Got an e-mail headed;

'work need done'

The message was;

'hi david i ask how much will cost to plastic a bedroom as they only 3
walls need plastic as how much would it cost as you can get hold me on
xxxx xxxxxx.'

I replied;

Hi
'I guess you mean plaster?
In which case I'm sorry but I can't help, I don't do plastering.'

The reply came back;

'ok thank you of update if i don't ask i done know'


His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
Got an e-mail headed;

'work need done'

The message was;

'hi david i ask how much will cost to plastic a bedroom as they only 3
walls need plastic as how much would it cost as you can get hold me on
xxxx xxxxxx.'

I replied;

Hi
'I guess you mean plaster?
In which case I'm sorry but I can't help, I don't do plastering.'

The reply came back;

'ok thank you of update if i don't ask i done know'


His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You dont know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You dont know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics, but the basics seem not
quite so important now, judging by some of that which I read. Some so
badly written I am unable to derive any sense at all from it and not
that uncommon. Being able to communicate effectively is an essential
life skill.

I will admit my own handwriting is appalling, in part due to lots of
typing on the PC - so my preferred mode of communication is either the
spoken word or type written on a PC.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
. uk...
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.
SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly poor communications.
Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.
Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You dont know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system.

We'll see...

At least most everyone used to leave school with the basics,

Plenty didnt and could even read, let alone write.

but the basics seem not quite so important now,

Depends on what you mean by the basics. Reading certainly is that.

judging by some of that which I read.

Sure, some of the stuff you see on places like facebook
is appalling, but that isn't unique to Britain.

Some so badly written I am unable to derive any sense at all from it

Yes, but that has always been true.

and not that uncommon.

And yet they use stuff like facebook a
lot more than they have ever done.

Being able to communicate effectively is an essential life skill.

Yes, but there have always been plenty who can't do that.

I will admit my own handwriting is appalling,

Mine too.

in part due to lots of typing on the PC

Mine isn't. Mine was always so bad that I learned how
to type when in the bottom end on highschool and
everyone always howled about my exam papers.

- so my preferred mode of communication is either the spoken word or type
written on a PC.

And plenty use facebook now instead of just engaging in a punchup.

On 09/05/2015 11:08, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You dont know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics.

At various times I have looked at statistics of literacy and those with
a reading age lower than 9 has remained remarkably stable over the
decades, around 20-25%.

I would say its only recently noticeable by some as more communication
is now by written word.

"Fredxxx" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/2015 11:08, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You dont know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics.

At various times I have looked at statistics of literacy and those with a
reading age lower than 9 has remained remarkably stable over the decades,
around 20-25%.

I would say its only recently noticeable by some as more communication is
now by written word.

Yeah, I bet that is the main effect.

I wonder who used to see what the dregs wrote in the past ?

Presumably teachers and those who run the dole queues.

Rod Speed wrote on 09/05/2015 :
I would say its only recently noticeable by some as more communication is
now by written word.

Yeah, I bet that is the main effect.

I wonder who used to see what the dregs wrote in the past ?

Presumably teachers and those who run the dole queues.

Actually, a very good point I had not considered - yes there is much
more written communication these days, but I don't recall anyone who
couldn't read or write to a standard before all of this.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On 09/05/15 13:04, Fredxxx wrote:

At various times I have looked at statistics of literacy and those with
a reading age lower than 9 has remained remarkably stable over the
decades, around 20-25%.


That is extremely depressing.

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/15 13:04, Fredxxx wrote:

At various times I have looked at statistics of literacy and those with
a reading age lower than 9 has remained remarkably stable over the
decades, around 20-25%.

That is extremely depressing.

But you dont get that result with those who can't read at all.

On 09/05/2015 13:04, Fredxxx wrote:
....
At various times I have looked at statistics of literacy and those with
a reading age lower than 9 has remained remarkably stable over the
decades, around 20-25%...

That is why The Sun sets its target reading age at 8.


