Dumbing Down

[vegas paul]

RickAstoria... True Dat!

 

[jim baird]

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo." is a grammatically valid sentence in the English language, used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated linguistic constructs. See link below. Site includes diagram.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo

 

[TimNY]

I think I have my father to thank for my somewhat acceptable grammar rather than the school system. As an attorney he would red ink all my writings and I would have to revise them to his satisfaction.

I won't claim to be any grammar guru; I have long since forgotten how to diagram a sentence (last grade they taught that was in grade school, I think?) or any of the intricacies of grammar. At this point I know when something I write is not correct. Many times I will choose a different sentence structure to correct the problem.

Clearly education is just as much on the shoulders of the parents as it is on the teachers.

Perhaps Rick can find some solace in the fact that those of us raising small children are cognoscente of what has happened to the last few generations of graduates and we are not happy. Hopefully in 10 years you will see a rebound in the quality of graduates as parents once again make a commitment to educating their children.

I have neither cable TV nor high speed internet. We have a Playstation 2, but it's in the master bedroom and off limits. When the kids want something to do they can draw, paint, play outside or read me a book.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

Who decides what is correct and incorrect grammar?

The grammar of a language is decided by the group of people who use the language. New grammar rules come into existence when enough members of the group have spoken (signed) their language a particular way often enough and long enough that it would seem odd to speak the language in some other way.

Since Britain’s emigration to America English has slowly morphed into another language.

Perhaps English should be made the official language of the U.S. of A., before the majority of Americans become too dumb to understand the Constitution.

In some circumstances it's proper to end a sentence with a proposition.

 

[Alias]

I will never forget how appalled I was when my English 1A professor sent back my final writing assignment because 'it was too difficult to understand'. I was about 45 years old and was doing the class online at a local CA community college. The paper was on ADHD, not an easy subject to 'dumb down'.

I was so incensed, I took about five hours and rewrote the entire ten page paper and dumbed it down to a fourth grade level. I resubmitted it, and when I received it back, the prof said it didn't make any sense. Duh, no kidding. Technical writing is done with the assumption that the reader has a certain level of comprehesion, especially at the college level. I resubmitted the original with appropriate changes and managed to get an A+ in the class.

Sue, who remembers diagraming sentences........yuk!

 

[RickAstoria]

Who decides what is correct and incorrect grammar? The grammar of a language is decided by the group of people who use the language. New grammar rules come into existence when enough members of the group have spoken (signed) their language a particular way often enough and long enough that it would seem odd to speak the language in some other way.

Since Britain’s emigration to America English has slowly morphed into another language.

Perhaps English should be made the official language of the U.S. of A., before the majority of Americans become too dumb to understand the Constitution.

In some circumstances it's proper to end a sentence with a proposition.

First off, the grammatical rules of English was established by England and adopted by United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_English_grammars

This began with William Bullokar. English is fairly structured by the way it is used. Then eventually Robert Lowth who by careful scrutiny of linguistic structure of English and historic origins and the adoption of grammatical rules. It is the academia elites and the AUTHORity of writing and spoken arts determines this. They write the books and have committees that goes about the constructs of proper writing and talking.

English writing as rules like the rules of art as all languages has rules. We establish rules to our language, our arts, our phonology and music, and everything else for there to be uniformity so there will be the ability to communicate to each other.

Like an orchestra, there needs to be choreography. There is a duty and obligation that you use the knowledge you learn for the greater good beyond yourself. This is a government job. It is a Moral Duty. Therefore, the academic elites, professors, authorities in writing and spoken arts takes up the duty by the bootstraps to carry on this art and form. Like a piece of fine art, writing and speech is too. There teachers of these arts have a duty to study the arts to profess it. Then bestow the knowledge of this art.

There can be morphology in the usage to convey a artistic point, yet the fundamental rules still applies.

Architectural art is a visual language with visual elements that communicates a message, concept, expression, symbol, ect. The same is said for writing. English languages has styles like Classical / Tradition to a Contemporary style. Similarly, Architecture has this as well. Some rules of guiding premises may not transfer from style to style and purpose to purpose. Yet, core fundamentals still apply.

It may also be the difference between Classical music and contemporary pop music. Some core fundamental rules apply or there be no melody, rhythm and be pure incoherence. The grammar of writing is like the fine arts. It is there to establish coherence and clear conveyance. The art of communicating is founded on this core root principle. A thought is not conveyed if the audience (or other person) does not understand.

 

[RickAstoria]

It does not protect the language to make it the official language. English was the defacto (essentially official) language of the United States. However, French does not have as much problems with the morphology and ignorance as the language is controlled by a governing committee in France.

An international governing committee may need to be established to formalize and keep the language structure stable.

France controls when new words are adopted and how it is adopted within an established set of rules. Originally, the British empire did this but with the collapse of the British empire and the break off of colonies, it has been disconnected. English can be restored by the well established grammatical rules of the language and the rules allow for 2 basic formats. Formal and informal settings. Other rules such as composition rules allows for purposing it to the particular application. Whether it be a business letter or a casual letter to a friend. The rules also would take into great account the spoken form as well.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

It does not protect the language to make it the official language

True, Rick you’ve reminded how young the English language and yet I've haven't mastered it after all these years.

UB, it’s commendable that you to continue improve your penmanship. I’m remiss for not having mentioned it earlier.

 

[peach]

Always use active language.. not use all those passive verbs like "in reviewing the property records we have discovered that there may be several violations that have occured thru the years that will make it necessary for the city to take corrective action to abate the violations". It's been so long since I've written in passive voice that I can't even come up with a good example.

The better approach is to be active.. "we reviewed the records of your property; several code violations still exist. You have 30 days to correct the following or we're taking you to court".. or words to that effect.

Get their attention. Don't bore them to death.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Francis,

"UB, it’s commendable that you to continue improve your penmanship. I’m remiss for not having mentioned it earlier. "

Is this better?

Unicle Robair

 

[peach]

Whether it's informal or formal communication, be direct.

If you would say to a friend "man, with your front porch sagging and all these junk cars in the front yard, your property looks like crap", you can write something like "the sagging of your front porch indicates a structural failure and the junk cars in your yard constitute a violation of municipal codes. you have 30 days to get remove the cars and make an appointment with the building official to discuss the porch or we will condemn the property"... rather an a lot of to wit language.

Don't hide the violation or your intent.

Rick will probably find some fancy passive language to keep you from enforcing the codes.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

UB, that's better than my handwritting.

Jrnis Vinyrd

 

[Uncle Bob]

Micheal rowed the boat a shore.

Uncle Bob

 

[peach]

in our profession, "fix it" is a complete sentence.. particularly when you take a big fat sharpie pen and write it on the wall.. with an arrow pointing to the violation. The trades people will figure out what's wrong.