Grammar vs. Language
Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
by Ronyae
Writings by Ronyae
I know the title may confuse some, simply because in the English dictionary, the two terms work together: Grammar - rules for language; language - the speech of a country, region, or group of people, including its vocabulary, syntax, and grammar. But today, we are seeing more of the two being used in a completely separate entity; grammar has no home in some conversations that are used in everyday talk, giving a leadway to the language spoken between two friends. I noticed the 'split' as a group of my associates voluntarily joined in on a conversation that my family and I were having. It was quite hilarious as I glanced at my college roommate to find her in awe at some terms that were being thrown around by one of my cousins. She just didn't get the way he added prepositions in places that would surely fail him in any scholastic test. But we, his family, understood perfectly what he was stating, and even had a reply filled with out of place nouns, pronouns and verbs.
On a basis, some people may not 'get' that statement right off to mean that a card game of Spades will be played later, and that my cousin had plans to be the victor. It may not be that hilarious to others, but it was a side splitter for me ... I guess you had to be there.
That very moment had my mental wheels turning around the fact that there just may be a split or a difference between grammar and language. Grammar is used to perfect the language spoken while communicating, right? Well, can that be said about the languages spoken between friends, families or even co-workers? Is it 'proper' to always use 'good' grammar when speaking a language that only you and someone close to you use?
I ask these questions because of the instances I've noticed when out and about in the city, where I see signs for McDonald's, gas stations, job postings and so forth. Now, when I see these advertisements, I ask myself if the person who applied the copy for the ads are either poorly educated, or just have a certain type of language that their patrons recognize or can relate to. For example, look at this flyer for DVDs on sale (note the writing):
"Thay"? ... Now, when I first seen this flyer, I spoke really bad about it. But then I looked for the DVD seller's information, and low and behold it was someone who graduated with me! I had to do a doubletake on the name, and it was him alright. This guy wasn't in my honors class, but he did graduated. So, you would think he'd know how to spell 'they'. Maybe he wasn't the one who wrote it, maybe he was, and was in a rush ... the questions started pouring in. I couldn't grasp why an educated person would make a simple mistake like mispelling a four-letter word.
But there are simple 'splits' in all forms of signs, ads or notifications. Another example of grammar vs. language was found while my assistant and I rode through the neighborhoods looking for newsworthy action. We stopped at a stop sign in our neighborhood, and placed below the stop sign, was this sign:
Okay, I fully understand the red circle with 'drugs' crossed out, meaning "no drugs". But further down, the number stumped me. Why would an official sign use the term 'dope'? For anyone who doesn't know what 'dope' actually is in the streets, would feel that this number can be used for different reasons other than calling the law on drug dealers. Talking more about the sign, well, more than less, joking about the irony of the sign, my assistant and I came up with hilarious ways of seeing this sign as inappropriate. "Could it mean ['no drugs' symbol] that we'll be charged for having aspirin? Prescribed medications? ... our taunting list carried on as we proceeded home. But it makes one wonder why certain terms are used, and when did our grammar turn so informal?
Another point to add to this, would be how the use of computer language and 'text-talk' has taken our traditional grammar and language, and changed it to acronyms, abbreviations and altogether different forms of language. I'm finding myself feeling like I've been asleep for some years, to wake and discover a completely different world, with a completely different set of rules and game players. Have I lost it, or has the general practice of having good grammar disappeared?
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Hi Ronyae.That last question is my constant lament, but then I'm an oldster and remember the days when good grammar counted for something. However, language is a product of it use. And while it most likely still is incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition, it is however accepted by the general populace. If enough people are comfortable with a specific practice, the rest sooner or later follow along. You will, however, never catch me saying "these ones" or "those ones" when a simple these or those will do.I enjoyed your insightful article.DianneDianne,I am finding myself correcting my speech more often. Thanks for reading and sharing a comment.
Hi Ron! Good article. Today's world can change anything they want. Keep writing...God bless...Candles,I couldn't agree more!
enjoyed your article. well done!Marie,Thanks for reading and sharing your comment.
Ronyae, this is great and so true. I think most families have their own language. I know we do. And sometimes I slip and say something that my mom would say to me and people look at me funny. I love this!!! It's like when my son says something is totally sick what he is really saying is that it is totally cool. But cool is an old peoples word he says.Thanks for the smile...now I feel liking kicking some but in a game of Dominoes with my fam. :-)Teresa!I just love a visit from fam like you; stopping through to share good memories with the articles. Good to have fam like you on here! ... Now go kick some you know what.
taht was quite cool you were telling us means for communicating and making our listiners understand us very well.that is really good it is going to help my younger sister alot.Well Anonymous,I thank you for that compliment, and I pray that it helps your sister.Stay Blessed
Ronyae,You are so correct. Our language is quickly changing and our grammar is becoming non-existent because it is not being taught in the schools. The best (& toughest) course I had in high school was English grammar. I am thankful for that class every day of my life.Thanks for a great article,NancyNancy,Mostly as fam do, I agree with you for being thankful. It adds to the other 'senses' I acquire. Thanks for reading and sharing a comment.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful; turning the eye and ear into languaage that we can all share and understand!Hey Walter!!!I've missed you in here! Thanks for reading and sharing a comment.
Boy, you've certainly pressed all my buttons with this one. My English grammar may not be perfect, but I am a stickler for good grammar and good spelling. I pride myself on my spelling and get really irritated when I see words spelled incorrectly.I know there are many colloquialisms among various groups, depending on nationality and/or location. These I find rather amusing. For instance, in Canada among the people of Newfoundland, when trying to say, "We sat beside each other", they might say something like, "We were side by each". Or if they were to call you on your cellphone and say, "Where are you?", they might say "Where you by?" These two examples are just local expression, but what really annoys me is when people just blatantly misuse and destroy the English language, and spelling is the worst offense.In my own case, I find that how I write and how I speak are often quite different from each other. I tend to speak more informally, but write quite formally. But please give me a little leeway when you read my poetry, as I will always stand on "poetic license".And Ronyae, just so I don't let you off the hook, I have need to bring to your attention a couple grammar errors in this write (all in love). The first one, "Now, when I first seen this flyer" - it should read "Now, when I first saw this flyer". The second one, "but he did graduated". Now I'll write that one off as a typo, because I know you didn't mean to say it that way.I love your writing, Ronyae, and hope I haven't made you feel on edge, so that you feel you have to re-read your work over and over again before submitting it. lolLove ya.David! Glad to have you in here!And of course not! Your constructive criticism is welcomed. And you are too late about the going over to re-read and re-write. I'm finding myself doing it more and more because of working with my publishing company. Thanks for everything!
I really enjoyed this article. I had to ask my grandchildren to phone or e mail be because I do not have a clue about text messaging. Thank you Linda DNo, Thank you, LindaI can imagine how your children and grands are feeling about that. My moms has assigned me as her 'text'er, HA! Yes, so I can relate.
Dear RonyaeWhat a nice article. Truly the use of coorect grammar is on the decline. I agree with you. It should make us to pause and think about it.Thank you,SwapnaSwapna,Thanks for stopping through! And yes, I agree on your comment.
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