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Differences between prescriptive and descriptive grammar
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Descriptive grammar is the set of rules on how people actually use the language; but the important part is the rules over history for Standard English, which is known as prescriptive grammar. Prescriptive grammar is used more as an aid to learning grammar because it is what editors and teachers think people should use when speaking and writing. The teachers and editors are the ones who are said to make up the prescriptive grammar rules now (Cruzan). Since then prescriptive grammar has changed throughout time because language has changed. There are different opinions on why or why not prescriptive grammar should be used in teaching methods. Prescriptive grammar is important to learn in school, but in early childhood it is something that should …show more content…
Since then prescriptive grammar has changed throughout time because language has changed. Across the United States grammar will be different depending on the standard and what is being taught in the schools. In each school there may be different standards that students are trying to reach so students from two different schools may not be learning the exact same thing. There is common grammar that most teachers and editors will use, but there is no supreme source to look up to. The sources of prescriptive grammar change just as the language does, so it may become confusing.
From a teacher’s point of view, prescriptive grammar is being used less in the classrooms and descriptive is being used more. In some schools the teachers are very strict on prescriptive grammar. It needed to be memorized, practiced, and followed all of the time. In more schools now, especially younger ages, that it is mostly descriptive because it is used more and it better matched to the purpose of the users. Descriptive grammar can sometimes be seen as loosened version of prescriptive grammar. It is still essential that both types of grammar are being taught. (Washington State
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Each day they are learning new things that they will continue to use throughout their lives. That is why it is important that the correct rules of grammar are being shown. The young children will remember it and keep using it in its correct form from then on. I plan to be an early childhood educator once I complete my education and I plan to continue to apply prescriptive grammar in my classroom. I find it very rewarding to see a child grow from the things that have been taught in the classroom. I consider language as one of the largest things a child will learn in their younger years because everyone is on different levels of language. If it is taught wrong, it will be used wrong until it is drilled in their head correctly and they understand why it is correct and why they were taught wrong years
1. In his chapter “On the Need of Some Grammar” found in Modern American Usage, Wilson Follett argues that we need grammar to govern our language.
2)As a child progressively learns language they begin to label things in the world. In this stage a child will acquire grammar.
As a professional and as a college student; using correct grammar is very important. It is important because, as a professional you want to look “professional”. Correct grammar in college is important to because you want to achieve worthy grades and enhance your knowledge. The one thing that could set you apart in an interview is your use of correct grammar. The use of correct grammar makes you look professional, smart, and trustworthy. Correct grammar will help you to be successful as a professional and a student.
There are many reasons why good grammar is important at work. First of all, if an applicant has bad grammar, then he or she may not even get hired in the first place. Kyle Weins, CEO of ifixit, said in his “Harvard Business Review article” that he won’t even hire applicants who have bad grammar; his company has an English test that all applicants must take. Many other companies also have English tests in the hiring process. He also said that good grammar skills show how serious someone is about they’re work; someone with lazy grammar looks like a lazy worker. Plus, good grammar makes people look smarter; someone with a wide vocabulary and great grammar would do a better job impressing a client (Weins ). In her Frobes article, Susan Adams listed the reasons why she thinks good grammar at work is important. She says that good grammar show that an employee knows when to use context appropriate language. It also shows respect to the person they’re talking to and finally it shows that they’re organized people. Employers value an organized employee because they more dependable (Adams).
When I was in grade school and high school I was taught grammar everyday no matter what the subject. That is not the case anymore. Grammar is not taught like it used to. Teachers are avoiding the fact that they are not teaching grammar. They want children to write more about what they feel then write about facts.
I have given much thought to this issue and how to rectify it. Many have tried to teach proper grammar but have failed and it is because they are focusing their attention in the wrong way. Adults have attempted unsuccessfully to teach proper grammar in America’s youth. Kids are taught the difference between “your” and “you’re,” “to” and “too,” but teachers do not impress upon children just how important good grammar is to be a useful member of society. Kids eventually do not take this grammar education as seriously as they should. Those kids grow up to be adults who make grammatical mistakes that should have been corrected a long time ago. This deficiency is most prevalent on social networking sites and in text messaging and it must be stopped immediately.
