SO

Somehow couldn't get it to work, but if it was OE, I doubt if I could speak it, even though at one time I could read and write it and - jingl what's wrong with saying one studied it?

Nothing at all. ()

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For a few seconds.

Why the caustic remark, jingle?

I'm off. Back with you lot tomorrow. Bye for now.

I'm sure it was just your dry sense of humour, wasn't it jingl?

Wot caustic remark? [innocent]

jing was that Saxon English? I know it wasn't medieval because that's like my native black country!

I didn't know they still spoke Middle English in the Black Country. Mostly I've just passed through without stopping.

Another Americanism which has crept in, people who go into coffee shops and ask "can I get a latte, flat white etc." rather than "can I have" it also seems to me if you ask anyone under 30 "how are you?" they tend to answer "I'm good" I feel like responding wasn't asking about your behaviour!

Have I read this before ? feels like Dejavu

When asked how I am I always say I"m good , short and to the point and also I feel better than reeling off a litany of complaints . Perhaps just me .

Nonu - the answer used to be 'well', not 'good', which is just as short!

And you have read most of this before - without checking every post since the forum's inception many new members would not realise that this is a perennial thread! It will come round again, be sure of it.

baNANA my younger GS always answers with "I'm good" when I ask him how he is. I answer with "I'll be the judge of that", which always confused him as he's only seven!

'confuses' not 'confused'

Your point , greatnan ?

If we are going to be picky - it should be 'may I have' rather than 'can I have', shouldn't it?

JO4 aaaaah cute for a 7 year old.

janthea, meant to say "may I have", can I have would be a bit rude.

I avoid the mays and cans by saying "I'd like a ... please". Or maybe "Could I have a ...?" I'm more concerned about being understood than the grammar being correct.

Similarly, since I understand what the response "good" means when I ask how someone is, it doesn't bother me in the least. Language is for communicating. If it does the job, why by picky? I think clarity of speech and articulation (same thing?) are more important than a person's particular choice of diction, which latter is probably driven by whatever is fashionable in their social milieu anyway.

What is my point about what, nonu? You commented that you thought you had read some of this before and I tried to be helpful. (Shakes head resignedly).

I would never say I am well , it sounds too much like an old maiden aunt , or one who thinks like one anyway . I must say fine , depending on my mood