4Likes -
colloquial words
Hello! I want to know how native speakers consider these words in colloquial English as below. I know they are unacceptable in formal English writing, such as business letter, academic writing.
- Ya
- Hiya
- See ya!
- gonna, wanna
1 Do most educated people say these in daily communciation?
2 Are these words accepted in polite society?
3 Do most ordinary people speak them frequently?
Many thanks!
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
thedaffodils
Hello! I want to know how native speakers consider these words in colloquial English as below. I know they are unacceptable in formal English writing, such as business letter, academic writing.
- Ya
- Hiya
- See ya!
- gonna, wanna
1 Do most educated people say these in daily communciation?
2 Are these words accepted in polite society?
3 Do most ordinary people speak them frequently?
Many thanks!
Educated people would not usually speak like this, but might do so if they wish to be seen as part of a group. Polite society - what is that?
Many people use them because in speech speed is often more important that accuracy.
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
Anglika
Educated people would not usually speak like this, but might do so if they wish to be seen as part of a group.
Polite society - what is that?

Many people use them because in speech speed is often more important that accuracy.
Thank you for your comment, Anglika. 
Sorry, I forgot a relevant question. Should I apply them to the animal figures, which are supposed to similar to ordinary people, in my stories? I don't have any target readers. Could you please suggest?
I think the language a person use will reflect on their education and background so it depends on what kind of figures I want to create. Am I right?
Thanks!
Last edited by thedaffodils; 02-Dec-2008 at 15:27.
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
thedaffodils
Thank you for your comment, Anglika.
Sorry, I forgot a relevant question. Should I apply them to the animal figures, which are supposed to similar to ordinary people, in my stories? I don't have any target readers. Could you please suggest?
I think the language a person use will reflect on their education and background so it depends on what kind of figures I want to create. Am I right?
yes
Thanks!
If you are anthropomorphizing your animal characters, then giving them colloquialisms is a perfectly reasonable way to differentiate them as of different classes and/or background.
A great classic in which this is brilliantly used is "The Tales of Uncle Remus". Kenneth Grahame did it too in "Wind in the Willows".
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Re: colloquial words
Hello Anglika,
Thank you very much for your answer again.
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
thedaffodils
Sorry, I forgot a relevant question. Should I apply them to the animal figures, which are supposed to similar to ordinary people, in my stories? I don't have any target readers. Could you please suggest?
I think the language a person use will reflect on their education and background so it depends on what kind of figures I want to create. Am I right?
Wish you all the best for your forthcoming stories for children.
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Re: colloquial words
You would make a good English authoress!
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
SUDHKAMP
You would make a good English authoress!
Thank you for your kind words.
I think a good writer should have:
1. Deep thoughts, good imagination, ideas of novelty or strong analytical ability. (These depend on what style of article they write.)
2. Good language skill
Point 1 is the overriding thing. I don't think I will become a good writer of English on the bases of the two points. But I'd like to keep learning and improving myself.
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Re: colloquial words

Originally Posted by
thedaffodils
Thank you for your kind words.
I think a good writer should have:
1. Deep thoughts, good imagination, ideas of novelty or strong analytical ability. (These depend on what style of article they write.)
2. Good language skill
Point 1 is the overriding thing. I don't think I will become a good writer of English on the bases of the two points. But I'd like to keep learning and improving myself.
Also, you forgot an important quality on an author, he has to be very honest about himself and has to almost bare himself in public(ideawise). Many authors have written that they could not write a single word, which they did not deem fit in their idealogy. The readers and critics always found that weak part in the story where there was conflict in the author's idealogy and the dramtic turn/twist given by author for some or the other reason.
An author also needs to be of very very very open mind.
Hope you would also acquire these qualities soon.
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