Masters in Teaching and Learning of English

Theories of language

Felicity Elms

Do you think its necessary to teach the grammatical rules and terms to students?


Victor Manuel Matla Rojas
06/10/12


Grammar can essentially be defined as a set of rules that govern spoken and written
language that we really must follow if others who use the same language are to have a
chance to properly understand what we're saying. For many people, the mere mention
of the word grammar can bring back awful memories of torturous, sweaty English
lessons.
Grammar is central to the teaching and learning of languages. It is also one of the more
difficult aspects of language to teach well. Many people, including language teachers,
hear the word "grammar" and think of a fixed set of word forms and rules of usage. They
associate "good" grammar with the prestige forms of the language, such as those used
in writing and in formal oral presentations, and "bad" or "no" grammar with the language
used in everyday conversation or used by speakers of nonprestige forms.
Linguists have a very different approach to the notion of grammar. From the linguists
point of view, grammar is not a collection of rules, often obscure, arcane, and often
illogical, that must be taught, but rather a set of blueprints that guide speakers in
producing comprehensible and predictable language. Every language, including its
dialects or variants, is systematic and orderly. Languages and their variations are rule-
governed structures, and are therefore grammatical. In other words, all languages
consist of patterns, or grammars, that make sense of the features of a given language
that include the arbitrary symbols, sounds, and words that make up that language.
With a fresh outlook and a different attitude, we can soon learn or re-learn the basics of
grammar as necessary - hopefully in a much more agreeable setting based on curiosity
and a willingness to learn on our own terms, rather than the fear of some kind of
retribution if we don't "make the grade. We need not torture ourselves as we might have
done during such school days we may prefer to forget.
Nevertheless, an uncomfortable reality could emerge, as we may re-discover that in the
main, our old school teachers were right: the do details matter - even though we might
still question the method of teaching.
Yet in contrast to school days, I suggest we learn or re-learn only as much as we need
about grammar for the sole purpose of deciding what is still relevant today in the context
of what we want to say. The English language (whichever version) is a continually
evolving development. Life changes and the world moves on. Customs and conventions
change over time. Writers and communicators need to at least understand, appreciate
and apply the most appropriate rules of grammar, to match the times in which they're
writing, and to meet the demands of each writing assignment - in order to know when to
"bend" or even ignore some of those "conventions. So don't be afraid to break the
"rules" if you believe your writing has more energy, drama and impact as a result. If you
rigidly keep to the "accepted rules" of grammar, writing can become stuffy, staid and
pompous. I hope you'll agree a route that is a bad idea. I suggest that rules called for in
an English school essay - even today - will rarely provide enough fluency in a "real
world" document designed to achieve its objective. Sometimes - just as in our
schooldays - it's fun to break the rules. Be brave. Live your life with more freedom - and
bring grammar along for the ride too. And: you just might start a contagious new trend!