Snooker Commentary

Now don't get me wrong!  I have nothing against snooker commentators, or the way they talk.  They are people who have risen to the top of their sport and have the experience and insight to guide audiences through the intricacies of the game, many of them also possessing the ability to amuse along the way! They are not selected as commentators on the basis of grammatical proficiency.  Part of our entertainment though, when listening to them commentate on the major tournaments, is to see which of us is first to notice each time the 'adverb deficiency' appears!  Has anyone else noticed those poor little adjectives, struggling to fill a role they were never intended for?   "He potted it perfect!"  "He cut that shot thin!"  Well, each to his own I suppose and it does help us while away some of the slower moments of the game!

I do, however, have more of an issue when those who are employed as presenters on radio or television, or as media representatives for a business, do not speak grammatically.  These people are employed to communicate with the public and should provide a good example.  We are continually being told that children are leaving school unable to speak or write grammatically and that business is demanding better standards.  Well, shouldn't businesses (including the BBC) make sure that their representatives set a better example? Children (and adults) are constantly bombarded with poor grammar via television and radio; teachers do what they can in the classroom, but they can't overcome such powerful environmental influences without better support from the rest of society.  Just a thought, but I wonder how many adults out there in public life would pass the new grammar test that all eleven year olds have to take this month?