Why study Grammar? The Social Nature of Error.

This section in the chapter really stood out to me. I found myself understanding how complex grammar is. This section talks about the different errors that are considered to be right or wrong; whether or not what someone says or writes would be considered an error. The way grammar is taught teaches us that there is a consensus with everyone who speaks the same language. The chapter also discussing the different language and cultures that affect grammar, which relates to this idea of a consensus. Even though English speakers in America all speak the same language, they all learn a variety of that language called dialect. This style of speech varies in different communities. After analyzing this section would you agree with this passage, “What is most important is that teachers recognize this dialect (example: black English vernacular) as language spoken in the home and not label it as ‘wrong English’ or ‘bad English’.”

This really got me thinking about my future in the classroom. How is a teacher supposed to come across a situation where a student uses their “home” dialect in their writing? What is considered acceptable language use in one community may not be accepted in another, but this does not mean it is “wrong” English. To a student this “home” dialect would be considered correct. What we teach and learn in school is the traditional approach to grammar. Traditional approach is based on theories about how language should be used. I definitely believe the way we speak is different from the way we write, especially formally. Therefore when one writes as they speak, it might be considered incorrect because it is not the formal way of writing. I see this as Universal error vs. community error. Universally we all learn the basic rules and norms of writing and in a community these rules change.

How would we view this in a classroom? I understand that when a student writes informally, as if they were talking to a friend, that a teacher would mark this wrong. What may seem confusing to the student is that to them, this is not wrong. Therefore by distinguishing the difference between universal and community language would help students understand when it is appropriate to use a specific dialect/ style in their writing. This fits in with our discussion on audiences. Within a community you know who the audience is, you change your style of speech to fit into that community. This causes problems when a member outside of your community comes in, he or she may perceive far more errors in a persons speech than an actual member of the community. Here the audience changed, effecting what one sees as right or wrong. This also can be a problem in the classroom between students and teachers. This is why it is important for teachers to explain the difference. I strongly agree with this passage from the book, “teachers need to help their students study the many contexts in which language is used if they are to become confident writers and stylists.” Distinguishing these differences I feel will make a big difference and help eliminate error problems in a classroom.