When did "I seen" replace "I saw"?

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by tdiller

Ebonics making it's way out of the hood

"Ebonics", now there's a term I've not read of or heard for a while.
Scott

[Jim T.]

Who remembers Dizzy Dean saying "You seen it on your screen!"


Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottish Terrier)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan - Braun Accessibility Modified Toad
Remco Lube Pump
5 Star Tune
Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C
Coach Net Emergency Road Service

[Sehc]

I did not say "I seen", I said "I've seen". Your hearing is failing.

[Rich-n-Linda]

If you don't use your BRAKES properly, you could BREAK them.

If a bolt on your wheel comes LOOSE, you could LOSE the wheel.

The word is PREVENTIVE not PREVENTATIVE.

The word is ORIENTED, not ORIENTATED.

Our coach has a CUMMINS engine. CUMMINGS doesn't make engines.

I could cite many, many more. (For those of you in Rio Linda, "cite" is a real word.)

I absolutely hate how our language is being destroyed because we no longer teach proper English to our children. Today it's all text message shorthand or just plain ignorance about the use of proper English. Very sad...

[vtwinwilly]

Originally Posted by Rich-n-Linda

The word is PREVENTIVE not PREVENTATIVE.

It appears Merriam-Webster disagrees.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preventative

... But I'm with you on the Cummings vs Cummins thing!

[Open Roaders]

Actually in England from whence the language originated it is orientated. 😄


Holiday Rambler Navigator 1993 8.3 Cummins

[davendeb]

Aw, c'mon. Liten up y'all. No cents in gitten all worked up over sumpin' so cilly. Lol.

[Jim T.]

(Quote): I absolutely hate how our language is being destroyed because we no longer teach proper English to our children. Today it's all text message shorthand or just plain ignorance about the use of proper English. Very sad... (End quote)

Agree. We are rapidly devolving into something other than homo sapiens. It isn't pretty.


Jim & Shirley & Abbie (Scottish Terrier)
2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan - Braun Accessibility Modified Toad
Remco Lube Pump
5 Star Tune
Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C
Coach Net Emergency Road Service
FMCA 378968

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by davendeb

Aw, c'mon. Liten up y'all. No cents in gitten all worked up over sumpin' so cilly. Lol.

Aw come on ya'll, at our age getting worked up over ANYTHING is an accomplishment!

[stuhly]

And high on the stupidity list should be "Know whut i's sayin."

[Sehc]

English is a living language and constantly evolves. If you want always by the rules, try Latin.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by Rich-n-Linda

I absolutely hate how our language is being destroyed because we no longer teach proper English to our children. Today it's all text message shorthand or just plain ignorance about the use of proper English. Very sad...

As a former high school English teacher, I’ll have to take partial responsibility for some of the interesting things said in this thread.

First, the OP’s “I seen” / “I saw” issue. This is a question of usage and not, strictly speaking, grammar.

Usage is a set of rules people make to separate socially acceptable grammatical sentences from others that are not socially acceptable — or “standard English”. In America this means rules created by white, middle class, educated people. For example, during many job interviews, it’s probably in your best interest to speak (and write) using standard English.

However, when you’re talking with friends or writing an email to your sister, the English you use will probably be a lot less "standard".

In short, you adjust the English you use to fit your social context.

Grammar ain’t the same as usage. Grammar has more to do with the structure of English, like word/phrase order. For example, consider how Yoda from Star Wars speaks . . .

Yoda speak: Help you I can, yes.
Normal grammar: Yes, I can help you.

Yoda speak: Always in motion is the future.
Normal grammar: The future is always in motion.

Normal grammar is usually Subject (“future”) - Verb (“is”) - Object (“motion”).

Yoda-speak works like this: Object (“motion”) - Verb (“is”) - Subject (“future”).

Yoda’s English usage is fine, but his English grammar is “backwards”.

To me the acid test of using any language, written or spoken, is do you understand the speaker? I’m pretty sure I would understand someone using “I seen” instead of “I saw” . . . and I also understand Yoda.

Finally, English is a dynamic, living language. To me, it’s like the Borg of languages — it assimilates everything and is continually changing.

[Rich-n-Linda]

How about the improper use of the pronouns "I" and "me."

CORRECT: My wife and I went on a trip.

INCORRECT: Linda went on a trip with my wife and I.
Take out the conjunction and you would not say, "Linda went on a trip with I."

CORRECT: Linda went on a trip with my wife and me.

It seems there are very few people who know how to correctly use these two little words today.

[Geocritter]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Aw come on ya'll, at our age getting worked up over ANYTHING is an accomplishment!

Doesn't anyone here know proper Texan, it's all y'all! Everyone knows all y'all is the plural of y'all. All y'all are fixin to get me riled!

Steve