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Ok---I'm a old dude with a hearing loss but do wear good hearing aids. My own manner of speech has been described as a bit rapid, however it's nothing compared to some of the young folk that seem to speak at warp speed and just run their words together.

Even news readers on the nightly news seem to accelerate their speech to get the most news reporting done in as short a time as possible. It even seems that over the years the infamous "Southern Drawal" has become so much faster. Back in the 60's there were courses that taught speed reading, perhaps it would be a good idea to have courses in

"Speed Listening".:-2

That Kennedy who got to be President was the archetypal fast-talking politician on your side of the Atlantic. Have they all slowed since, or is there a Kennedy equivalent these days that I could listen to?

You'd think news programs which offended their listeners by gabbling would lose custom.

I understand each generation wants to be different than their parents but they've gone too far in so many ways. Fast speech combined with "like" talkers who insist on putting the word "like" multiple times in a short talk is ridiculous. Combined with writing skills that now include "text speak" instead of real words you've got a whole generation that doesn't use the English language anymore. The solution will come when school teachers start failing them for poor grammar and speech. Follow that up with them not being able to get a job for the same reason and we'll straighten out a generation of "dummies". It's bad in the United States when you add in black "hip hop" jive and Southern Redneck drawl.

lan·guage   /ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/ [lang-gwij]

–noun

1. a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition: the two languages of Belgium; a Bantu language; the french language; the Yiddish language.

2. communication by voice in the distinctively human manner, using arbitrary sounds in conventional ways with conventional meanings; speech.

3. the system of linguistic signs or symbols considered in the abstract ( opposed to speech).

EXPAND4. any set or system of such symbols as used in a more or less uniform fashion by a number of people, who are thus enabled to communicate intelligibly with one another. 5. any system of formalized symbols, signs, sounds, gestures, or the like used or conceived as a means of communicating thought, emotion, etc.: the language of mathematics; sign language. 6. the means of communication used by animals: the language of birds. 7. communication of meaning in any way; medium that is expressive, significant, etc.: the language of flowers; the language of art. 8. linguistics; the study of language. 9. the speech or phraseology peculiar to a class, profession, etc.; lexis; jargon. 10. a particular manner of verbal expression: flowery language. 11. choice of words or style of writing; diction: the language of poetry. 12. Computers . a set of characters and symbols and syntactic rules for their combination and use, by means of which a computer can be given directions: The language of many commercial application programs is COBOL. 13. a nation or people considered in terms of their speech. 14. Archaic . faculty or power of speech.





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Origin:

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, variant spelling of langage, derivative of langue tongue. See lingua, -age

—Related forms

pre·lan·guage, adjective



—Synonyms

2. See speech. 4, 9. tongue; terminology; lingo, lingua franca. Language, dialect, jargon, vernacular refer to patterns of vocabulary, syntax, and usage characteristic of communities of various sizes and types. Language is applied to the general pattern of a people or race: the English language. Dialect is applied to certain forms or varieties of a language, often those that provincial communities or special groups retain (or develop) even after a standard has been established: Scottish dialect. A jargon is either an artificial pattern used by a particular (usually occupational) group within a community or a special pattern created for communication in business or trade between members of the groups speaking different languages: the jargon of the theater; the Chinook jargon. A vernacular is the authentic natural pattern of speech, now usually on the informal level, used by persons indigenous to a certain community, large or small.

Language only becomes a problem when there is no understanding between the speaker and the listener.

bobmielke;1361339 wrote: I understand each generation wants to be different than their parents but...That's an intriguing concept, Bob. Would you care to explain it in more detail?

bobmielke;1361339 wrote: I understand each generation wants to be different than their parents but they've gone too far in so many ways. Fast speech combined with "like" talkers who insist on putting the word "like" multiple times in a short talk is ridiculous. Combined with writing skills that now include "text speak" instead of real words you've got a whole generation that doesn't use the English language anymore. The solution will come when school teachers start failing them for poor grammar and speech. Follow that up with them not being able to get a job for the same reason and we'll straighten out a generation of "dummies". It's bad in the United States when you add in black "hip hop" jive and Southern Redneck drawl.


It's the same here Bob, every second work is 'like'.

plus we tend to have tons of wanna-be's dressed in their baggy pants that are pulled down to their ass.

I know every generation is different, but this one is the by far the worse I have ever seen & unfortunately heard.

How can we point fingers at an entire generation that hasn't been raised by their working class parents but instead, have been raised by baby sitters and daycare centers? They have no guidance, no boundaries, no dreams or aspirations. It's actually quite sad.

bobmielke;1361386 wrote: How can we point fingers at an entire generation that hasn't been raised by their working class parents but instead, have been raised by baby sitters and daycare centers? They have no guidance, no boundaries, no dreams or aspirations. It's actually quite sad.I agree with you there, Bob, but it should be noted that, although you failed to mention it, your indictment extends to the school system too.

