Thread: The other article

"May I...?" is correct and polite, "Can I...?" is wrong, impolite, and ignorant.

If you choose to murder your native tongue that's up to you, but don't try and justify it with all that "everyone round these 'ere parts speak that way so it must be the rightest way" BS.

If you choose to murder your native tongue that's up to you, but don't try and justify it with all that "everyone round these 'ere parts speak that way so it must be the rightest way" BS.

Language, and its usage, is constantly changing. We don't say 'forsooth' any more, nor do we substitute 'f' for 's'. Stubborn, rigid adherence to some 1950s school primer does not constitute 'proper' English. Read your Joyce and then try telling me to stick to the rules.

This is completely different though, it's nothing to do with resisting the devopment of a living language or "rigid adherence to some 1950s school primer" , it's to do with ignorant, stupid, and lazy people trying to justify their lazy and ignorant (ab)use and dumbing-down of a varied and rich language for their own convenience, and then having the brass to teach this as "correct" to people who are seeking to learn.

Come come. I'd say "May I" as well, but only because I grew at in a half-British family. I notice that the only people who think 'may I' is snotty or dorky are Americans. Therefore:
In British: May I=polite, Can I=less polite but quite acceptable
In American: May I=dorky, Can I=normal

End of discussion.

End of discussion.

No chance.

This is completely different though, it's nothing to do with resisting the devopment of a living language or "rigid adherence to some 1950s school primer" , it's to do with ignorant, stupid, and lazy people trying to justify their lazy and ignorant (ab)use and dumbing-down of a varied and rich language for their own convenience, and then having the brass to teach this as "correct" to people who are seeking to learn.

I would be the first to jump on bad grammar. This, however, is a matter of style. Teach 'may' if you must, but, in modern British English, 'can' is entirely acceptable. ''Varied and rich'', remember?

No chance.

Why not? If you criticise an Americanism/Briticism you could just as well criticise the whole language. Which is beyond the scope of this forum, I think.

Why not? If you criticise an Americanism/Briticism you could just as well criticise the whole language. Which is beyond the scope of this forum, I think.

At no point did I 'criticise' anything but pedantry. Even if I had, I would have thought that healthy debate amongst native speakers would be nothing if not instructive for our Russian friends .