Grammar "perfection"
Bill Stowe
name-throwing to a minimum, let me add a quick note.
As one still learning a language after 6 years in France and plenty of lessons
before, with every utterance I have to make choices about fluency of
communication and "correctness." We all have different ideas of the priority
of correctness and what it is. Few of us teach, or expect grammar perfection
since we make the types of mistakes already mentioned.
An American friend whose French is much better than mine once suggested that to
overcome the obstacles of speaking without inhibitions/constant self-monitoring
(my most grievous downfall, IMO), one needs to act as if drunk and just speak
(and make mistakes) and speak some more. I'm sure there is some truth in this,
and I'm also sure that if one does this, those repeated errors are likely to
become habits. But is this worse than being afraid to make mistakes. I'm sure
not.
Besides, with so many world "Englishes" who thinks they have the answers to
what "correct" means. One commentor is right when there is one answer to what
is correct for Toeic, etc. But there are other answers to the question
depending on the group in front of you.
Wittgenstein said "what we cannot express we must pass over in silence." That
is to say, the point is not moot, but I can't offer anyone advice on the degree
of grammatical correctness who doesn't have the same students ("learners" if
you prefer) with the same requirements.
Un-grammatically yours,
Bill Stowe
Laval, France
bill....@esiea-ouest.fr
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