />1Cor.2:1-4 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, <br /><br />Our preaching should not rest on oratory, but upon the message of the cross. Well according to 1 Corinthians Paul was not a polished orator.

1Cor.2:1-4 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

Our preaching should not rest on oratory, but upon the message of the cross.

]]> By: Catherine Brislee http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Catherine Brislee Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:37:08 +0000 http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/#comment-632 I have a New Testament in Scots. It's a lot of fun looking up favourite passages, but the truth is it is already old fashioned, and it is written in a different dialect to the one spoken in the north of Scotland where I live.<br /><br />I didn't know the KJV uses informal English. Language changes so fast that I guess any version is in danger of becoming "authorised".<br /><br />On a slightly different note (and I don't mean to contradict myself here) I believe we really lost out when we stopped using one language for the purposes of scholarship. I'm trying to do some research into the Roman Empire at the moment, and I innocently thought being able to read Latin would be enough. But no, for serious research I need fluent French, German and Italian!<br /><br />For communication with scholars from different countries, and for teaching clarity of thought and probably improving everybody's English along the way I say to schools everywhere -<br /><br />Bring back Latin! I have a New Testament in Scots. It's a lot of fun looking up favourite passages, but the truth is it is already old fashioned, and it is written in a different dialect to the one spoken in the north of Scotland where I live.

I didn't know the KJV uses informal English. Language changes so fast that I guess any version is in danger of becoming "authorised".

On a slightly different note (and I don't mean to contradict myself here) I believe we really lost out when we stopped using one language for the purposes of scholarship. I'm trying to do some research into the Roman Empire at the moment, and I innocently thought being able to read Latin would be enough. But no, for serious research I need fluent French, German and Italian!

For communication with scholars from different countries, and for teaching clarity of thought and probably improving everybody's English along the way I say to schools everywhere -

Bring back Latin!

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/comment-page-1/#comment-631 Stephanie Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:30:17 +0000 http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/#comment-631 Having had quite a few encounters involving GBE, I understand exactly what you're talking about.<br /><br />I was also going to comment on how the KJV was actually everyday English at the time, but Tony Maude beat me to it. <br /><br />Very interesting comparison between Koine Greek and GBE too. I hadn't really thought of that. Having had quite a few encounters involving GBE, I understand exactly what you're talking about.

I was also going to comment on how the KJV was actually everyday English at the time, but Tony Maude beat me to it.

Very interesting comparison between Koine Greek and GBE too. I hadn't really thought of that.

]]> By: Tony Maude http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Tony Maude Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:59:42 +0000 http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/#comment-630 Something else worth remembering about the Authorised Version (KJV) is that it is written in what was an informal style. "Thee" and "Thou" were familiar forms of address and not highly respectful as many people today imagine. Something else worth remembering about the Authorised Version (KJV) is that it is written in what was an informal style. "Thee" and "Thou" were familiar forms of address and not highly respectful as many people today imagine.

]]> By: Bill http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/comment-page-1/#comment-629 Bill Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:54:55 +0000 http://www.chriswalley.net/2009/08/07/on-the-future-of-english/#comment-629 Hi Chris,<br /><br />You've dusted off one of my favorite soap-boxes with this one. I can't tell you how many times I find myself grumbling over a local news voicer failing in the proper use of the language, or pointing out a bit of signage violating the correct use of the apostrophe. <br /><br />When my younger son, who was an English langauge and literature major in University was still at home, he took great pains to remind me that lanugage is an ever-changing thing, and the minute we nail our banner to the mast linguistically, the ship begins to sink.<br /><br />Effective communication is often not very polished. I'd bet that Paul's preaching in Koine caused the teeth of more than a few of the literati on Mars Hill to to grind in disgust. "Why isn't this backwater preacher using Latin, or classical Greek? Did you hear that fumbled declension or that made-up word? But on second thought, some of what he says makes me curious - let's ask him back for another round."<br /><br />The internet is certainly to credit (or blame) for the rapid proliferation of English as the new global lingua franca (love the mixed metaphor - dripping with irony, eh?).<br /><br />Thanks for the brain stretch.<br /><br />Bill Hi Chris,

You've dusted off one of my favorite soap-boxes with this one. I can't tell you how many times I find myself grumbling over a local news voicer failing in the proper use of the language, or pointing out a bit of signage violating the correct use of the apostrophe.

When my younger son, who was an English langauge and literature major in University was still at home, he took great pains to remind me that lanugage is an ever-changing thing, and the minute we nail our banner to the mast linguistically, the ship begins to sink.

Effective communication is often not very polished. I'd bet that Paul's preaching in Koine caused the teeth of more than a few of the literati on Mars Hill to to grind in disgust. "Why isn't this backwater preacher using Latin, or classical Greek? Did you hear that fumbled declension or that made-up word? But on second thought, some of what he says makes me curious – let's ask him back for another round."

The internet is certainly to credit (or blame) for the rapid proliferation of English as the new global lingua franca (love the mixed metaphor – dripping with irony, eh?).

Thanks for the brain stretch.

Bill

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