And grammar and spelling are only good when you want to communicate with an extremely wide audience. If you’re in a tribe, any old ‘hood talk will do. Then you know who is a member of your tribe and who isn’t…which is the basis of “My Fair Lady” and most of democracy…we share a language.
Yup… that’s mostly it, that and the values inherent thereto…
I’m a lifetime liberal and I opine that not requiring intense language training and abilities of immigrants is profoundly anti-democratic.
Yeah, I know: seems weird. The next few times you peek under a burka to treat a black eye for a recently-married(!) third wife you’ll begin to wonder…
This is, of course, some form of urban myth, or at least an over-simplification, perhaps relating to the advent of public education, and more widespread knowledge and use of correct English grammar and spelling (the OP’s error was a usage error, using the homonym “your” instead of “you’re”). Grammars, as formally set out and written-down sets of rules for writing, far predate english – to at least the 2nd century BC in both India and Greece. The first known book of English grammar written in English (instead of the Latin of scholars) appeared in 1586; many have followed since.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_English_grammars
J Short over 12 years ago
And a larger prostate. (If your a guy.)
StoicLion1973 over 12 years ago
Proper grammar doesn’t come naturally, if J. Short is any indication.
Dani Rice over 12 years ago
Relax – this isn’t a test. At least he didn’t say “like”!
hippogriff over 12 years ago
david 42: A bit earlier, in the 1860s along with “proper” spelling.
tigre1 over 12 years ago
And grammar and spelling are only good when you want to communicate with an extremely wide audience. If you’re in a tribe, any old ‘hood talk will do. Then you know who is a member of your tribe and who isn’t…which is the basis of “My Fair Lady” and most of democracy…we share a language.
Yup… that’s mostly it, that and the values inherent thereto…
I’m a lifetime liberal and I opine that not requiring intense language training and abilities of immigrants is profoundly anti-democratic.
Yeah, I know: seems weird. The next few times you peek under a burka to treat a black eye for a recently-married(!) third wife you’ll begin to wonder…
Greg Johnston over 12 years ago
This is, of course, some form of urban myth, or at least an over-simplification, perhaps relating to the advent of public education, and more widespread knowledge and use of correct English grammar and spelling (the OP’s error was a usage error, using the homonym “your” instead of “you’re”). Grammars, as formally set out and written-down sets of rules for writing, far predate english – to at least the 2nd century BC in both India and Greece. The first known book of English grammar written in English (instead of the Latin of scholars) appeared in 1586; many have followed since.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_English_grammars
Jkiss over 12 years ago
Wrinkles are earned just like gray hair.