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Many Americans are lazy with language.
Though the example you give comes from Ebonics. I have to grade English 101 papers and I can nearly always tell when the student is black, even without the "strange" names they are given here such as: Laquinsha, Latrina, LeGrange, Jamal, Prince, Africia, Tuwanda, Clamidya, etc.
Every paper is usually full of ebonics, and basic sentence construction was clearly not very high on the list of priorities "in du hood, in ma crib, gnomesayin?"
Of course, redneck English is in itself a sight to behold…
Much of the skepticism has gone and I think a lot of people in the industry now see it as a good thing Although I think Polytrack is good, I would like to see more tracks take up a Tapeta surface which can absorb a huge amount without turning it into a dust bowl or a mud bath.
I think it will have an effect on bloodstock but not for a few years. I am of the firm belief the new track surface will mean less injuries but the real change in bloodstock will take place when Bute and Lasix are phased out.
Craig
Hi bobbell:
I used to live in Enfield on The Ridgeway!
Can’t say things like The Burghley Horse Trials do a lot for me. Don’t have much time for minor (or major) royals and way too many double barrelled names and Pimms for my liking.
Off to find my flat cap and whippet.
Cheers,
Craig
Hi KautoStar:
As I said earlier, I have a lot of time for Derek Thompson as he was always very nice to me when I was a kid.
From the little I have seen of him recently, he certainly appears to be a good entertainer. If I was his Producer, I would want to keep that, but would also want him to remember (if he needs reminding) that the stars of the show are the horses, not his or other people’s personalities.
Craig
Kickback was certainly an issue at both Southwell and Lingfield early on. Should know about Wolves, but cant remember.
Craig
Hi Wallace:
I have not heard Jim announce for many years but he would be in my all time top three announcers. I know I sound like a broken record here, but I have good memories of him being nice to me, so I find it hard to say a bad word about him. I hope if he is off form a little bit, he will soon bounce back.
I have announced with an Aussie over here in the USA who knew Jim thirty odd years ago in Hong Kong, amazing how small the world is.
Cheers,
Craig
Hi ReasonOverFaith:
I dont know why Derek Thompson would start referring to himself in the third person. When I knew Derek Thompson, I was always impressed with his professionalism and he was always very helpful to me. Having directed and produced some television, I certainly would not allow the persona of on-air talent to bleed through in that matter. Nor would I indulge in it as a broadcaster.
I really have not seen W. Carson as an analyst. But with his plummy accent, I do not really see why Alistair Down should be kow-towing to anyone. Everyone’s time is valuable, but if someone agrees to an interview, briefly thank them and get the fawning over with. Of course, he may be under instructions to be that way, I certainly have been and never been comfy with it.
I question the value of having someone in the ring in a day and age where market moves can easily be seen second by second on a computer or on a scrolling message.
Cheers,
Craig
Hi Paul:
I do not know the ladies you speak of but as long as their voice can fit the occasion, I would have no problem with it.
Craig
and on a slightly more serious note, there were a few trotting races shown on ATR the other day and it was suggested that trotting is harder to call than standard racing as the jockeys (if they’re called that) are hidden for some of the time.
Is trotting harder to call or is it not much difference ?
Simon:
You definitely need to use a different approach. In Trotting I rely mainly on the large saddlecloth numbers, headgear the horse wears, color of the bike and then the silks of the drivers. On Flat Racing, I primarily use the jockeys colors.
To prep for Flat Racing, I sketch out the colors and learn them but in Trotting, I draw in the saddle cloth colors and say if the Driver is wearing black and yellow, I will write the drivers name in black with a yellow box around it and learn it that way.
90% of the time I use binoculars (Swift Audubon 8.5×44) to call both Trotting and Flat Racing.
Plus in trotting you refer to fractions versus furlongs and never say a horse is running well in a trotting race!
Cheers,
Craig
GC:
Robin is an excellent commentator but I bet he has his work cut out up a crane along the back straight!
Great guy!
Cheers,
Craig
I always wanted to become the first woman to commentate a horse race lol. I just couldn’t do it though, soooo difficult to do. Though must be the best job in the world!!
I don’t think i’d actually enjoy listening to a female commentated race. Do you think there’ll ever be women doing the job a few years down the line?Hi Kautostar!
I see no reason why there cannot be.
You should give it a try. Here in the USA, good female sportscasters earn more than their male counterparts when they can do a job traditionally done by males.
Call a few off the TV and get yourself going!
Craig
Wallace:
I agree using terminology which is not relevant is no good, but it does work both ways. For example here in the USA I will refer to the "Home straight" instead of the "home stretch", "Winners Enclosure" versus "Winners Circle" and so on.
Twenty odd years ago there were very few Australian like phrases in their calls, did you feel the same way when they became part of commentary vernacular?
Cheers.
Craig
Hi Marble:
I haven’t seen Willie Carson as a television pundit, so cannot really offer any insight there, so it was interesting to hear your view.
There will always be room for those who can be critical and cutting but I can’t help but feel the media in general encourages only those who will tow the party line, easily.
Craig
Irish Stamp:
Darren is a great commentator – definitely one of the best there is.
If your friend who is trying to break into the business would like to email me, I will be as much help as I can. Feel free to pass on my email to him: britishracecaller@gmail.com
Cheers,
Craig.
Hi There!
Civil War hasn’t reached parts of here, yet. I am only just exaggerating…
All I can tell you about my accent is this: It is not one which I have cultivated or decided to go down one path or the other, or indeed to mimic or copy. Though people do seem to have an issue with placing my accent…
When I was a kid, I had a terrible speech impediment and my accent grew from the fact that I can use it to pronounce words properly (or near enough to do this job)
Speech Therapy was no good to me and the fact my Mum used to beat me whenever I did not speak her version of RP.
I really think a good commentator should be like a picture frame on a beautiful picture. The first time you see the picture it is amazing, after 2 or 3 looks you start to notice the frame and how nice it is and how it compliments the picture.
Cheers,
Craig