There are English English, American English, Scotch English, Irish English, and other kinds of English. Examples: "half past three" is English English, "half after three" is American English, "bairn" is Scotch English, "I am after having my dinner" is Irish English, "nor gold nor silver" is archaic English, "Thank you for same" is business English, and "I don't know nobody here" is vulgar English.

    Advanced learners of English ought to pay attention to such details, and I think they will find it very interesting to go into the subject. But every learners of English is not an advanced one. I call it foolish of one to attempt the subject before one has acquired the ability to speak, read, and write English as it is used by the average educated Englishman or American of today. One has yet much to learn before one can be properly called an advanced learner of English so long as one cannot read the news or cannot express oneself intelligibly to English or American in speaking and writing.

    By "English as it is used by the average educated Englishman or American" I mean everyday idiomatic English. It is practical, if that means actually used, but not if that means specially adapted to Chinese psychology. I have to mention this because it seems that many Chinese student have the mistaken idea that what is written about things Chinese is practical, while what is written about things foreign is not practical. The fact is, however, that one cannot master English – that is, what I call practical English – by reading about things Chinese only. I would advise those who are in the habit of confining themselves to Chinese news when reading newspapers in English, to give up the habit.

NOTES

1. bairn: child

2. I am after having my dinner 我刚吃完饭

3. nor gold nor silver 即无金，又无银

4. same=the same 此物

5. business English 商务英语

6. I don't know nobody here=I don't know anybody here=I know nobody here.

7. go into the subject 研究这个问题

8. every student of English is not an advanced one=not every student of English is an advanced one.

9. call it foolish of one to… 认为…是愚蠢的事

10. the news 每天的新闻

11. express oneself 表达自己的意思

12. By “English as it is used by the average educated English or American” I mean… 我所说“一般受过教育的美国人所用的英语”就是…

13. specially adapted to Chinese psychology 特别合于中国人的心理

14. mistaken idea 错误的观念

15. things Chinese 中国的事物

16. things foreign 外国的事物

17. in the habit of 有...的习惯

18. confining themselves to 自限于

19. give up 放弃