--
Colin Bignell

On Saturday, 9 May 2015 11:08:26 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You don't know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics, but the basics seem not
quite so important now, judging by some of that which I read.

But less than 20% of those in School are British (In london) so not much point in speaking English few understand and even less will be listening.
I sit at the bus stop with kids and parents going past every weekday I rarely hear English being spoken.


Some so
badly written I am unable to derive any sense at all from it and not
that uncommon. Being able to communicate effectively is an essential
life skill.

So learn a few euproean languages if you want to communicate in London.

"whisky-dave" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 9 May 2015 11:08:26 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You don't know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics, but the basics seem not
quite so important now, judging by some of that which I read.

But less than 20% of those in School are British (In london)

BULL****.

so not much point in speaking English few
understand and even less will be listening.

Even sillier than you usually manage.

I sit at the bus stop with kids and parents going past
every weekday I rarely hear English being spoken.

Isn't true of the whole of London.

Some so
badly written I am unable to derive any sense at all from it and not
that uncommon. Being able to communicate effectively is an essential
life skill.

So learn a few euproean languages if you want to communicate in London.

Even sillier than you usually manage.

On Monday, 11 May 2015 12:17:26 UTC+1, Rod Speed wrote:
"whisky-dave" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 9 May 2015 11:08:26 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Rod Speed used his keyboard to write :
His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many
similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

You don't know that one was produced by the british education system.

Or that it even bothered to show up in school much even if it was.

Likely it was a product of the British education system. At least most
everyone used to leave school with the basics, but the basics seem not
quite so important now, judging by some of that which I read.

But less than 20% of those in School are British (In london)

BULL****.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...pils-time.html

and that was nearly 4 years ago !

Just the moron I was waiting for to allow me to post it.
Note that they include Polish as being white because they are.
Even if a racist like you doesn't see them as white.



so not much point in speaking English few
understand and even less will be listening.

Even sillier than you usually manage.

You've got no idea have you. You being playing with stun guns
puting it up against your temple to see it it works.





I sit at the bus stop with kids and parents going past
every weekday I rarely hear English being spoken.

Isn't true of the whole of London.

I wasn't sting at *a* bus stop which covered the whole of London.

In article ,
whisky-dave wrote:
But less than 20% of those in School are British (In london)

You been reading the UKIP leaflets again? Because even if you mean non
white, it's rubbish. Those figures would be different for each school.

In any case, the vast majority of all school kids are British - having
been born here.

--
*I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Monday, 11 May 2015 13:44:17 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
whisky-dave wrote:
But less than 20% of those in School are British (In london)

You been reading the UKIP leaflets again?

No, haven;t read a single leaflet from any party.

Because even if you mean non
white, it's rubbish. Those figures would be different for each school.

of course they are differnt for differnt schools.
You should check out a few of the local muslim schools see how many white faces you see.


In any case, the vast majority of all school kids are British - having
been born here.

Wrong, the vast majority of children ARE NOT British.
Lots of countries have higher brith rates than Britain.

But are your refering to the world or the universe .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...rn-parent.html.

That's England, in London it's differnt again, and east London again.

if you're brave enough take a photo/video with audio of a playground in an East London School. You'll find that even those parents who's children born in London are speaking the same langauge as their parents. Previously when they were in the miniroty foreign parents use to encourage their children to speak English, this is less nowerdays. Most of my friends are NON english but they speak Englsh.


http://www.theguardian.com/uk/databl...s-poverty-race

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
Got an e-mail headed;

'work need done'

The message was;

'hi david i ask how much will cost to plastic a bedroom as they only 3
walls need plastic as how much would it cost as you can get hold me on
xxxx xxxxxx.'

I replied;

Hi
'I guess you mean plaster?
In which case I'm sorry but I can't help, I don't do plastering.'

The reply came back;

'ok thank you of update if i don't ask i done know'


His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

SWMBO works in social services and commented that they get many similarly
poor communications.

