I don’t know if it’s just me, but the rapid degeneration (Americanisation) of the English language really works on my nerves sometimes. When I learned English at school many years ago, we had this ‘golden rule’ that ing-conjugations cannot be applied to verbs that you “cannot be busy with”. So, “I’m working in the garden.”, very good; “I’m baking a cake.”, alright. For some time people also seem to be able to sit in a corner and feel a little, so “I’m feeling fine.” became alright and “I was wondering if…” as well. Since then people “are having” ideas, “are assuming that you are saying”, “are seeing” something, etc. Yeah, let’s go to the pub and be, asume or see for a little while.
The thing that upsets me most, is that these crooked conjugations are not only found on forums where people usually type something rapidly, but also in books, such as my English translation of Guénon’s books. An American said to me many years ago, that I use old-fashioned English, which indeed may be the case from the American viewpoint (that is why I used the term “Americanisation” which I deliberately don’t write with a “z”), but recently I notice that even the conservative Brits “are taking over” these constructions. Is this developement / modernisation of language or degeneration because in our rapid age, we want to think as little as possible about correct grammar?
How much longer before I can write: “Hi, I’m being Roy” without anyone blinking an eye?