Misconceptions about Standard English

 

A preview of some of the AO2 Issues we'll be looking at in year 2:  this article discusses ideas people have about Standard English and complaints that are made about people's language use in reference to it.

https://theconversation.com/five-things-people-get-wrong-about-standard-english-168969

'Grammar nazis' and Language Change

Great little article on prescriptivism, language change and variation today. As so often, a headline with a question that can clearly be answered 'no', but a good read nonetheless.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10692897/Are-grammar-Nazis-ruining-the-English-language.html

Language Wars (newyorker.com)

A contemporary argument for prescriptivism.

Language Wars
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/05/language-wars-descriptivists.html

Dictionaries: The British Library

Here you'll find extracts from, and discussions of, Cawdrey and Johnson, amongst other lexicographers from English history.  You'll see here how I've simplified the story in class somewhat; have a look at others' variants of what a dictionary can be.

http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/meanings.html

Proper Spelling? Its Tyme to Let Luce!

An interesting argument from Wired magazine about the state of Standard English in the era of the internet. I'd wait till after your A-Levels if you decide they've got it right.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2012/01/st_essay_autocorrect/

Letters of Note: Thou eunuch of language

Language fight! Issues of language usage, standards, dialect and identity do raise people's hackles. Here's Robert Burns' furious slating of a critic of his Scots dialect.

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/thou-eunuch-of-language.html

Grappling Grammarians

Review of a book about the history of grammar rules and prescription - most relevant to A2 students when their research project is done, so pop back and read it later. They did get cross about their linguisticals.

Grappling Grammarians
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204224604577028243560830070.html

OMG, xprts r all cybr tok is koo

Good article on language change and attitudes - prescriptivism vs descriptivism. 

Gibberish or evolution? OMG, xprts r all cybr tok is koo
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1018600--gibberish-or-evolution-omg-xprts-r-all-cybr-tok-is-koo?bn=1

Sane English

The subtitle of this lengthy but packed article was: "Can a native speaker of English make mistakes?"  A provocative question, which leads the article to explore prescriptivism, descriptivism, and a history of language change, as well as some resources for 'correct English'.  For A2s, and budding A2s alike.  

Sane English
http://greatsfandf.com/english-language.php

The Mistake That Bugs He & I

Okay, so I tend to agree with the argument made here... but hang on a moment. It's far from watertight. 

So fine, it'd be stupid to say 'me tend to agree'; which does seem to lead to the conclusion that 'Jim and me tend to agree' should be wrong, and it ought to be 'Jim and I tend to agree'.

Right?

But who's to say that 'compound subjects' don't follow different rules? They're not exactly the same as singular ones; they're plural. It'd be equally silly to say 'Jim and I is right', or 'Jim and I am right' - it's 'Jim and I are right', right?  (Or is it 'Jim and me are right'...?)

Have a read and see what you think. 

Grammar Lesson - The Mistake That Bugs Me the Most
http://www.buildingpersonalstrength.com/2011/05/grammar-lesson-mistake-that-bugs-me.html