[Omah]

Originally Posted by Niall

Yes because once people no longer have the collective understanding of the semi-colon, English will of course unravel and die out.

This happens all the time, people worry about the language crumbling and tearing apart at the seems when it well.. isn't it. It's just change, not decay. Change does not mean standards are getting worse, they're just shifting.

300 years ago, there were two different types of 's' that had to be written depending on word. Do you suppose that the loss of that grammatical rule is a sign of grammar standards worsening too?

Once the rot sets in .....

I note, however, that YOUR grammar, is almost perfect .....

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Omah

Once the rot sets in .....

I note, however, that YOUR grammar, is almost perfect .....

It's not really 'rot' though at all. English has gone through this constant shift for nearly a 1000 years. It's just how this - and all other - languages work.

And thank you, given my score on the test I suppose that demonstrates that grammar isn't something that needs to be tested at all, huh? Even though I don't know all of the specifics I can still accurately write a sentence (mostly anyways)..

Originally Posted by Livia

Speaking as someone who gets through quite a lot of work experience placements, I'd have to say that sadly, change does sometimes mean standards are slipping. When you employ an intern who's just graduated or about to graduate, and they can't write a basic letter, using good spelling, punctuation and grammar, then you have to accept the fact that standards are much lower now than they were when I graduated, and in the scheme of things, that wasn't that long ago.

Fair enough. I'm not sure I agree that it means standards are slipping though, I mean most people my age that I'm friends with can accurately punctuate and write. There's obviously lots of factors that feed into that I suppose, but that's my perception anyway.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niall

Fair enough. I'm not sure I agree that it means standards are slipping though, I mean most people my age that I'm friends with can accurately punctuate and write. There's obviously lots of factors that feed into that I suppose, but that's my perception anyway.

I am generalising, naturally. I agree that language changes and develops all the time, but not being able to make yourself clear in your native language at graduate level is shameful. Your own English skills though, as Omah said, are excellent.

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Livia

I am generalising, naturally. I agree that language changes and develops all the time, but not being able to make yourself clear in your native language at graduate level is shameful. Your own English skills though, as Omah said, are excellent.

Yeah I suppose it is a bit ridiculous that graduates can come out of university with that skill.

And thank you. I want to do English at Uni anyway and I've always loved the subject, so that's probably why.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Niall

It's not really 'rot' though at all. English has gone through this constant shift for nearly a 1000 years. It's just how this - and all other - languages work.

So why do you place such emphasis on the proper use of the English language - why aren't you illiterate .....

Why conform to the norm, why not be "different" .....

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Omah

So why do you place such emphasis on the proper use of the English language - why aren't you illiterate .....

Why conform to the norm, why not be "different" .....

Well I have been conditioned to use grammar 'correctly' for the better part of my 14 years in school, so it's hard for me to flout those rules now. That and the degree I'll hopefully complete (English) and the careers I want to eventually do (either video game writing or being a full time author) are all things that require me to have excellent grammar. It's just my own personal context that means I'm quite rigorous in my use of punctuation, grammar etc.

I'm just arguing that we shouldn't worry so much about the misuse of grammar so much amongst the general populous. It's something that people have always been insecure about (something that quite frankly is ridiculous), so why should we perpetuate that?

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Niall

Well I have been conditioned to use grammar 'correctly' for the better part of my 14 years in school, so it's hard for me to flout those rules now. That and the degree I'll hopefully complete (English) and the careers I want to eventually do (either video game writing or being a full time author) are all things that require me to have excellent grammar. It's just my own personal context that means I'm quite rigorous in my use of punctuation, grammar etc.

I'm just arguing that we shouldn't worry so much about the misuse of grammar so much amongst the general populous (sic). It's something that people have always been insecure about (something that quite frankly is ridiculous), so why should we perpetuate that?

See (sic) .....

BIB Add spelling .....