On Prescriptivism, Essay Example

According to Crystal (2007) in The Prescriptive Tradition, one gets an in-depth look into how people have different opinions and beliefs concerning language and what is or is not “normal” about it, based on their educational and social development. This is the basis of prescriptivism, which is explained in the article to mean people view certain languages as better than others and feel this is something that everyone should be forced to accept. This attitude concerning language was especially popular during the 18^th century when grammarians enforced “prescribed” grammar rules. However, these grammarians were later charged with applying different linguistic standards to language learning, which called for “describing” rather than “prescribing” language rules. This effort was spearheaded, in part by author, Joseph Priestly, who wrote Rudiments of English Grammar in 1761. His view proposed that language is a custom of speaking and any linguistic issues should not be subject to logical or legislative impositions. This still stands as the modern linguistic approach to grammar analysis. Describing instead of prescribing allows for understanding of opposite claims among different language standards, such as older people viewing the language of the younger generation as low standard. The article points out this type of change seen in language are not necessarily negative; it is just misconceived. It is noted that language changes as society changes and some people see language change as progress and not merely bad grammar.

The next article, Bad Grammar is Slovenly, focuses on the meaning of bad grammar in the English language and whether or not it lacks care and precision, which means it is slovenly, according to Bauer & Trudgill (1998). It is also stated that this view is part of a myth about grammar. An example of bad grammar, according to the article, is a sentence such as Who am I speaking to? The “grammatically correct” sentence is To whom am I speaking? (p. 94). This “correct” version of the sentence is an example of prescribed language standard such as was practiced in the 18^th century, and this still applies to grammar rules today. It is the rule that a sentence should not end with a preposition. However, when people speak to each other in everyday language, “correct” grammar and prescribed standards are not always used, nor are they always necessary. According to the article, there are two types of grammar, which is (1) descriptive grammar and (2) mental grammar. As mentioned above in the first article, descriptive grammar is not subject to legislation on what is correct or incorrect, but it simply describes how words form sentences. Correct grammar is learned when learning a language but is often not used in all its correctness in everyday speaking. Mental grammar allows a native speaker to unconsciously use correct grammar when speaking, because of prior knowledge about it. It is interesting to note that the article points out that “bad grammar” is often associated with people with low-class status; however, it is also noted that “good grammar” is often seen as unrealistic.

The authors of these two articles have pointed out some compelling truths about how people perceive language and those who use “bad grammar” and those who use “good grammar”. It is likely that most people are aware of descriptive grammar and its rules but use mental grammar most often.

Being bilingual is interesting but sometimes prescriptive grammar seems almost like another language. Korean is my native language and English is my second language, so prescriptive grammar did not come easy to learn, either in terms of speaking or writing. Prescriptive grammar in the English language is a challenge, but I feel it is necessary for one to get ahead in life. This is why it is important that students get a good grasp of the concepts and standards of English grammar. I made it a point to take the time to study hard and learn the concepts of how to speak and write in grammatically correct sentences.

Reflecting on my experiences with prescriptive grammar, as Korean is my first language, I can note that it was a bit difficult to learn how to structure sentences in English correctly. Also, it is challenging to make sure I put stress on the correct syllables in English. The Korean language has very little syllables with stress and Koreans may sound like they are speaking flat in English because of this. Another issue I found that some consonants are hard to learn for Koreans when learning English, like ph. In addition, using verbs correctly in English is a challenge to learn for Koreans. So, it goes without much more explanation that prescribed grammar and English rules are a challenge for someone with Korean as a first language.

As these issues relate to my role as a future teacher, they may have caused me some difficulty when interacting with the students, but I am doing well with my English. I do not think there will be a problem there. Even if I have some mistakes in my grammar, I know that people will still be able to understand me. I am concerned that my students learn the rules of correct grammar in the descriptive sense, even though they may not use these rules all the time. I am strict on them to learn what is right and I will not let them slack, because it is important to have the knowledge. I will only allow them to speak and write in grammatically correct sentences in my class, to ensure they are aware and are capable of producing grammatically correct language. Prescriptive grammar rules and standards are difficult to learn because there are so many parts to these rules. This is a constant concern for me personally and for my students, in my mind. This is a particular concern, for me, regarding any of my students who may not have English as their first language. It is especially important for them to know and understand the rules of English grammar, so that they may be able to properly communicate and get ahead in life. It has been my experience that knowing and understanding prescriptive grammar rules has made it easier for me to interact with native-English speaking people and to take advantage of opportunities. In fact, this is also important for native English speaking students. They should also learn the rules of prescriptive grammar to have a better chance of taking advantage of opportunities. Just because someone’s first language is English, does not necessarily mean they know the rules of prescriptive grammar. As mentioned, in the second article above, ignorance of prescriptive grammar is perceived as low-class.

References

Bauer, L., & Trudgill, P. (1998). Language Myths. Penguin.

Crystal, D. (2007). The Prescriptive Tradition. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language.