For the past couple of years, I have witnessed a trend in the way Americans speak English.

A few years ago, there was a movement to certify Ebonics as a language. Ebonics, as far as I was concerned was just a bunch of slang words added to the improper conjugation of the verb “TO BE” coupled as the helping verb to a main verb which often ended in “ing”.

Now there is a new way of speaking English which is epitomized by the McDonald's commercial that states. “I'm loving it.”

“I'm loving it” is of course short for “I am loving it”.

Why not “I love it”? Why do we need the helper or auxiliary verb “am”?

The difference between “I love it” and “I have been loving it for a long time” is obvious. The first statement is showing the present condition, while the second sentence shows an existing and past condition simultaneously.

Proper ********* New Alternative********** Ebonics

I run *********** I am running ************** I be run or I be running

He runs ******** He is running ************* He be running

You run ******** You are running ********** You be running

They run ******* They are running ********* They be running

Why would anyone use the longer alternative way.

I called up a customer service person and after I explained my problem, she asked, “So, what are you wanting me to do about it?”

How about the more easily constructed question, “So what do you want me to do about it?

It seems that in Ebonics they didn't conjugate the verb "to be" before placing it before the main verb which often ended in “ing”, but this new way of speaking is conjugating the proper helper verb properly, but always using a main verb which always ends in “ing”.

One step better, but still incorrect.

Can any English teachers out there tell me if I am right or wrong?

I am wanting to know. :confused:

Like this picture shows, people see and hear what they want.

Tired Old Man I Love Him....I am Loving him....I be loving him

My wife wants to know who this girl-friend is that is making love to me. :help:

"I am loving him" sounds like a euphemism for what someone might say while enjoying a night (or afternoon) of pleasure. :faint:

Sorry I didn't read all of the posts so if this has already been covered please forgive me. Let me start by saying that adding "ing" makes the verb active and stating "I am loving it" infers that there is an action involved. This is a statement that implies a greater commitment to the point in question.

There is a story that helps define the difference between being committed and being involved. Bacon and eggs are viewed by many as a traditional Breakfast but for the creators of this important meal it is important to note that the chicken was commited but the pig was involved.

Hence if "I love eggs" I am committed but If "I am Loving eggs" I am involved, implying that my love is even greater.

It is important to remember that language is a communication tool and the rules are arbitrary. If we let the rules get in the way of communication then we lose sight of what we are attempting to do as we become focused on convention. I prefer to listen to the content and intent and try to ignore the structure.

More simply put if, I was in the ocean struggling to stay afloat and you happened by in your boat and I yelled out to you "I am Drowning" I would hope that that would throw me a line. God forbid you would putt off wondering if I meant to say "I drown"

I'm not sure if I've done this correctly, but here's a link to this morning's bbc news that fits right in with this thread.

www.httpi//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5396866.stm

Dang, it doesn't work. I posted the wrong one anyway. This was to do with the proliferation of the use of "lite".

Another example of totally improper, but wonderfully colorful colloquial English-speakers - the Cajuns. My sister-in-law was married to a Cajun (aka "Coon Ass") and I spent lots of time in some tiny little towns on the coast of Louisiana, where the accent is as thick as gumbo.

We were visiting one weekend when Autry, my BIL's brother, asked for a ride to the store. "I thought you bought yourself a car," I asked. "What happened to it?"

"Well," said Autry, "Let me told you. You know there ain't but one telephone pole between Cameron and Holly Beach, don't you?"

I agreed that that sounded right.

"Well, me, I found the son-of-a-bitch," said Autry.

That's the way they talk, often with bastardized French inter spread for good measure. "Hey, ney," is how they greet one another. And always, laissez les bons temps rouler - let the good times role. And boy, do they mean it. Shrimping is hard work, but on Saturday night, after 5 o'clock Mass, everybody gets together to drink beer, eat seafood, and play Bouret (pronounced boo-ray), a Cajun card game played for money. On Saturday night, they put their kids to bed with dirty feet and enjoy themselves like no group of people I have ever known.

Both my BIL and my SIL are dead now. Cameron and Holly Beach were literally, totally destroyed by Hurricane Rita. They say that big resort companies are buying up all the land where family-owned bars and "camps", as the Cajuns call them, were once lined up on the beach, raised high on rickety wooden stilts against the ever-threatening Gulf waters. The plan is to build huge hotels and spas - a Cajun Riviera. I think it sucks and I will never, ever go there.

I did see Autry at my SIL's funeral last year. Just listening to him talk brought back so many memories. I think it would be such a shame to insist that people like Autry speak only "proper" English. There is nothing proper about the Cajun culture, I can tell you, but that's part of their charm. And it's who they are. Who are we to try and change them?

Sometimes people DO see (and hear) what they want to. But other times, it's not a choice.

Do you see the arrow in the Fed Ex logo? Most adults can't, unless they specifically look for it, and sometimes not even then. Pre-school children almost always spot it. Know why? Because they can't yet read.

I would certainly be up for learning ebonics if only because the notion of an overweight 57 year old white Canadian woman speaking young urban American Black amuses me. And it would be interesting. Learning new stuff always is.

Girlfriend, yo be fixin' to be one hot mama, iffin' yo learns to talk trash with the homies from yo hood. Ya know what I'm sayin'?

Tell me if this is improper and I hear it all the time...I hate it when I hear people say" I'm gonna get me".......ex. "I'm gonna get me a pair of those shoes"....It just sounds worng to me....Is it just me or is it wrong?

Tell me if this is improper and I hear it all the time...I hate it when I hear people say" I'm gonna get me".......ex. "I'm gonna get me a pair of those shoes"....It just sounds worng to me....Is it just me or is it wrong?

Of course it's improper. Leave out the "me".

My granddaughter and her friends talk like this all the time. I correct them and they shrug their shoulders and say, "Whatever."

That's a funny story about the pitfalls of the generation gap, the one about the baad tires. I run into trouble when I am communicating with someone who has no sense of humour. It's caused me a lot of problems and I imagine that you, TOM, have suffered from this as well.

Like this picture shows, people see and hear what they want.

Sometimes what you say isn't what they hear.

The other night, my DH and I went to a restaurant. While we waited for our food, I read him the trivia questions off the little coffee Talk paper that I had picked up as we came in.

"What part of the plant is used to make mint jelly?"

What would you have said?

My DH said, "I don't know....the back room?"

I almost rolled on the floor, I was laughing so hard!

"No, silly. It has nothing to do with a factory. It means what part of the mint plant- the stem, the leaves, etc - is used to make jelly."

Shortly thereafter, a couple came in and sat at the next table. The wife proceeded to read her DH the trivia questions. She got to the one about the mint jelly, and his answer was, "The back room".

Must be a guy thing....

Be loving me some Tired Old Man.

I am from Texas and yall just need to calm down bout this here language thang. I live on the border of louisiana and i am fixing to go over ther on get me som that gumbo, Yeeha good times Sher!!!!!!! I speak two languages , Texan and Cajun

HEE HEE i really am from Texas and can turn up the southern draw at will .