On May 21, 10:07 am, Sheldon > wrote:
> Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > Sheldon wrote:
> > > Sqwertz wrote:
> > > > Sheldon wrote:
>
> > > > > indicative that English is not the poster's primary language,
>
> > > > "Dan Landry", from Vermont, who uses American terms like "blank
> > > > stare" and states his case in perfect spoken English
>
> > > That should be perfectLY spoken English.
>
> > Only if "perfect" modifies "spoken". ?If it modifies
> > "English", then there is no problem.
>
> If... if... I got your IF!
>
> It obviously modifies spoken... spoken is the very next word... the
> only way it can modify English is if spoken were not there, but it
> is. "perfect spoken English" is obviously dumb WOP idiomatic
> English. It's perfectLY spoken English, even a pinheaded idiot knows
> that. You can't pretend it's something it's not just to rationalize
> nonsense. It's good you're not a teacher.
>
> Sheldon

Is the English perfect, or the "speaking" perfect? I am
inclined toward the former. I will go so far as to say
the original phrase should have been "perfect, spoken
English". Although I might have preferred "perfect,
idiomatic English" since no speaking was actually
involved.

If it were "perfectly spoken English", then I would expect
no mispronunciations. If it were "perfect, spoken English"
then I would expect no grammatical errors as well.

I have never been a teacher, but I have been a copyeditor.

Of course, 20 years of Usenet has somewhat deadened my
objection to errors of grammar and spelling.

Cindy Hamilton