Agnostic.com
8 2

I frequently see the word 'gonna' being used, both on this site and elsewhere. Has it now been accepted as a genuine word in the
English language (USA usage), does anyone know? Would one now find it in a standard dictionary? 'Imma' also occurs quite frequently, but I am less sure about how that is used.

#USA
CeliaVL 7 Apr 26
Share
You must be a member of this group before commenting. Join Group

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

8 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

0

It is the way we speak and the way it sounds. Linguistic grammar is different and language is dynamic, however English grammar still requires writing it "going to." It is the same as "should of, could of, would of, etc." That is supposed to be "should have, could have, would have, etc."

0

I often use the long established Australian variant, 'gunna'. As in, "He's from Gunnadoo. He's always 'I'm gunna do this", and "I'm gunna do that", but what he's really gunna do is sit on his date, sink tinnies and watch the footy on the idiot box."

Strine is particularly rich in idioms but it is the crossover from spoken to written speech that I am interested in. Would you expect to see 'gunna' in a letter to a newspaper, for example?

@CeliaVL only as a direct quotation.

1

In Scots we have "gonnae", but I don't know how far back in time that goes. Perhaps it was taken to America from here, but it might easily have been the other way round with the American "gonna" coming to us and influencing Scots.

That's interesting. I am sure that crossing and coming back does happen with language as with other things.

2

Imma gonna go look it up..

Charlene Level 9 Apr 26, 2019

I'm gonna go look it up, or Imma go look it up... you can't use both at the same time. We have to have some sorta standards. 😉

@Kafirah ufittina splain it ta me? cuz I'mafittina gonna go!

@Charlene Imma finna letya but I gotta peep wassup wit dem cuz dey lit af.

@Kafirah grrl dey lit lika mo'fo!

2

Particularly in Social media - terms we'd use in casual speech but not in a presentation at work - are used for flavor and to get emotional content across.

I'm okay with it if it makes the point. To me that's the purpose of language. Communicating the whole thing as best you can.

I don't always have dragon emojis at my fingertips! 🐉 🐉🐉 🐉 😊

RavenCT Level 9 Apr 26, 2019
4

Yfel behâtan folcscearu wr¯æsnan ûser ðêodisc.

Jnei Level 8 Apr 26, 2019

You what?

@CeliaVL "I hate how people change our language" - in Old English 😉

Lit: "Evil vowed (to) the nation (that) changes our language" We take your point. Languages do change over the years; it is none the less better that changes occur gradually and consistently. When the Roman Empire disintegrated, Latin, a literary lingua franca morphed into dozens of local patois - langue d'oïl, oc, catalan, spanish, &c. none of which was mutally intelligible with the others. This was hardly an improvement.

@amymcmxcii Yes; online translators are somewhat less than accurate. I have to confess to not being fluent in Old English 🙂

@Jnei Neither am I. Not at all, though a knowledge of German and Latin helps. Here is translator that might interest you. [msn.com]

3

Informal contractions such as "gonna, kinda, sorta", or any expression in which "-a" replaces "have" or "to" are barbarisms that should be suppressed. They are not acceptable in modern, international English. Thanks for the reminder; I have been guilty of using them myself!

amymcmxcii Level 6 Apr 26, 2019

It's the sort of thing that everyone does in speech, but I have been surprised to see it written so often. Language changes constantly, though. It is fascinating

2

I don't know. I just don't think so. I use words like gonna and ya when I want to get across I'm not being serious but if they become standard, I'll have to think again.

brentan Level 8 Apr 26, 2019
Write Comment

Recent Visitors 27

Photos

Posted by David_CooperBrazil's native language groups

Posted by David_CooperI like language maps - if you find any, please share them here.

Posted by JettyWhen a word has more than one meaning. 🤣

Posted by David_CooperTest your French

Posted by JettyIneptocracy

Posted by JettyI wonder if this works in any other language, though, in Chinese, for example.

Posted by JettyWait! You don't pronounce the L?! 😂

Posted by David_CooperI've often seen these in English, but doubtless the rest of the world does them too.

Posted by David_CooperShrödinger's cat

Posted by misternatureboyAnybody else using Duolingo to study another language? Estoy estudiando español.

Posted by EquusDanceJust read a fascinating article on the origins of language.

  • Top tags#languages #world #culture #chinese #college #hello #community #teacher #movies #Russian #hope #cats #teach #guns #insane #poetry #university #church #coffee #friends #wealth #UNsinkable #dignity #Omg #JamesRandi #animals #cultural #flowers #Israel #Christian #fundamentalist #earth #Orientation #limit #suicide #Song #mynameis #monogamy #dogs #broadcast #laws #hell #USA #stars #drug #parents #money #religious #verses #memories ...

    Members 85Top

    Moderator