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Actress Emma Thompson attacks use of sloppy language | Actress Emma Thompson attacks use of sloppy language |
(40 minutes later) | |
Actress Emma Thompson has spoken out against the use of sloppy language. | Actress Emma Thompson has spoken out against the use of sloppy language. |
The 51-year-old Oscar winner told the Radio Times that people who did not speak properly made her feel "insane". | The 51-year-old Oscar winner told the Radio Times that people who did not speak properly made her feel "insane". |
She said: "We have to reinvest, I think, in the idea of articulacy as a form of personal human freedom and power." | She said: "We have to reinvest, I think, in the idea of articulacy as a form of personal human freedom and power." |
Ms Thompson added that on a visit to her old school she told pupils not to use slang words such as "likes" and "innit". | Ms Thompson added that on a visit to her old school she told pupils not to use slang words such as "likes" and "innit". |
"I told them, 'Just don't do it. Because it makes you sound stupid and you're not stupid."' | "I told them, 'Just don't do it. Because it makes you sound stupid and you're not stupid."' |
She said: "There is the necessity to have two languages - one that you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity." | She said: "There is the necessity to have two languages - one that you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity." |
'Street speak' | 'Street speak' |
Responding to her comments, English language specialist Prof Clive Upton, from the University of Leeds, said that "street speak" was not necessarily a problem. | Responding to her comments, English language specialist Prof Clive Upton, from the University of Leeds, said that "street speak" was not necessarily a problem. |
He said: "There are certain places where the sort of street speak which a lot of teenagers go in for just doesn't cut the mustard. | He said: "There are certain places where the sort of street speak which a lot of teenagers go in for just doesn't cut the mustard. |
"If they do deploy the sort of language they're using on the streets in formal settings then it could well be a disadvantage to them but at other times it's quite clearly the way they get along, the way that they signal they belong in a group, the way that they fit in. | "If they do deploy the sort of language they're using on the streets in formal settings then it could well be a disadvantage to them but at other times it's quite clearly the way they get along, the way that they signal they belong in a group, the way that they fit in. |
"And we all do that in our professional lives as well. We've got all our acronyms and our little words that we use that send a signal - I'm one of the club." | "And we all do that in our professional lives as well. We've got all our acronyms and our little words that we use that send a signal - I'm one of the club." |
Mike Clarke from Bideford in Devon contacted the BBC News website to show his support for Ms Thompson's stance. | Mike Clarke from Bideford in Devon contacted the BBC News website to show his support for Ms Thompson's stance. |
He said: "I entirely agree with her comments - I have been a solicitor for over 25 years and have to communicate and engage with people with widely differing verbal ability and understanding. I despise both extremes - dumbing down language, just as much as 'poshing' it up. | He said: "I entirely agree with her comments - I have been a solicitor for over 25 years and have to communicate and engage with people with widely differing verbal ability and understanding. I despise both extremes - dumbing down language, just as much as 'poshing' it up. |
"Both are endemic today and both demonstrate the very worst kind of patronising arrogance. | "Both are endemic today and both demonstrate the very worst kind of patronising arrogance. |
"They stem from a desire to set one's self apart from the other party - it's cultural snobbishness and ironic that it should often emanate from those who would consider themselves to be at opposing ends of the social spectrum." | "They stem from a desire to set one's self apart from the other party - it's cultural snobbishness and ironic that it should often emanate from those who would consider themselves to be at opposing ends of the social spectrum." |
Ms Thompson, who has written a new version of the musical My Fair Lady, also told the magazine that she was not interested in having plastic surgery. | Ms Thompson, who has written a new version of the musical My Fair Lady, also told the magazine that she was not interested in having plastic surgery. |
"It really does seem to me to be quite psychologically dysfunctional and part of this ridiculous culture of perfection.". | "It really does seem to me to be quite psychologically dysfunctional and part of this ridiculous culture of perfection.". |