Thursday December 8, 2005
Spare the neophytes
I SOMETIMES hear, “You won’t believe the amount of people here”, even on American TV shows. I think it should be “number” instead of “amount.
With regard to Boob Watch, may I comment that it’s fine to point out the errors of people who should know better, such as those in the media, but if one aim of MOE is to promote the use of English, we shouldn’t be making fun of the attempts of neophytes. (Unless they are unintentionally funny).
We all know how discouraging it is when people laugh at our efforts to acquire a new skill.
The editor of one Hong Kong-based English language magazine to which I used to subscribe would each week devote a whole page to the boobs of Asians everywhere. I felt he was mocking us and that he felt superior, so I eventually cancelled my subscription.
I definitely prefer the attitude of the recipient of the letter below. – C.T. Sinn
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