...innit

[deptfordmarmoset]

It's more of a meaningless linguistic 'filler' - like 'um', 'like', 'erm', 'okay' etc. They go in and out of fashion, cf. the 1920s 'what' or even 'what-what', and have regional variants like 'sithee', 'so it is', etc. I don't know why people make such a fuss about them corrupting the language - they are the language.

I remember asking a French-to-English translator whether she ever managed to use English question tags. She knew how they worked, was fluent in English, but never felt at home using them. Her French was full of the normal ''quoi'' and ''n'est-ce pas'' (though rarely ''tu sais ce que je veux dire?'' which feels a bit like the 'gnome sayin' habit) French tags. It's all language, of course, but that beautifully balanced and rhythmic inversion - you would, wouldn't you?/you wouldn't, would you? - doesn't appear to be that common in other languages. It's almost a secret characteristic of the language. And not using them tends to indicate either a non British origin or at least an identification with a not exclusively British culture.

 

[slowmotion]

" I have to admit....." at the start of a sentence when the speaker is gathering his/her thoughts. It drives me bonkers, innit.

 

[Risex4]

In 100 yrs time, I predict that it will have earned its place in the grammar books, alongside (but not replacing) standard question tags. Innit.

#languageevolution
#fragmentsarethefuture
#innit

 

[threebikesmcginty]

" I have to admit....." at the start of a sentence when the speaker is gathering his/her thoughts. It drives me bonkers, innit.

I have to admit there's a guy I work with starts nearly every sentence with "I've godda be honest".

 

[Cubist]

izzzitt?

 

[Puddles]

I twitch when someone over 16 uses the phrase "Deffo"

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I twitch when someone over 16 uses the phrase "Deffo"

Are you a bird watcher then?

 

[hopless500]

I thought innit was irritating until I noticed that all Aussies start each statement with Look....

normally, "ah, look...." innit.
Especially Aussie cricketers and commentators for some reason

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

normally, "ah, look...." innit.
Especially Aussie cricketers and commentators for some reason

What is 10 times worse is them our oh so wonderful, honest and esteemed Politicians answer a question with 'Look...'.

That David Cameron chap is the worst by far, know what I mean?