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Mon 26 Aug, 2013 07:21 pm
Could using the phrase "English natives" to describe a geographically diverse group of people who all speak English as their native language be considered correct?
@JohnoPolo,
I have never heard the term, but can't see how it would be correct.
@roger,
Permission to circle the wagons Captain.
@JohnoPolo,
An 'English native' is a bit geographical tends to mean someone native to England, much like a Congolese native is native to the Congo.
I think the phrase you should use is 'native English speaker' or 'native speaker of English.
@JohnoPolo,
When I saw the title of this thread I thought you were asking if anyone here could trace their ancestry back before the Celts.
@Pearlylustre,
Except, I believe, that English comes from the Angles, who settled after the Romans (I think) - or maybe I'm just PICTing a fight
In fact, the English were originally a mix of Angeln (Angles), Saxons, Jutes, and to a much lesser extent, Frisians. Of course, later, French-speaking Norse, called Normans, came along and truly buggered the language.
@laughoutlood,
Do it, lol. That's what I always do when the Natives are restless.
Thank you to everyone that responded. I am aware that "Native English Speakers" would be 100% correct. However, I was actually trying to justify using my chosen phrase "English natives". In a rather desperate last attempt, I intended offering the example of "English majors" in the context of "at the graduation he found himself surrounded by English majors". But it's just not going to fly ... is it?
@JohnoPolo,
I think the English colonels will protest ;-)