"I could care less"....???

[BrownEyedBoy]

I don't understand when people use this expression. It doesn't make sense. I think the right way of saying it is "I couldn't care less." Is that right or where does this expression come from?

English is my second language so it just might be that I've got it wrong ...or right.

 

[melon]

"I couldn't care less" is an idiom to express "ambivalence." Similar to "I don't care."

Melon

 

[Angela Harlem]

It's my belief this is just another example of incorrect phrasing, as it makes no sense when used to write something off entirely.
definately
beleif/beleifs
w/
ect

 

[beli]

" I could care less" is bad English. I have seen other people use it on websites but the expression is "I couldn't care less".

Theres a website around here somewhere listing all the mangled sayings. I looked up "I could care less" when I first encountered it here on Interference.

Heres one website:

http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/grammarlogs2/grammarlogs366.htm

 

[melon]

"Mangled grammar" is part of the slow evolution of language. That's probably why, over the centuries, "Old English" and current English are completely different from each other.

I have to wonder if English 1000 years from now will be vastly different or not.

Melon

 

[BAW]

I was guilty of using this expression until an Interferencer with a penchant for correcting my sometimes hideous grammar set me straight

Mrs. Edge is going to LOVE this thread!

 

[beli]

I'm sure it will be vastly different. I have issues reading USA English. I believe I have mentioned this before but I was raised in the outback and the English spoken is an older version with no television references. (eg "pornography" means violence to me, not sexual activities. "Terrific" means scary, horrible. etc)

I have difficulties reading this site some times.

I believe the language is also changing due to a general dumbing down. An other expression that is frequently mangled is "six pence non the wiser". This phrase is often misquoted as "six pence non the richer" which makes no sense.

And nursery rhymes are changing - Pop Goes The Weazel, Ring A Rosie, etc.

If I was given a passage written in a thousand years time I'm sure I wouldn't understand it.

 

[melon]

I'm sure it will be vastly different. I have issues reading USA English. I believe I have mentioned this before but I was raised in the outback and the English spoken is an older version with no television references.

Quebec actually has a similar problem. Their French is actually 17th century French or something of the sort. They also speak at a faster pace than Parisian French, so even French people get pissed off at Quebec French.

At least English speakers are nicer to those with different dialects...lol.

Melon

 

[Axver]

At least English speakers are nicer to those with different dialects...lol.

You clearly have never heard me rip into US English.

But I'm sick of that argument, so I won't enter into it here.

One phrase that I often see misused is "let's see if we can do it" - I've noticed a lot of people say "can't". Well, you're trying to do something, not trying to not do it, so I see 'can' as correct.

 

[Angela Harlem]

American English bothers me so much, it's probably bordering on the FYM definition of bigotry to some. Which is not good, but I view the use of American English as 'not good'. I had a discussion about it with a teacher a few weeks ago who let loose on some of my class for an essay we did, and some used many American spellings and phrases in their research. In this case I suspect it was partly due to not writing entirely on their own and was from 'borrowing' too heavily from their resources. But we'd spent most of that class discussing Imperialism and the Church and America and....I'm going to shut up now before someone hits me

 

[beli]

Quebec actually has a similar problem. Their French is actually 17th century French or something of the sort. They also speak at a faster pace than Parisian French, so even French people get pissed off at Quebec French.

At least English speakers are nicer to those with different dialects...lol.

Melon

Thats interesting. I didn't know that. I had heard that the Polynesians speak a different French to Parisians but I wasn't aware of the Canadian issue.

Dunno that English speakers are nicer to those with different dialects. I was certainly ripped to shreds when I first moved to Perth. I still cop it a bit as I have a predominately Red accent. I am getting better at the dialect though. Well I think so anyway. lol

 

[Axver]

Dunno that English speakers are nicer to those with different dialects. I was certainly ripped to shreds when I first moved to Perth. I still cop it a bit as I have a predominately Red accent. I am getting better at the dialect though. Well I think so anyway. lol

Also look at how Australians and New Zealanders like to rip each other apart. I got a lot of grief when I first came here for my Kiwi accent. Though I've honestly never really noticed any regional accents within Australia.

 

[Axver]

American English bothers me so much, it's probably bordering on the FYM definition of bigotry to some. Which is not good, but I view the use of American English as 'not good'. I had a discussion about it with a teacher a few weeks ago who let loose on some of my class for an essay we did, and some used many American spellings and phrases in their research. In this case I suspect it was partly due to not writing entirely on their own and was from 'borrowing' too heavily from their resources. But we'd spent most of that class discussing Imperialism and the Church and America and....I'm going to shut up now before someone hits me

I'd probably be chased out of FYM if I dared to let loose with my opinion on US English. I'm with you on the 'not good' front. I've had a couple of vicious flamewars elsewhere in the past and I honestly don't feel like one again.

