Thread: Grammar - Still a Class Issue

For this reason I believe there should be a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude towards incorrect grammar throughout the education system. All teachers, even subject teachers, should be trained to consciously and constantly notice bad grammar and remodel it and/or correct it in a pedagogically appropriate way. We have been taught that all discourses are relevant and so they are, but as educators we must be aware that nothing is likely to affect students’ lives as much as how they speak and write.

I think all dance classes should be 100% classical ballet. Modern dance and any other dance education other than Swan Lake should be considered filthy, vile and not fit for a British citizen.

Of course all these students, whatever their field of study, would have to speak the Queen's English. Any accents be they Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and especially French, Spanish or those from any of the wogish nations, would not be tolerated. In fact, now that the Olympics are finished, no visas should be issued to any of the inferior nations, such as Australia, New Zealand, America, South Africa and especially Canada. Let's keep our Isle pure and traditionally British.

I dunno what class you are, but in my class grammar is not an issue

Originally Posted by tropic of cancer

It's a plea for a 'zero tolerance' attitude toward bad grammar from schools.

"towards"

grammers fer poofs and old ladies.

Bad grammar?? Can there be such a thing? Bad from whose perspective? described grammar or prescribed grammar? Is it wrong for a brummie to say "how am ya?" or for a chav to say "I is gonna call ya, innit?"

Surely the complete and only point of language is to be able to communicate with others, and if the language of 2 people is mutually intelligible, then fuck prescribed grammar right off.

I'm guessing that later in your article you were going to hit on this, with 'class' being in the title, but of course it is a class thing. Who decides what is the correct way for the English speaking world to communicate?

Again, I'm sure you would go on to mention all this, but I couldn't get past this

‘That’s obviously the English you need to get’ reason those that do not have it [any English is good of course] and the higher level to which you do get it, QED, the higher you’ll rise.’

I'm not having a go, but I have no idea at all what you are trying to say...

Take 5anuk for example... we can all read and understand his posts, though he strives for incorrect grammatical structures.

Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk

Surely the complete and only point of language is to be able to communicate with others

That's right! The Thai teachers can handle that. Let's all fuk off back home.

I am all for prescribed grammar being crammed down the throats of students. First know the rules and learn to abide by them, then decide when and where it is acceptable to break them in order to communicate.

Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk

Bad grammar?? Can there be such a thing? Bad from whose perspective? described grammar or prescribed grammar? Is it wrong for a brummie to say "how am ya?" or for a chav to say "I is gonna call ya, innit?"

Yes, there can be such a thing as bad grammar. You just gave two perfect examples of it. Yes, it is "wrong" for them to speak this way in the sense that it is bad grammar and poor communication.

Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk

Take 5anuk for example... we can all read and understand his posts, though he strives for incorrect grammatical structures.

Speak for yourself. I find him incomprehensible at times.

Originally Posted by A. Merlin

You just gave two perfect examples of it. Yes, it is "wrong" for them to speak this way in the sense that it is bad grammar and poor communication.

yet both examples would be a linguist's wet dream... language doesn't develop because rules are written down in text books. The first example, for example, is an example of the last remaining Olde English left in England. The only reason there is prescribed grammar is because of a ruling elite sitting down and deciding what's what. Ok, it is not so sinister as Orwell's 'newspeak', but it is still a sort of linguistic flex of the muscles.

---Update---

And with the black country (brummie) example... how is it wrong if a whole population speak that way. The whole of the black country will use strange variations of the verb to be. To say that is 'bad' we would also need to write off pidgins and creoles as being bad.

I think grammar should be taught but in a way where you sneak it in the back door. AUA, sad as they are, have a good grammar teaching philosophy.

Ah yes, but twould be correct then to do away with things like the after perfect (Look what yer after doin' now boy; before he made a smack at me backhanded ya).

.

Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk

To say that is 'bad' we would also need to write off pidgins and creoles as being bad.

You'll get no objections from me.

Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk

And with the black country (brummie) example... how is it wrong if a whole population speak that way. The whole of the black country will use strange variations of the verb to be. To say that is 'bad' we would also need to write off pidgins and creoles as being bad.

So if you want to impress (or be employed by) White anal Christians you must speak their language. Who do you suppose sets the standards for crafting their language? White anal Christians? Nah, impossible. It is beyond a doubt a class thing. They rule and we have to emulate them or go unemployed out the door in shame. You can put folks down because they never mastered proper speech. And if they don't talk too good you have to assume there are other stinky personal features crawling all over them like body lice. Before long you'll notice they have big noses and are awfully frugal. Fire up the ovens Hans!