British Comedy Guide

To Be Or Not To Be, Innit - Update Page 8

The BBC Breakfast interview was on Saturday morning, so no. Unless you're one of those weeeeeeeeird kids who go to school on weekends?

P.S. 3,100 posts! \o/

No.73 on Amazon!

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Was 26 at the weekend I believe - best seller level!

Niiiiiiiiiiice! :)

Bloody hell!

Ah, we knew him when...

Quote: Scatterbrained Floozy @ April 28 2008, 5:46 PM BST

It's like "isn't it". Like "It's sunny, innit". Awful, awful word.

Noooooooo! That is in context: It is nearly always used out of context.
Took me ages to get used to it!

Examples would be

"They got some beef wiv me, innit"

"That boy sellin' da skunk, innit"

etc. innit.

That is awesome!

Oh, got a better one for you Curt>>

Often used as a confirmation/agreement with what someone has just said. In this case, difficult to get the inflection in writing - basically elongated and exclaimed.

"Look at the way she walkin', she gaggin' for it" > response>

"Inniiiiiit!"

Seriously! You gotta hear it to believe!

Oohhhh I get it now (I think). So it's used as a confirmation of understanding then? Like how we say Eh? After a sentence.
"30 Rock was a good episode last night eh?"
"30 Rock was a good episode last night, Innit"

Or as a confirmation that you have understood.
"Isn't she hot?"
"Innit!"

Yep, pretty much. Either by the originator like some people frequently say "right?" when insecure - to confirm they are understood or as a response to 'agree'.

Floozy is right that it means 'isn't it' but in much more general terms. Best summary i can think of is 'That is the situation as I see it, do you agree?' - but not necessarily in a way that requires a response.

Some people hate it but it's actually a very useful bit of newspeak that relieves the need for longer explanations. We have had such sayings in various British dialects for centuries.

Hence baumski's "To be or not to be, innit" is accurate street usage.

- but to take Floozy's example and explain why I think it is wrong - If you asked someone if they thought it was a lovely day - they would most likely reply "yes it is" because 'innit' would be too correct in context!

Quote: thing @ April 30 2008, 3:12 PM BST

Floozy is right that it means 'isn't it' but in much more general terms. Best summary i can think of is 'That is the situation as I see it, do you agree?' - but not necessarily in a way that requires a response.

Or even best-er-er, "(statement), is it not?"

Quote: Aaron @ April 30 2008, 4:45 PM BST

Or even best-er-er, "(statement), is it not?"

'Safe' bro.
Whistling nnocently

Oh dear. We're arguing about the correct usage of "innit!"...and hehe no I wasn't at school, but on my way to Portsmouth!

-------- Thing makes more notes --- for questions tonight!

El Grande Finale my homies. :D

All you need to do now is get yourself on Richard and Judy Baumski and you'll soon be sleeping on piles of cash.

Quote: ian_w @ May 4 2008, 6:03 PM BST

All you need to do now is get yourself on Richard and Judy Baumski and you'll soon be sleeping on piles of cash.

Cheers Ian but from what I have been told it would appear that Richard and Judy are "aware of the book". Scary.

This book business is really mind-boggling because although Waterstone's are still awaiting stock, currently I'm at number 1 on their humour chart, 38 on the best sellers chart and currently number 2 on their pre-order list.

Like I say, it really is mind-boggling.

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