Are you tolerant of English mistakes?

[Elizabeth]

One has to be very careful to learn not only good coloquial speach, but also, to avoid speach that is outdated... When you learn Japanese, you tend to sound un-natural I think, right off the bat.

They can laugh all evening for all I'm concerned. I'll return the favor when they try to say something in English. What I care about is learning standard Japanese which means by-the-book proper grammar and pronunciation before splitting sentences into a million colloquial, conversational 乱れている日本語 pieces.

 

[Revenant]

Some Australians like to go up at the end of a sentence making everything they say sound like a question. That could be one reason why you find it odd.
To correct "Dunno" to "Don't know" or "do not know"
"Wanna" to "want to"
Not to critcise or anything (Am I being anal here?)

Not sure if the correcting part is in reference to Aussies, the same stuff is quite common among Canucks.

I mean as in they seem to use things like don't and doesn't, or have and has a bit differently from us.

 

[JimmySeal]

I've noticed that New Zealanders often say "I might do." where I would usually say "I might." I guess there's no solid reason why either is better than the other.

I toned down my act of correcting people's English after a large portion of the Tokushima JET community ganged up on me for correcting their webmaster (I figured English teachers should know the difference between "they're," "there" and "there," and how to use an apostrophe). But I have done it a few times since then.
I have Japanese friends who only use English in intermittent sentences, and I think they appreciate it when I rearrange their sentences into more natural-sounding English.

 

[Mycernius]

Not sure if the correcting part is in reference to Aussies, the same stuff is quite common among Canucks.
I mean as in they seem to use things like don't and doesn't, or have and has a bit differently from us.

No, I should have put a space between the correction and the comment about Australians.

I have never noticed the rising inflection in Canadian speech (I have Canadian relatives), but the "aye" at the end of every sentence can get a bit annoying sometimes. I do notice that not everyone does it, but it is very noticable when speaking to someone who habitually uses it. It is almost as bad as the universal teenage saying of "Ya'know" at the end of every statement. Britney Spears is, or was, fond of this.

@RockLee : I missed that one

 

[Thunderthief]

Alot of Super Nintendo and Playstation RPG's I have, have medicore english translations.

 

[Nicky]

I try to be tolerant of mistakes made by others, I make plenty myself. Sometimes I can proofread a post several times and STILL miss huge errors. It's because I know exactly what I want to say ahead of time, and when I type and get to a word that looks similar to another word (For example: what/want) my hands automatically type out whichever word I'm more accustomed to typing. Then, when I proofread I skim, And my mind just kind of sees what it wants to see. It doesn't notice that I've typo'ed because it doesn't know that my hands wrote a completely different word than I originally intended. It assumes that word is correct and moves on to other words. And then other times, words will just inexplicably be missing from my posts because I'm just that awesome. I don't feel that with all the errors I make I should criticise others.

The only time I might throw a tantrum is when people go on ego trips and act condescending to others. Usually they correct simple typos and try to make it seem like the typo was the result of a posters inability to speak English and not just some error that occured as a result of someone forgetting to proofread before hitting the submit button.

Also, I hate it when people replace the word "scratch" with 'itch". As in "Stop itching it, you'll make it worse" (Stop scratching...etc). I don't know why it drives me crazy.

 

[Nana007]

My speech patterns change depending on who I am talking to. If I am speaking with friends, family I tend to use alot of slang or even improper grammer. But if I am at work I always use proper English.

Also a weird thing is New Orleanian's tend to add Yes or No to the end of a question. Not to really ask about something but to confirm something they know. Kind of like the ndesu, form.

 

[kewute]

I think I'm rather tolerant of mistakes in all the languages I speak, except Spanish.. but that's a different story
I'll correct people constantly in all languages I know, but with good intentions and sometimes, humor, I like to try and help people with it because I know what's it's like to go through myself, and as long as the corrections aren't insulting, they're all good.
I guess the most of it was growing up in an area where many languages were spoken and English was the only one almost everyone knew, of course I let little things slide, the whole purpose of language is to communicate a message/thought, if the message gets across and is understood enough to be corrected by people with higher standards of language, it's good enough as it is...

/hope i'm not contradicting myself..lol

 

[sadakoyamamura]

I am tolerant of mistakes in english if it does not come too often, if the speaker is a non native english speaker (heck even native english speakers commit faux pas), and if the speaker is not an English teacher. In my college days, there were english teachers who really disappointed me. If you're going to teach me the correct grammar, you should practice correct grammar (and pronunciation) yourself. I do admit that I don't write (or speak) exceptionally in english so how am I going to learn much from persons who are supposed to be adept at what they do?
Regarding writing (in english), I am tolerant if what I'm reading is not a formal document. I volunteer at proofreading the thesis documentation of my friend's students and my my you would have a migraine. Hmmm does that say something about the state of education in the Philippines?
In both cases I don't laugh at the person, rather I try to point out the mistakes and correct them in a nice manner.
I am tolerant because I know how hard it is for some to learn a new language.