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?


At least there was a "thank you".



--
Adam

On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

"Fredxxx" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

I dont given how common facebook usage is now.

On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from
the councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from the
councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

I booted FB off about 4 years ago. I think I may have sent a couple of
messages on it. The quality and intelligence of the users depressed me.
By coincidence I rejoined today. Nothing seems to have changed.
Thing is that some of the people there have a brain, but they put it to
sleep when they log on.
When I have finished being nosey I'll boot it off again.

On 09/05/15 16:19, Mr Pounder Esquire wrote:

I booted FB off about 4 years ago. I think I may have sent a couple of
messages on it. The quality and intelligence of the users depressed me.
By coincidence I rejoined today. Nothing seems to have changed.
Thing is that some of the people there have a brain, but they put it to
sleep when they log on.
When I have finished being nosey I'll boot it off again.


Indeed - but if you have a local group, then it's not much different to
any other forum

It makes sense - FB lets anyone setup a group with
public/private/semiprivate settings - you can post text, photos and vids.

That's why it's popular and I cannot argue with that.

Afterall, USENET has alt.alt.alt.some********.with.trolls.and.kiddeez

In article ,
Mr Pounder Esquire wrote:
I booted FB off about 4 years ago. I think I may have sent a couple of
messages on it. The quality and intelligence of the users depressed me.
By coincidence I rejoined today. Nothing seems to have changed.
Thing is that some of the people there have a brain, but they put it to
sleep when they log on.
When I have finished being nosey I'll boot it off again.

Strange. The vast majority of stuff I see on Facebook comes from my
'friends'. If anyone posts lots of rubbish I just stop 'following' them.
But only had to do this twice. One was a lady friend who liked to post
pictures of shoes. Several times a day. ;-) Never knew of her excessive
interest in them in all the years I've know her.

--
*Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 09/05/2015 15:37, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from
the councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

Apparently kids have stopped using FB because so many adults use it and
it's not private or cool enough.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 09/05/15 17:53, The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 09/05/2015 15:37, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from
the councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

Apparently kids have stopped using FB because so many adults use it and
it's not private or cool enough.


I have heard that - but I'm not totally convinced.

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from the
councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

Yeah, particularly with the buy sell swap groups that
leave earlier stuff like Craig's List and Freecycle for dead.

On 09/05/15 16:22, Tim Streater wrote:
In article , Tim Watts
wrote:

On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from
the councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

Even though the Facebook Ts&Cs mean they own you.


Quite frankly for that sort of group, no one gives a sh*t. Anything
posted there is as good as public domain and FB provide a useful product
- I do not begrudge them making money somehow.

For those times you really care, you set up your own forum.

For everything else, there's FB - and without FB, we might not have a
local forum, so it's to the good.

"Tim Streater" wrote in message
.. .
In article , Tim Watts
wrote:

On 09/05/15 13:05, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

I think that says more about who uses facebook.

Cute - but a little snobby.

Round my way, FB is used as the defacto local forum and everyone from the
councillors to old retired dudes are on it.

Even though the Facebook Ts&Cs mean they own you.

They dont own me, whatever they claim.

On 09/05/2015 11:10, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

This last bit may be more key than many realise. Its the first time in
history in which large swathes of jo public get to have their written
communications "published" for the world to see. In the past, many that
were poor at written communications would have avoided doing so as far
as possible. Now, not so much!

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:
This last bit may be more key than many realise. Its the first time in
history in which large swathes of jo public get to have their written
communications "published" for the world to see. In the past, many that
were poor at written communications would have avoided doing so as far
as possible. Now, not so much!

The one good thing is that some kids who didn't see the point in much do
learn how to use SMS. Maybe a pain if that's always how they write - but
better than nothing. Just wish the more intelligent would keep textspeak
for their phones only.

