the ongoing English usage

[Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)]

Carol wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/37055>:

<< so they'll come up with solecisms, such as "May I help who's next?"
(where did that miserable phrase come from and how did it spread so
quickly?) >>

I can't recall having heard that phrase before, but it doesn't seem
particularly miserable to me. It sounds more friendly than "Next in
line!".

Carol wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/37056>:

<< there's Southern food that doesn't even exist in other regions,
such as grits and "chitlins." >>

"Chitlins" is a very historical English food named "chitterlings".
Considering such famous English pronunciations as Wooster for
Worcestershire and Bedlam for (St Mary of) Bethlehem, I supposed
chitterlings was pronounced 'chitlins' for hundreds of years before
the spelling changed.

Potioncat wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/37061>:

<< My grandparents were tennant farmers prior to WWII, but I don't
know the difference between that and share croppers. >>

As far as I know, share croppers are a subset of tenant farmers, who
pay their rent as a fraction of the crop rather than in money.

Carol wrote in
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/37073>:

<< I'm trying to think of another expression that I first heard when I
was about twelve years old. I recall that it grated on my nerves
because, taken literally, it meant the opposite of the intended
meaning. >>

"I could care less." That phrase still irritates me, altho' not as
much as people saying 'flaunt' when they mean 'flout'. It's gotten to
the point where I was noticeably surprised last Tuesday to hear a
radio reporter correctly say 'flout' on a newscast.