Posts Tagged ‘language’

Is grammar losing its importance?

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010


A language cannot sustain without grammar as grammar is the backbone of any language. English has been one of the most popular languages worldwide. It has some of the most cherished literature in the store. Great writers like Shakespeare, Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, Robert Burns, Dylan Thomas and many more were actually instrumental in decorating English language with their great literally work while keeping the essence of grammar intact. The language used in those days differed from the English we use today. The grammar was the strongest element in their literature then. However the English language underwent numerous changes in due course of time. Certain words changed for instance:- Thou and thee replaced with you.

Traditional grammar displayed the process of thinking in the literally works; the grammatical problems soon attracted considerate attention not for the set of rules and restrictions but for the beauty of the literature. In the due course of time we have an academy set up to rectify the flaws in grammar however traditionally the authorities were publically chosen by a consensus. These authorities were well acquainted with the grammar skills and would have consistent review and consideration. However the scenario is changing gradually academy is formed to rectify grammar but the rules are isolated to books and grammar is restricted to schools and colleges. Prescriptive grammar has passed out of the realm of criticism, where it sat for two hundred years, to become instead a branch of cultural heraldry.

I remember working on do as directed in schools. The most scoring and entertaining task for me as a student. However this was restricted till schools and nobody is bothered about it in today’s arena. When we say the standard of grammar is deteriorating, it means the grammar is no more looked upon as an important part of language study. Though English is one of the most popular languages worldwide, very few speak grammatically correct English. The subjective and objectives are merged without proper conjunctions. It is also been observed that grammar is taken for granted. For instance my friend a well known French professor had a debate with me on whether subjunctive do exists or do not exist in English however it does. The grammar is so much sidelined that a well educated professor can commit such faults.

A study was carried out in Sweden in order to comprehend the role of grammar teacher in the academic lives of the student. The text books of four different languages were researched in order to acquire focus on grammar explanation in different languages. The study intended to analyze the grammar explanation, grammatical terms, features and the measures through which the features are presented. The approaches evident in each of these texts were compared with one another and with the approach evident in a Latin textbook from the late 1800s. The analysis clearly showed the modern courses to be less grammar intensive than the Latin course

Grammar is gradually losing its hold over the language. Grammar once known as the backbone of the language is losing its importance to such an extent that it is just restricted to schools and colleges. It is no problem if anyone is speaking grammatically incorrect English as almost everyone does it while there are very few who know what grammatically correct English is but don’t bother to correct those who are at fault. Understanding the traditional English is a tough task not only for children but also for adults. Deterioration of grammar took place gradually and the upgrade would also take it due course of time. In the meanwhile it is required to understand the importance of grammar and its soul place in language and literature.

Simple Tips On Enhancing Grammar Skills

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

English been the official language around the world, using it accurately and with correct grammatical sense is important. We find various students facing heck lot of problems while clearing their English papers, most of them fail just because of grammar. Students find grammar boring and thus loose attention in it; consequently fail to clear their English papers. Here are some tips to learn grammar effectively.

The first step: The initial and primmest step is to read and communicate. It gives you a sole idea of usage of grammar and the possibility of errors. Reading enables you to rectify the most probable grammatical mistake you commit. Communication on the contrary helps you judge yourself and others too, it also enables others judging you and rectifying your mistakes. However while reading it is important to have a complete attention towards grammar, this process is known as self-development.

Aid from resources: You can enhance your grammatical skills through a grammar book or an online source like a website catering to grammar improvement, pick out where you are weak and improve yourself.

Assistance: Never feel shy to take assistance from a tutor, teacher or a knowledgeable person. Such a person can easily rectify even your minor flaws and aid in improving your grammar. An experienced tutor has various tactics to improve the grammatical skills. One may also take help from a friend or acquaintance that is either into teaching profession or into reading and writing profession. Such a person scans various literatures daily in order to write accurately and thus has sound knowledge of grammar.