Ahso!;1361389 wrote: I agree with you there, Bob, but it should be noted that, although you failed to mention it, your indictment extends to the school system too.


considering what some kids are like now a days, how can any teacher properly teach them?

Odie;1361405 wrote: considering what some kids are like now a days, how can any teacher properly teach them?


Whilst education is a co-operative venture between school and parents it has to be remembered that teachers are in loco parentis from the point at which the child enters schools premises until they leave.

The situation at the moment appears to be that the teachers have the responsibility for maintaining discipline but do not have the authority to enforce it.

Either the parents devolve responsibility and the teachers are given the right to set values and enforce discipline or parents should not take the children to school - you cannot have responsibility without authority.

The kids know that they can do what they like and the teachers can do very little about it - most of the time the parents will back their little angels up and, if not, the law will enforce their "rights".

Bryn Mawr;1361478 wrote: Whilst education is a co-operative venture between school and parents it has to be remembered that teachers are in loco parentis from the point at which the child enters schools premises until they leave.

The situation at the moment appears to be that the teachers have the responsibility for maintaining discipline but do not have the authority to enforce it.

Either the parents devolve responsibility and the teachers are given the right to set values and enforce discipline or parents should not take the children to school - you cannot have responsibility without authority.

The kids know that they can do what they like and the teachers can do very little about it - most of the time the parents will back their little angels up and, if not, the law will enforce their "rights".


I know Bryn and I really feel for teachers in these situations as they themselves are in danger.

just as our Chonsi, she's had things thrown across the room at her.

and your correct, parents think they're kids are angels.

Odie;1361488 wrote: and your correct, parents think they're kids are angels.To be fair, most are if you grant a little leeway for the strain involved in growing up.

spot;1361507 wrote: To be fair, most are if you grant a little leeway for the strain involved in growing up.


'The kids know that they can do what they like and the teachers can do very little about it - most of the time the parents will back their little angels up and, if not, the law will enforce their "rights".'

As Bryn said and I agree, the kids we were talking about are kids that misbehave on a regular basis.

Odie;1361513 wrote: the kids we were talking about are kids that misbehave on a regular basis.
Then why not say so rather than write as though you're talking about all kids?

spot;1361522 wrote: Then why not say so rather than write as though you're talking about all kids?


you need to read the posts spot.

'considering what 'some' kids are like now a days, how can any teacher properly teach them?'

I think its all the energy drinks they slam.

YZGI;1361526 wrote: I think its all the energy drinks they slam.


you got that one right!

A few things I've learnt whilst raising boys ...

All teenage boys lose their power of speech . I never trust a teenage boy who is articulate in all his speech, there's something very wrong with that ....it's not normal. I only accept grunts sighs and a rude "what"? instead of "pardon" because the second thing teenage boys lose is their manners ....it's just what happens because their brains are taking a holiday while the rest of the body accumulates hair, puppy fat loss and a mans shape. When they eventually do resume speech again they are not talking fast but running their words into each other.....that's what gives the impression of talking fast. I found this is a global phenomonon after talking to a woman with teenage boys overseas who speak an entirely different language. anthropologically speaking ...........It's a "boy thing". Yes that's right people, you can grunt sigh and say huh and act larthargic in every language around the world .

fuzzywuzzy;1361599 wrote: A few things I've learnt whilst raising boys ...

All teenage boys lose their power of speech . I never trust a teenage boy who is articulate in all his speech, there's something very wrong with that ....it's not normal. I only accept grunts sighs and a rude "what"? instead of "pardon" because the second thing teenage boys lose is their manners ....it's just what happens because their brains are taking a holiday while the rest of the body accumulates hair, puppy fat loss and a mans shape. When they eventually do resume speech again they are not talking fast but running their words into each other.....that's what gives the impression of talking fast. I found this is a global phenomonon after talking to a woman with teenage boys overseas who speak an entirely different language. anthropologically speaking ...........It's a "boy thing". Yes that's right people, you can grunt sigh and say huh and act larthargic in every language around the world .


It's not just a boy thing-------girls, particularly teenage girls speak in a language and speed that can only be assimilated by their peers.

Lon;1361620 wrote: It's not just a boy thing-------girls, particularly teenage girls speak in a language and speed that can only be assimilated by their peers.


It's like we should like go to the mall like and have some lunch then like we can go downtown like and see the show.:rolleyes:

I'm sorry Lon but I fit into the catagory of "fast talker" and I am of the senior generation. I have always talked rapidly even as a child. My mother always suggested that I persue a career of a auctioneer. I am very self consious of it but forget sometimes. My deceased husband had a hearing problem and so imagine our converations. It was repeat, repeat,repeat. He loved me anyway, bless his heart.