 

[sabro]

Unless it is on an essay that has been proof read or edited or on a teacher's resume or application... I just let the mistakes go.

 

[Niedy]

I'm not a native english speaker myself, but I'm able to understand almost anything I read... and I get really irritated when I come across mistakes done by natives even I wouldn't make... like your instead of you're... wrong grammar and spelling... keyboard mistakes can happen but wrong spelling throughout a whole story (which is supposed to be proofread before releasing it)?
In german I usually let mistakes slip except when I'm asked to do some correcting (german grammar can be a ***** ^^), as I believe that correcting too much makes people feel insecure... if there is a big grammar mistake or someone's fishing for words I help out, but other than that, as long as it is comprehensible I just leave it...
people that are on a high level in a certain language will appreciate corrections, I think (at least I do...)... but on a low level there'd probably would be a need to correct every second word or so...

 

[fritzmonkey]

I tend to be tolerant. If its something like subtitles though then I tend to laugh a little bit. (Like the classic "all your base are belong to us.")

I also realize that I butcher the Japanese language when ever I try too speak it and laugh at myself.

 

[One Winged Angel]

well i speak english makeing a mistake is part of life just those who perfer to point it out and make fun are stupid because they make mistakes to

 

[sadakoyamamura]

If its something like subtitles though then I tend to laugh a little bit. (Like the classic "all your base are belong to us.")

Subtitles are indeed a source of comic relief. ;-)

 

[Sarah Jane]

One of my pet peeves is bad grammar.
And when I see something spelt wrong... I always correct the person.

I can't help it.
>.> It's OCD or something.


But I haven't talked to any Japanese people who were trying to learn English.
I would assume that I would be more lenient.

As for when people correct my mistakes.
It depends on what my mood is when I'm corrected. >.<

 

[MajideSaiaku]

I'm tolerant of most mistakes, unless its on purpouse.

 

[RockLee]

I'm tolerant of most mistakes, unless its on purpouse.

You spelt "purpose" wrong on purpose? You should be tolerant, as you make mistakes quite often

I don't mind people correcting me, as it is a good way to improve my English.

 

[MajideSaiaku]

Thats a good point Rock, Language is a tool, not a scientific absolute.

Aslong as I can understand what the person is trying to convey I'm not going to be ramming my Hitler Youth issued jackboot down their throat and spitting facist insults at them.

People sometimes attack folk who speak a native dialect for speaking "poor English" or whatever, but who are they do insult that person like that?, if the dialect fullfils the same PURPOSE as the "correct" understanding of the language, then is it really incorrect, or merely different?.

As Rock pointed out, I make plenty of spelling errors and I'm native.
I find using my brain to learn more important academic disciplines then to conciously perfect my English (since I'm not primarily or even remotely educationally involved in learning language its a waste of time for me anyway) is a better of use a time.

People who insult and belittle people for "poor English" when they are otherwise smart intelligent people are scum in my book and are the true "defficient" ones.

Still, I personally cant stand folk who willingly retard their language ability to be cool or whatever, like leet speak or txt type.

But then thats part of my whole dislike for people who embrace self-imposed ignorance, like British Chavs.

 

[misa.j]

Still, I personally cant stand folk who willingly retard their language ability to be cool or whatever, like leet speak or txt type.

That's what I notice, and sometimes irritates me, more than the honest English mistakes made by either natives or non-natives.

I get confused and lose interest in what they are saying when so many of the words are wrongly used.

 

[One Winged Angel]

well some people are lazy and perfer not to use the full word cause they feel it is to long,but they way i see it is if they get their point acroos im willing to listen.

 

[Anannsul]

I'm actually quite tolerant of English mistakes. Not everyone can speak english to the T. If anyone knows someone like this, I'd very much like to meet them.
Anywho..
There are also things I find semi intolerable. Text speak... Unless you are browsing on your phone (which I doubt) SPELL OUT YOUR DAMNED WORDS! It's annoying, but it doesn't stop me from talking to them. However, I must admit I do text speak sometimes when I'm in a playfull mood.
What really gets me, isn't leet speak or text speak... it's those god damn grammer and English nazi's! >< OH MY GOD! Let me tell you. Those people would start the most stupidest (and might I add largest) arguments over someone who types out in txt speak. Then when the person stops and starts typing normal, (with the more then occasional typo due to probably trying to type so fast out of anger) the nazi then starts yelling at them about (oh look you forgot a . or yeah well you misspelled "enter word here".)
That's what gets me.....