Possible errors: Many people possibly make similar grammatical mistakes, for instance instead of writing ‘its a beautiful day’, people tend to write ‘it’s a beautiful day’. Here it’s important to understand that ‘its’ is the contraction of it is. Many also confuse between your and you’re, similar to its, you’re is the contraction of you are. The usage of to and too, to is used when we are talking regarding someone while too is used for excessive or additional use. People also tend to confuse among ‘there, their and they’re’. There is used while talking about a person there is used while talking about a place while there is a contraction of they are.

Grammar Exercises: Just reading or knowing grammar is not sufficient; it is required to practice over and over again. Take the help from grammar exercise books, or tell your tutor to set a practice paper for you and correct it later. But if you find all this boring, opt for online games on grammar or Sentence Zone game, or any other innovative idea you or your teacher may come up with. Such exercises not only refresh your mind but also enhance your grammatical skills too.

Translation: If English is not your primary language, you can translate your language into English, this helps in rectifying your flaws. This also enhances your vocabulary. Start with simple sentences and later go to complex ones. One can also translate the television shows, plays or movies.

Read out loud: Reading out loud is the best exercise, this enables you hear yourself and thus has deep roots in your mind. This is why we could easily remember the dialogues and songs of the movies.

The last tip: Always carry a pocket dictionary or a digital dictionary with you while reading. This enables you to understand whatever you are reading.

Improve your speaking skills

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Students often think that the ability to speak a language is the product of language learning, but speaking is also a crucial part of the language learning process. Effective instructors teach students speaking strategies using minimal responses, recognizing scripts, and using language to talk about language that they can use to help themselves expand their knowledge of the language and their confidence in using it. These instructors help students learn to speak so that the students can use speaking to learn.

So, to start speaking language clearly, concisely while using straightforward vocabulary, you can try using some of these tips:

Start early
The moment you start your preparation for the written test, examine your spoken skills. We are mostly aware of our drawbacks especially when it comes to speaking skills. Our weaknesses show up in one way or the other. We may get tongue tied while talking to people, we may start fumbling for words during conversations, or it may be very difficult to even have a very simple and fluent interaction with anyone.

Using minimal responses
Language learners who lack confidence in their ability to participate successfully in oral interaction often listen in silence while others do the talking. One way to encourage such learners to begin to participate is to help them build up a stock of minimal responses that they can use in different types of exchanges. Such responses can be especially useful for beginners. Minimal responses are predictable, often idiomatic phrases that conversation participants use to indicate understanding, agreement, doubt, and other responses to what another speaker is saying. Having a stock of such responses enables a learner to focus on what the other participant is saying, without having to simultaneously plan a response.

Keep remembering the words learnt
It is not enough just to learn these words in one day. Each day try to use these new words learnt in more sentences to make you comfortable with the use of the word. In fact at the end of each month, the person can try to recapitulate all the words learnt in the previous month. This will help the person to be able to remember the words better.

Recognizing scripts
Some communication situations are associated with a predictable set of spoken exchanges a script. Greetings, apologies, compliments, invitations, and other functions that are influenced by social and cultural norms often follow patterns or scripts. So do the transactional exchanges involved in activities such as obtaining information and making a purchase. In these scripts, the relationship between a speaker’s turn and the one that follows it can often be anticipated.

Correct pronunciation is important
You cannot replace reading with anything. So, while reading those passages for your reading comprehension, start by reading a passage aloud. Learn to articulate those new words either in front of the mirror or do this exercise with a like minded friend. Another useful exercise is to read the newspaper aloud; you could pretend to be a newsreader.

Use proper vocabulary
I will not recommend using words which sound pretentious and verbose. Keep your spoken language vocabulary very effective, simple and to the point. Augment your vocabulary with words learnt during test preparation and use them effectively.

Grammar has no substitute
Fortunately, your test prep journey takes you through the rigours of grammar. Practice what you learn while speaking also. Commonly made mistakes by people are giving up on the tenses mid way. Learn your tenses well by keeping things very straightforward. Speak simply taking care that what is being said is correct.

Don’t translate
Give up translating from the native language to another language, it will always be incorrect. The rules governing language are different; this could be mostly true for every language.