Grammar is important the job market, Kyle Wiens talks about some of his reasons in his article “I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why”. Kyle mention how he won’t hire people with bad grammar one reason being “for better or worse, people judge you if you can’t tell the difference between their, there, and there”. This is true in our current society with all the email, social media and all other ways of communicating without being there personally. We tend to base our opinion about other people on the way they communicate, so why not use this as a basis for the hiring process. Grammar in the job market is very helpful, one reason begins with if you have bad grammar on your resume you will most likely not get an interview. Therefore,
Grammar and the English language is taught schools across the United States. There are many different students in each classroom and as teachers we need to differentiate our instruction. English language learners; also known as ELL; students tend to struggle with grammar but we help them with learning this through implementing a few techniques. There are two types of ELL students; they are students that are not native to where they are living and students that are bilingual. The students that are bilingual are can range from being fluent to in the process of learning another language. These learners are in the process/know the English language but they have difficulty in often make mechanical errors with their grammar and syntax. The goal of the ELL program is a high intensity language program designed to help students to improve their level of English. The English language is complex and learning it is a long process. ELL students should be taught with strategies such as learning through speaking and listening. ELL teachers work with non-native speakers of the English language to help them develop the language skills as well as social skills. The programs they are going through are grammar conversational English, reading, listening comprehension, writing and vocabulary. Researchers have found the ELL students learn best relating subjects that they are interested in. They can be taught through strategies such as Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP). The U.S department of Education, National Center for Education statistics states that, “The percentage of public school students in the United States who were English language learners (ELL) was higher is 2010-11(10 percent) than in 2002-03(9 percent).”(2013). The st...
When grammar is put to use in a society, people will often have different beliefs at what is the "right" or "proper" usage. This had led to the formation of two widely accepted forms of grammar, Prescriptivism and Descriptivism. These forms will often separate those who believe their form of grammar is the only correct way from those who use many forms they find to be acceptable. Descriptive grammar is formed by analyzing how speakers use a language, and deducing the rules they follow. Linguists create descriptive grammars in order to understand language more deeply. They understand that a single language can have multiple dialects, and that each dialect will have its own grammatical rules--internally
After reading these articles, it made me realized how much grammar really matter. Never thought that, 45% of companies is requiring additional grammar training. (Adams) I am starting to understand that grammar is more than writing a paper, it can tell the other reader so much about you. Since times has changed and the internet is taking over, your grammar use, is all you have to introduce yourselves to the reader, or readers.
Nassaji, H., & Fotos, S. (2011). The role of context in focus on grammar: Teaching Grammar in Second Language Classroom (pp.121-134). New York and London: Routhdge
It is not uncommon to say that grammar instruction plays an important role in language teaching. Regarding the status and importance of grammar teaching, a variety of opinions have been made. Batstone (1994) states that “language without grammar would be chaotic: countless words without the indispensable guidelines for how they can be ordered and modified” (p. 4). More vividly, Wang (2010) makes two similes. She compares grammar to the frame of a house, which is a decisive factor to ensure the solidness of it. Additionally, she regards grammar as a walking stick, whose function is to help and support students to learn English. Thus, the nature of grammar instruction manifests its own significance as it helps students enhance their overall language proficiency by integrating grammar into other aspects of learning, like listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Grammar is traditionally subdivided into two inter-related studies: Morphology and Syntax. Morphology is the study of how words are formed out of smaller units called morphemes. For example, Derivational Morphology is a word building process by which we generate (or derive) the Noun teacher from out of two smaller morphological segments: the verb stem {teach} + suffix {er}. Syntax, on the other hand, is concerned with how Words are strung together to form larger units of expressions such as (partial) @link Phrases, @link Clauses, and (full) @link Simple Sentences. As an example, it is owing to an infringement on syntax (and not morphology) which prevents us from speaking the ill-formed sentence *John likes to teacher (=John likes to teach).
Susan Adams and Kyle Weins have both written articles on the importance of using good grammar in the workplace. Each article gives numerous compelling reasons why this is a good practice. Susan Adams’ article first reason for doing so is in regards to how other people would view someone who uses bad grammar. She brings out that someone’s image can be damaged when they have improper speech habits; consequently their chances of advancing at work could be limited. Second, she shows how using poor grammar could cause a manager to view an employee as unorganized or unable to perform more advanced tasks. Finally, she brings out that someone who has poor speaking habits could be perceived as not having a firm grasp on the subject they are speaking about (Adams). Kyle Weins article also brings out some important points on bad grammar in the workplace. First, he shows that in today’s world people’s intelligence is judged based on what they say or what they type. The second point relates to how a manager could perceive someone with poor grammar. A manager could see an employee who uses poor grammar as someone who struggles to concentrate on tasks and doesn’t show attention to detail. Finally, he shows that peo...
There is no question of whether or not grammar should be taught because it is detrimental when learning a language. However, there are ways that grammar can be taught and utilized more easily than others. Providing students with an explanation, clear use of the specific aspect of grammar, and ways to practice, grammar can be digested much more easily. It is important that students understand why they are studying something and what importance it holds. As a student and as a teacher I understand that it is easy to be overwhelmed. A human being can only take in so much information in one sitting; this is key information to know especially when teaching grammar because it can be very intense to some.