>I think you make a very good point, though I think the difficulty is greater in the spoken language. If my goal is to be understood by non-native speakers of English I make it a point to use English as it is taught.
>
>I think a good example in spoken English is our use of "I gotta " or "I've gotta " meaning "I must " or "I have to" ( at the most basic level usually only "I must " is taught and often " I hafta " is missed by someone trying to follow rapid spoken English. Same thing for passive voice " I got hit " meaning " I was hit " ( and it sounds like "I got it" ... )
>
>And of course we often incorrectly use "try and " when we mean "try to " which can be confusing to someone who learned it correctly <s>
>
>I am always grateful when someone speaking to me in a language other than English makes it a point to speak as correctly as possible, realizing it is much easier for me to follow that way.
>
>But I find this is only common in those who have made a serious attempt to speak another language. ( which means I am sure most Americans don't do it <s> )
>
>( I have to say, though, I get careless around the Dutch because the level of English proficiency is often so high I forget I'm not speaking to a native speaker :-)
>
>By the way, IMO, Dragan's command of English is stunning. He obviously enjoys language - being a writer and a rather witty fellow - and appreciates some very very subtle things about the language.


I make it a point to try to speak in as neutral English as I can. I also make it a point with Spanish. I work in a building with hundreds of people, most of them from Latin America. We speak three languages here daily. Many prefer Spanish but coming from *many* latin american countriessome of their words and expressions are different so it can be confusing. Therefore I do not use my brand of slang or phrases but try to keep it neutral. Until I travel South to visit the folks, then I revert. :-)