A Look At A Grammar Puss

http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/articles/media/1994_01_24_thenewrepublic.html

The link above is an article we had to read for class, analyzing all sorts of ways we screw up the English language. Refreshingly enough, I actually liked what he had to say. Of course I will most likely always displace my frustration with grammar onto the shoulders of minds that already understand proper placement of verbs and such, but at least he sort of kept my interest as I had to read through his long-winded article.

One of the parts that actually caught my attention was the mentioning of the debacle between Latin rules of enlightenment and English copy-catting. With trying to keep up with the fad of enlightenment, the English language tried to adopt complex rules to fit simple sentences, leading us in knots of "grammar misusage." We tried to do something fancy with our language to look cool, and now it just gives us fits within the public school setting. Thanks England. Just another example of why I should know the language, and even the history behind the language I speak, so that I can put in witty pieces of information within conversations of proper grammar usage. Because those happen all the time....

I did like his words. I liked the way he utilized the always fun tool of sarcasm, even while he was being a nerd about it. I could aspire to be like him, but for now, I'll just say "job well done" and envy him secretly.