But if you or anyone want to bash it privately, I won't hold back then!

 

[beli]

double post as a result of the server not serving.

 

[beli]

There is a cheese ad on the side of the bus here that is written in Kiwi English which I find a little odd.

There are differences in Australian accents, and in the choice of words.

"Avon" is a good word for hearing the difference, as well as "Albany".

Theres Aaaavon in Sydney, and Avvvvvven in Perth. (Accents exaggerated for demonstration purposes). The Perth accent is faster than Sydneys and Brissies. And the rural WA accent is faster again. (well, from some parts anyway)

 

[Angela Harlem]

I'd probably be chased out of FYM if I dared to let loose with my opinion on US English. I'm with you on the 'not good' front. I've had a couple of vicious flamewars elsewhere in the past and I honestly don't feel like one again.

But if you or anyone want to bash it privately, I won't hold back then!

I'm trying very hard to come to terms with it. Alin, my teacher, tried by reminding me that they are entitled to speak and write however they choose, and as much as I disagree with that as it was not theirs to alter, it's a kind of impasse. So far I have got as far as accepting it within the confines of America, but I never will accept it here.

 

[beli]

It does happen here though. Programme in reference to a computer programme is spelt "program" ie the USA way. Probably because the USA dominates the computer software industry.

 

[Angela Harlem]

Sometimes when I work at the asphalt plant, I use a woman's desk which is adorned with drawings and messages from her kids. Quite lovely. Except...Her daughter has a few up " I Love You Mom!" and so on. It gives me chest pains.

 

[beli]

Thats a bit peculiar

My daughter has started saying "class" as in ass, not arse.

 

[Axver]

There is a cheese ad on the side of the bus here that is written in Kiwi English which I find a little odd.

There are differences in Australian accents, and in the choice of words.

"Avon" is a good word for hearing the difference, as well as "Albany".

Theres Aaaavon in Sydney, and Avvvvvven in Perth. (Accents exaggerated for demonstration purposes). The Perth accent is faster than Sydneys and Brissies. And the rural WA accent is faster again. (well, from some parts anyway)

I've noticed a general difference between people from the Outback and those on the eastern seaboard. I don't suppose I've actually met many people from Perth, but all the eastern states sound as if they have the same accent to me.

 

[Axver]

I'm trying very hard to come to terms with it. Alin, my teacher, tried by reminding me that they are entitled to speak and write however they choose, and as much as I disagree with that as it was not theirs to alter, it's a kind of impasse. So far I have got as far as accepting it within the confines of America, but I never will accept it here.

I haven't even come to terms with it then. I don't view it as a dialect; just bad spelling. I grew up as the spelling nerd of the school, and if anyone dared to write something like 'harbor' around me ... at least now I can make jokes about 'u' being rejected.

Oh, and 'zee'? I hate that. If I ever heard someone call NZ - that's En ZED, folks - 'En Zee', I'd ... not be impressed, to say the least.

 

[beli]

I've noticed a general difference between people from the Outback and those on the eastern seaboard. I don't suppose I've actually met many people from Perth, but all the eastern states sound as if they have the same accent to me.

Sydney people sound more nasally than Melbournites.

:hiding:

 

[A_Wanderer]

"Mangled grammar" is part of the slow evolution of language. That's probably why, over the centuries, "Old English" and current English are completely different from each other.

I have to wonder if English 1000 years from now will be vastly different or not.

Melon

Checkout Firefly, you have the Anglo-Sino alliance and that is reflected in the langauge and the clothing, peppering the speech with bits of Chinese and neologisms such as corpsified.

It will be on the big screen in September so check out Serenity!

www.serenitymovie.com

 

[Angela Harlem]

Oh God, dont get me started on Z. It's bad enough it replaces S so often, but at least fucking pronounce it correctly!!


Ok, I'm getting annoyed lol...

 

[A_Wanderer]

Sydney people sound more nasally than Melbournites.

:hiding:

I was brought up in Sydney until I was 8 and then moved to Melbourne, going from saying Swimmers to Bathers was weird

 

[Axver]

Sydney people sound more nasally than Melbournites.

:hiding:

All of you Aussies sound nasally.

 

[beli]

lol

I grew up in NSW, then Queensland, then WA so I went from swimmers to togs to bathers.

And don't forget case to port to bag lol

 

[Axver]

I was brought up in Sydney until I was 8 and then moved to Melbourne, going from saying Swimmers to Bathers was weird

They're togs I tell you, togs!

Though from living in Queensland for 7.5 years, I've gotten used to calling them swimmers.

 

[A_Wanderer]

I must confess that the internet and Microsoft Word have forced me at times to screw around with my spelling especially with Z, although I do say 'zed' and not 'zee' and my elocution is very good.

 

[Angela Harlem]

All of you Aussies sound nasally.

It's totally choice eh bro