Whenever I get on my soapbox about grammar, people often tell me I put too much emphasis on the importance of grammar — after all, they say, why does it matter what kind of grammar people use; the important thing is whether or not they understand what they are saying and writing to one another. I know that this is a popular position with some people, but let’s look more deeply into the issue of using correct grammar.
Grammar, regardless of the country or the language, is the foundation for communication — the better the grammar, the clearer the message, the more likelihood of understanding the message’s intent and meaning. That is what communication is all about. Recent national and international events make it clear that in the United States today we are lacking in the quality of communication that leads to understanding our fellow citizens and the people of other countries — and this at a time when better understanding at home and abroad is so necessary.
English is the primary grammatical standard for the world today — in all venues of life: business, government, medicine, education, and so forth. In most countries where English is not the primary language, English is the language of second choice. If you have ever been in a class with international students you probably noticed that, although they may speak with a noticeable accent, their knowledge of English grammar is frequently superior to that of native, U.S. born students.
Most in-depth thinkers, regardless of their national identity, realize that correct grammar leads to the kind of power in leadership that comes from superior communication, and they plan accordingly. As the economy of the United States has sputtered and our federal government has continued to put off action until the last minute, our prestige in the world has suffered. Among the leadership of some non-western countries, this has fueled their dreams of becoming the new world leader.
Just think what it would be like if the international standard for language was not English. Some of the world's diplomats have already begun to suggest such a change in the United Nations, where English is currently the official language. They comprehend that superior communication is an absolute necessity for world leadership and power, and they know how advantageous it would be for their own language to be the world standard. We in the United States had better pay attention — this is not something to be taken lightly.
Our own grammatical standards began their gradual degradation long ago, as people began spending more time watching TV instead of reading. Now, the big enemy is the texting epidemic and it's fascination with emoji communication. Now don't get me wrong, technological developments are not bad; on the contrary, they are not only good but in many cases they are life changing. How they are used and monitored though is equally, if not more important.
In the United States, we really do need to focus our efforts on strengthening our understanding and use of correct English grammar. Indeed our future may depend on it!
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