as far as I heard? Is it natural?

[sweetpumpkin]

My English teacher said this phrase, like, "As far as I heard, she hasn’t committed any felonies." I think this phrase is a bit awkward, because 'hearing' doesn't match the word 'far', which indicates 'extent'. For me, the expression can be used by a man with a speacial hearing talent saying, "As far as I've heard, people living in a town 1.000 miles from here are yelling each other." ... Hm... weird example, anyway.
As far as I know/concerned/understand/remember... they are all natural to me. What do you think of 'heard/have heard' instead of know6/concerned/understand? Is it natural to you(a native speaker)? I wonder my guess is right or wrong. Please answer me!

Thank you in advance.

[Mister Micawber]

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'As far as I've heard' is fine-- it is different from know/concerned/understand. 'Heard' refers to (primarily oral) information received.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Molly]

Not one example of "as far as I + hear/heard" in the BNC. In the BYU American corpus, we find these examples:

CNN News:

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, Trial Attorney Mr. Gephardt -If I may ask a follow on? I mean, they're making a bid deal about having open rule. That would be a dramatic contrast from what the Democrats did when they were in charge. Sen. DASCHLE I don't hear of any open rule on the balanced budget amendment. As far as I hear, they haven't done it yet, but I hear they're going to close it down to two or three alternatives. That's not an open rule. And here, last night, Dave Bonior asked for time.

NPR_TalkNation:

NAVY RADIO VOICE Well, I know that there are lots of what are called mushroom kits available now where people can get them mail order. And that includes the mushroom spawn and instructions for how to do it. # I have never personally grown them myself. But as far as I hear, the kits are very successful. NYSE Actives Are they reliable? They look pretty much, you know, you buy it. And then either you are stuck with it or, you know, or it's successful, so. Do you -- did you hear anything about them being reliable

NPR_Daybreak:

Dr. BRUCE DIXON No, I doubt it. I mean, the CIA cut off Chalabi years ago because of, you know, the nonsense he was feeding them about possible coup attempts against Saddam. But as far as I hear, the White House cut off Chalabi no later than last April.

CNN_Sonya:

In several issues, for example, religious issues, yes. But what you should have heard is that as far as I heard of this particular order was stipulated to. Somebody asked for it, sounded reasonable, they got it to court. But what they didn't do is they didn't argue as to whether or not- How do you enforce it? How do you prove it?

Soource: americancorpus.org

Must be an AmEng thing, again.

[nessie]

Oh, but I've just checked it on the BNC and found no result for both "as far as I heard" and "as far as I've heard", and only 1 result for "as far as I have heard"

[Molly]

"To the extent or degree that I heard" sounds a bit odd, to me.

[Mister Micawber]

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Try Ms Google-- she knows everything:

32,400 for "as far as I've heard".
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[nessie]

Ms Google seems to know everything, but she collect usages from so many sources (including those that are unreliable). What do you think, Alan and Amy?

[Molly]

[sweetpumpkin]

What about "as far as I heard"? You mentioned only 'as far as I've heard'.

[Mister Micawber]

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Give it a try, pumpkin-- it's good practice for you.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Molly]

Should that "pumpkin" be "Pumpkin"?

[lost_soul]

[Yankee]

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Maybe Mister Mic actually intended to write this:
.. 'pumpkin



Then again, it's possible that MM was also indicating a little bit of affection for sweetpumpkin. The word 'pumpkin' is used as a term of endearment (on this side of the pond, anyway).

However, it also seems appropriate to mention that sweetpumpkin has apparently chosen not to capitalize his/her moniker.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English