--
*Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sat, 09 May 2015 11:10:29 +0100, Tim Watts wrote:

On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

Please keep in mind that such sources will have a very strong selection
bias towards a group with lower than normal literacy skills, compounded
by the effect of using handheld keyboardless communication devices
(Smartphones and Tablets) which will strongly motivate the 'writing
style' to one of brevity in the extreme.

I've no doubt that as speech to text features on these 'gadgets'
improves, so will the apparent literacy skills likewise improve[1]
amongst this group of users.

It might seem amazing to the older non-computer literate generation how
the younger generation take to this technology like ducklings to water.

It would seem that only the more mature computer literate section of
'The Older Generation' are truly cognisant of the fact that the 'waters'
our 'young ducklings' are taking to are, in reality, not so much a Duck
Pond but more a stretch of Alligator infested water that only those
possessed of youthful ignorance or of feeble mindedness would feel
comfortable in the partaking of its dubious pleasures.

[1] No doubt along with the obligatory, yet sometimes interesting and
inventive 'typos' thrown in for our amusement.

--
Johnny B Good

In message , Johnny B Good
writes
On Sat, 09 May 2015 11:10:29 +0100, Tim Watts wrote:

On 09/05/15 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

Not saying my grasp of grammar & punctuation is 100% perfect.

My spelling is terrible but I do know the general form of the word that
I am trying to type.

Which prompts the question; just how bad is our education system?

Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

Please keep in mind that such sources will have a very strong selection
bias towards a group with lower than normal literacy skills,

Really? given how ubiquitous FB is now, why would the people using it
have lower than normal literacy skills?

compounded
by the effect of using handheld keyboardless communication devices
(Smartphones and Tablets) which will strongly motivate the 'writing
style' to one of brevity in the extreme.


I think it's wrong to assume that just because someone writes in a
particular way on FB, that they don't know who to write in
better/standard, whatever you want to call it, way.

Eldest daughter (14) and her friends can write perfectly good English,
but on FB they can sometimes write with all sorts of text speak, odd
contractions, and the sorts of teen speak that has always happened etc.
(and yes, the use of mobiles, smartphones etc. does tend to encourage
this a bit)

It's more I think a case of communication appropriate to the medium and
the audience. Chatting online, they do it in a form that suits them.

It doesn't mean they can't then go and write a grammatically correct
essay.




--
Chris French

In article ,
Johnny B Good wrote:
Very, judging by some of the Facebook posts I see.

Please keep in mind that such sources will have a very strong selection
bias towards a group with lower than normal literacy skills, compounded
by the effect of using handheld keyboardless communication devices
(Smartphones and Tablets) which will strongly motivate the 'writing
style' to one of brevity in the extreme.

There are groups on Facebook you can join. Same as forums, really. Join
those for your interests and you'll get posts that (usually) interest you.

--
*I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 09/05/2015 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

You can't make that assumption. We've just come back from a month in
China where we had contact with quite a number of guides and drivers who
all, apart from one, had Anglicised names like, for example, 'Tony'. The
same choice is often made over here with it being easier to swap to a
'local' name than to explain/spell the real name.

The same also applies to call centre droids in places like India.

--
F

www.vulcantothesky.org - keep the last remaining Vulcan flying

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
o.uk...
On 09/05/2015 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

You can't make that assumption. We've just come back from a month in China
where we had contact with quite a number of guides and drivers who all,
apart from one, had Anglicised names like, for example, 'Tony'.

I know that one of those who uses a VERY english name, that
the reason she does is because the class where she learned to
speak english in China started off just telling every member
of the class what english name they would have.

Quite bizarre IMO but that is the way they do it.

The same choice is often made over here with it being easier to swap to a
'local' name than to explain/spell the real name.

Back in the very early 70s, we had one chinese fellow who
glorified in the name of Blunden Butt. We made snide remarks
about him having overdosed on westerns while waiting to get
a visa. I notice he is still around on LinkedIn.

The same also applies to call centre droids in places like India.

