Worse crimes against language than Yorkshire dialect - Yorkshire Post Letters

In reference to Christopher Dunn’s recent letter regarding language use and misuse, I can accept the use of the word “were” instead of “was” in advertisements (The Yorkshire Post, March 18) when it fits a Yorkshire dialect situation, but I am incensed in cases when a “k” is added to the end of words ending in “thing”, e.g. “something(k), nothing(k), anything (k), etc.

This is now becoming widespread and even extends to the television programmes Escape to the Chateau and Doctors, amongst others.

Am I alone?

From: Rajmund Brent, Giles Avenue, Wath upon Dearne.

I CAN assure Mr Dunn that as a well-travelled resident of the UK, but especially as a teacher for 20 years in the South East, the confusion he cites between ‘was’ and ‘were’ and ‘them’ and ‘those’ is frequent throughout the country.

Fifty-four years ago in my first English composition at my new secondary school, I got a right telling off for substituting ‘them’ for ‘those’.

I’m still blushing.

I would suggest your correspondent should enjoy the rhythm and poetry of the language of his, after all, adopted county.