Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Thanks for your posts, jigjag. If you're just saying 'or', I think I'd see that as you putting an 'R' in 'awe'?

I grew up with 'youse' though I seldom use (!) it now. I think it's a very efficient word - a much better, ie more explicit plural, than 'you'. Your ewes, hues etc scenario was quite entertaining!

Malone

I cant imagine you using "youse". I cringe when I hear it. I thought it was unique to these parts. I agree it is useful to have different words for the singular and plural, but I am not going back to "thou".

I must be putting an "R" in "awe". Chambers tells me not to, but I cant see how, without using the American short "O" as in "o-some" which they are very fond of.

I use my vowel in "paw" and "poor" also. Again Chambers tells me they are pronounced differently

Thanks for the suggestion cloverjo. So far I have managed to avoid twitter, but somehow I feel the need is creeping up on me. On the subject of "pedantry" has anyone bothered to take up Oliver Kamm who writes in the Times? He writes under the byline Pedants Corner (I think) but he is exactly the opposite of a pedant. He should write under the name of "Apologist" as he seems to find time to dig up any obscure references which can be cited to excuse bad grammar.

There was a discussion on another thread a while back of FLAW and FLOOR being incorrectly used as homophones.

Oh dear, I seem to have split an infinitive!

I'm from Somerset so I pronounce poor and floor with a distinct 'R' sound, but paw and flaw without..

If you say "awe" without any movement of you mouth or lips it comes out without the R. I remember from early genetics lessons that people, possible races, have different genes which determines the way their tongue works. Perhaps that is the answer. I am of Scottish descent and the way I pronounce the "oo" sound, as in boots, football, cushions, gives cause for much hilarity among my English colleagues. On the other hand, my "poor" is definitely "poorrr".

I think regional dialects should be celebrated. It makes life more interesting.
Bad grammar is a different thing altogether.

Thanks, everyone .

Rossim, I agree that regional dialects should be celebrated - I enjoy (well, most of the time) the variations. I don't think the Awe/Oar clue fits in with that, the Times is a national paper and the pronunciation isn't! Like you, I think bad grammar is a different thing altogether - but there's a huge section now of the population who know very little about the subject, as it's largely been abandoned in many schools.

Jigjag, I go on and off the idea of using 'youse'. I definitely prefer it to 'you guys' - which my friends (all female) and I get in restaurants, bars etc.

Despard, your information about tongues was very interesting. It's something I know very little about - the only thing I remember hearing is that it's difficult for non-Scots to pronounce the 'ch' in 'loch' properly! (I used to think they were just ignorant or lazy.)

Thanks Despard but I have been saying "awe" for the last few minutes, without any movement of mouth or lips, and the r still comes out. I have looked in the mirror of course but that doesn't help.