On 5 Dec, 16:37, chris wrote:
Dave Cornwell wrote:
Apologies for this but who else is there to bounce it off? I've recently
noticed among certain friends and family that they frequently reply with the
word "exactly" on those (rare) occasions when they agree with what I am
saying. It is becoming as annoying as the "rising intonation" at the end of
sentences which was seems to have had its heyday. Is anyone else noticing
this or is it a local thing?

Dave

Language is a dynamic and evolving thing that changes with the times,
according to how we live. A high proportion of the population is exposed
to a great deal of exported American TV and Media; so we pick up these
language facets.

If Hollywood was in Yorkshire, then we would be saying "Aye up,
chuck..." all the time, instead.

This evolution is not necessarily a bad thing. If language hadn't
evolved through the middle ages, we would mainly be talking about
armies, battlefield tactics, types of arrows, and farming methods.

Change is a Good Thing

Yes, I agree, but my argument is that surely any change in language
should be making things simpler.

"Ahead of" uses more space and another syllable compared with
"before". Surely "before" should be the preferred method for these BBC
producers?

I read "downtown Baghdad" in a publication the other day (can't
remember where). What is wrong with "central Baghdad" - or just
Baghdad?

One last thing. Why do the Yanks "stand in line" when the Brits just
"queue"?