Jeanette X
Mar 29th, 2006, 11:20 PM
Does this article piss you off as much as it does me?
http://smh.com.au/news/heckler/us-cultural-imperialism-really-takes-the-cookie/2006/03/13/1142098401587.html
US cultural imperialism really takes the cookie
Email Print Normal font Large font By Charlie Henry
March 14, 2006
Literacylevels are declining. Literacy involves not just the ability to read and write but to comprehend. Teaching methods developed in America result in people being able to read but not comprehend words.
This is a major cause of the breakdown in communication in our society as individuals become more alienated. Thus, Australia continues down the road to becoming the 51st state of America.
Changes in language reflect changes in society. Seemingly subtle or inconsequential changes become of qualitative significance when viewed in their sum total. The Americanisation of our language reflects the Americanisation of our society. The introduction of sterile euphemisms and the demise of our vernacular reflect an increasingly conformist, bland and sterile Australia. These changes are unconsciously accepted by people and thereby are subtly introduced to the public domain.
Word by word, phrase by phrase, American cultural imperialism robs us of any remaining sovereignty. American English is an illiterate, bastardised dialect. Verbs are used for nouns. Phrases and words are rendered incomprehensible for the sake of so-called political correctness. Australia's sovereignty is further compromised through the loss of quintessentially Australian language.
Computer jargon creeps into everyday usage. "Access" becomes a verb, while "programme" is contracted.
Sport - the latter-day opiate of the masses - plays a crucial role in mangling English. To comment on becomes "commentate". Swimming lessons/squads/teams become "swim" lessons/squads/teams, etc. Carnivals or meetings become "meets". Attack and defence become "offence" and "dee-fence". Batsmen and fieldsmen in cricket become "batters" and "fielders" in defiance of the official wording of the rules.
Logic is lost when American usages are accepted. An apartment is literally a single room. A billion is a million to the power of two (bi-), just as a trillion is a million to the power of three (tri-).
Business groans under the weight of Americanisation. Barmaids and barmen become "bartenders". Bills become "checks". Biscuits become "cookies". Chips become "fries". Cupcakes become "muffins". Lifts become "elevators". Pubs become "bars". Takeaway becomes "takeout". Toilets become places of rest. Trainees become "interns". Until becomes "thru". "Message", "network" and "text" become verbs. Research becomes "ree-search". One "grows" one's business rather than building it.
In the public sector, railway stations become "train stations". A lieutenant becomes one who resides in a toilet. Social security becomes "welfare". Footpaths become "sidewalks".
Changes in language reflect broader social problems. Economic pressures on individuals are exacerbated by an inability to express oneself. One result of this is the increasing incidence of various forms of rage as society implodes.
It is not OK.
Readers are invited to apply wit to anything that makes the blood boil. Send 600 words, with day and evening phone numbers, to heckler@smh.com.au. Submissions may be edited and published on the internet.
http://smh.com.au/news/heckler/us-cultural-imperialism-really-takes-the-cookie/2006/03/13/1142098401587.html
US cultural imperialism really takes the cookie
Email Print Normal font Large font By Charlie Henry
March 14, 2006
Literacylevels are declining. Literacy involves not just the ability to read and write but to comprehend. Teaching methods developed in America result in people being able to read but not comprehend words.
This is a major cause of the breakdown in communication in our society as individuals become more alienated. Thus, Australia continues down the road to becoming the 51st state of America.
Changes in language reflect changes in society. Seemingly subtle or inconsequential changes become of qualitative significance when viewed in their sum total. The Americanisation of our language reflects the Americanisation of our society. The introduction of sterile euphemisms and the demise of our vernacular reflect an increasingly conformist, bland and sterile Australia. These changes are unconsciously accepted by people and thereby are subtly introduced to the public domain.
Word by word, phrase by phrase, American cultural imperialism robs us of any remaining sovereignty. American English is an illiterate, bastardised dialect. Verbs are used for nouns. Phrases and words are rendered incomprehensible for the sake of so-called political correctness. Australia's sovereignty is further compromised through the loss of quintessentially Australian language.
Computer jargon creeps into everyday usage. "Access" becomes a verb, while "programme" is contracted.
Sport - the latter-day opiate of the masses - plays a crucial role in mangling English. To comment on becomes "commentate". Swimming lessons/squads/teams become "swim" lessons/squads/teams, etc. Carnivals or meetings become "meets". Attack and defence become "offence" and "dee-fence". Batsmen and fieldsmen in cricket become "batters" and "fielders" in defiance of the official wording of the rules.
Logic is lost when American usages are accepted. An apartment is literally a single room. A billion is a million to the power of two (bi-), just as a trillion is a million to the power of three (tri-).
Business groans under the weight of Americanisation. Barmaids and barmen become "bartenders". Bills become "checks". Biscuits become "cookies". Chips become "fries". Cupcakes become "muffins". Lifts become "elevators". Pubs become "bars". Takeaway becomes "takeout". Toilets become places of rest. Trainees become "interns". Until becomes "thru". "Message", "network" and "text" become verbs. Research becomes "ree-search". One "grows" one's business rather than building it.
In the public sector, railway stations become "train stations". A lieutenant becomes one who resides in a toilet. Social security becomes "welfare". Footpaths become "sidewalks".
Changes in language reflect broader social problems. Economic pressures on individuals are exacerbated by an inability to express oneself. One result of this is the increasing incidence of various forms of rage as society implodes.
It is not OK.
Readers are invited to apply wit to anything that makes the blood boil. Send 600 words, with day and evening phone numbers, to heckler@smh.com.au. Submissions may be edited and published on the internet.