What role do mainstream media have in modeling proper communication and language skills?

My name is Ellen Anmuth MS, MSW, LCSW – Licensed Psychotherapist, Genetic Counselor and Founder/Creator of “The Language Of Solutions”, a wellness and communication/conflict resolution training program.

This new blog, www.TheLanguageOfSolutions.net, was created in order to focus attention on communication skills enhancement. Will the continual  improper use of grammar and language by major television networks causes a further deterioration of linguistic skills in America?

I have a personal fondness for NBC. My uncle,who passed away recently, had a long career with the news department at NBC in New York.  He got me tickets to see Saturday Night Live in 1975, the Christmas Show with Candace Bergen as the guest host. I felt so fortunate to see the original cast live…such treasured actors as Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris and Chevy Chase.

I have the utmost respect  for NBC News. Therefore, I will attempt this article with some humor and kindness, and with the serious message of request that NBC News make some changes in the mis-use of the English Language. Could NBC’s repeated incorrect use of English  be teaching its viewers to speak incorrectly?

There is a Saturday Night Live bit called “Really”, where Seth Meyers goes on a rant about an issue. (Amy Poehler had done the segment with him when she was still on the show.) Here is my attempt at the SNL bit:

I watched NBR (Nightly Business Report produced by CNBC) last night, and heard Tyler Mathisen say the phrase, “Next……, but FIRST……”  REALLY, TYLER?  I enjoy NBR, and watch often.  I am a frequent viewer of  CNBC and value the excellent stock market reporting.  But REALLY, Tyler…..“Next” means directly after. Why would you keep saying “NEXT….BUT FIRST….”?.  This makes you look  a bit ignorant, as if  you forgot the definition of “Next”, which means “immediately following in time, order, importance, etc….. the next day; the next person in line, nearest or adjacent in place or position: the next room.”

Tyler, the word “next” really means, NEXT. Let’s say you are NEXT in line at the DMV waiting to get a new photo for your drivers license, and the person at the desk says, YOU ARE NEXT, BUT FIRST, LET’S HAVE THE PERSON BEHIND YOU COME TO THE DESK NOW. How would you feel, Tyler? REALLY!

Ok, I am not a SNL writer, but NBC, you get the point. Are the NBC writers of NBR placing this odd language in Tyler Mathisen’s mouth, because there are no commercials, and this is a flawed attempt at making demarcations to keep viewers glued to the set? The viewers are not that stupid, in my opinion. This technique is just plain annoying to intelligent adults as a failed ploy to keep us viewing, and for kids, it is likely to confuse  them on how to speak properly.

This  leads me to a previous concern which has perplexed me for years. NBC’s TODAY SHOW writers have the hosts say before commercial break,  “WE’RE BACK IN A MINUTE”.  The contraction “we’re” translates into “WE ARE”, which is a present moment expression. The future tense is “WE WILL BE BACK” in a minute. Are there any grammar experts out there who can set the record straight on this issue?

NBC…I am not picking on you. I just watch you more than other TV networks. Perhaps the readers of this blog could remark on the comment section below, and let us know of other TV shows or networks also botching the English language. Hopefully, we may bring attention and change to this problem of the mainstream media modeling and teaching poor language skills….REALLY!

This article is copyright © 2024 Ellen Anmuth MS, MSW, LCSW - "The Language of Solutions®"