True.

On 09/05/2015 12:35, Jacko wrote:


"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
o.uk...
On 09/05/2015 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

You can't make that assumption. We've just come back from a month in
China where we had contact with quite a number of guides and drivers
who all, apart from one, had Anglicised names like, for example, 'Tony'.

I know that one of those who uses a VERY english name, that
the reason she does is because the class where she learned to
speak english in China started off just telling every member
of the class what english name they would have.

Quite bizarre IMO but that is the way they do it.

The same choice is often made over here with it being easier to swap
to a 'local' name than to explain/spell the real name.

Back in the very early 70s, we had one chinese fellow who
glorified in the name of Blunden Butt. We made snide remarks
about him having overdosed on westerns while waiting to get
a visa. I notice he is still around on LinkedIn.

Interesting, I recall my early French lessons where everyone was given a
French name and this was always used to address us in French lessons. I
can't remember mine!

"Fredxxx" wrote in message
...
On 09/05/2015 12:35, Jacko wrote:


"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
o.uk...
On 09/05/2015 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

You can't make that assumption. We've just come back from a month in
China where we had contact with quite a number of guides and drivers
who all, apart from one, had Anglicised names like, for example, 'Tony'.

I know that one of those who uses a VERY english name, that
the reason she does is because the class where she learned to
speak english in China started off just telling every member
of the class what english name they would have.

Quite bizarre IMO but that is the way they do it.

The same choice is often made over here with it being easier to swap
to a 'local' name than to explain/spell the real name.

Back in the very early 70s, we had one chinese fellow who
glorified in the name of Blunden Butt. We made snide remarks
about him having overdosed on westerns while waiting to get
a visa. I notice he is still around on LinkedIn.

Interesting, I recall my early French lessons where everyone was given a
French name and this was always used to address us in French lessons. I
can't remember mine!

Never had that myself and I was forced to do all
of French, German and Russian at different times.

On 09/05/15 13:07, Fredxxx wrote:


Interesting, I recall my early French lessons where everyone was given a
French name and this was always used to address us in French lessons. I
can't remember mine!

I had one in Spanish - Manuel IIRC, or might have been Miguel.

But not in French. Sadly I was never enthused by either language and
they would not let me do German because "it was too hard".

On Saturday, 9 May 2015 15:40:02 UTC+1, Tim Watts wrote:
On 09/05/15 13:07, Fredxxx wrote:


Interesting, I recall my early French lessons where everyone was given a
French name and this was always used to address us in French lessons. I
can't remember mine!

I had one in Spanish - Manuel IIRC, or might have been Miguel.

But not in French. Sadly I was never enthused by either language and
they would not let me do German because "it was too hard".

My French teacher was a Pakistani, very strong accent in both languages.
if you couldn't understand his English you were being racist, if you couldn't understand his French you were just thick.

On 09/05/2015 13:07, Fredxxx wrote:
On 09/05/2015 12:35, Jacko wrote:


"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
o.uk...
On 09/05/2015 10:41, The Medway Handyman wrote:

His first name & surname were very common English names, so I assume
English is his first language, although I might be wrong.

You can't make that assumption. We've just come back from a month in
China where we had contact with quite a number of guides and drivers
who all, apart from one, had Anglicised names like, for example, 'Tony'.

I know that one of those who uses a VERY english name, that
the reason she does is because the class where she learned to
speak english in China started off just telling every member
of the class what english name they would have.

Quite bizarre IMO but that is the way they do it.

The same choice is often made over here with it being easier to swap
to a 'local' name than to explain/spell the real name.

Back in the very early 70s, we had one chinese fellow who
glorified in the name of Blunden Butt. We made snide remarks
about him having overdosed on westerns while waiting to get
a visa. I notice he is still around on LinkedIn.

Interesting, I recall my early French lessons where everyone was given a
French name and this was always used to address us in French lessons. I
can't remember mine!
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