Changes may irk but language is constantly evolving

I TOTALLY agree with Bernice Armstrong’s letter concerning the correct use of the English language (ODT, 3.10.18) and I also find myself mentally correcting what I consider to be sloppy pronunciation in the media.

But I am also guilty, as I frequently catch myself slipping up with what I call ‘‘lazy speech’’.

Language is but one tool of communication and, if delivered with less than perfect pronunciation, if the message is understood, then I guess it has served its purpose.

Language is constantly evolving and if folk from previous centuries could hear us speak now, they may have difficulty understanding our meaning.

We all have our pet hates and my biggest cringe is not the pronunciation of this popular greeting, but the fact that it is used in the first place.

It takes all my strength not to protest when I am greeted with ‘‘Hi guys!’’ when walking into a restaurant, or anywhere else for that matter. The last time I checked I certainly did not resemble a ‘‘guy’’.

While the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘‘guys’’ as ‘‘people of either sex’’, it still irritates me.

Am I the only woman out there who detests this greeting? Elvi Voight

Fairfield

A unitary council?

WHEN reading of the amount spent by the Otago Regional Council to find a headquarters large enough for its staff, my first thought was to suggest it reduce its staff to fit the current building.

However, the next day Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis came up with a more realistic solution — a unitary council for city and region.

Such a council would have sound and useful qualities. A significant reduction of staff would reduce duplication, followed by a reduction in the overall rate charged to ratepayers.

That would please the ratepayers of the area and remove a layer of bureaucracy which appears to look for reasons to justify its existence.

I’m sure that there are many more good things that would follow.

There are already several unitary councils around New Zealand and the time has arrived here.

R. J. McKenzie

Mosgiel

No freedom tourists

DUNEDIN’S mayor bewilders with his support of freedom campers in Dunedin city.

Why would any city in New Zealand be encouraging these parasites that invade our country with their poor hygiene habits and contribute only a few dollars for gas and a loaf of white bread, all the while defecating in our magnificent landscape at the expense of the ratepayers?

It’s time we look to Europe and other countries where this unwanted tourism has been stamped out long ago and encourage tourist that bring a dollar to the economy. Not cost hardworking Kiwis thousand of dollars for new public toilets and infrastructure. Jamie Pickford

Cambrian