Does good use of English matter?

Question

As long as we can understand each other, who cares?

Isn't the idea of speaking 'properly' just something created by the upper classes in the 19th century to keep the masses down? Language is for communication, nothing more, nothing less.

18th, 19th, same thing.

Answer 1

The problem is a lot of people speak/write it so poorly, you can't understand them.

Answer 2

The Greeks had the right idea: you can speak Dimotiki or Folk Greek, or you can speak the puritan Katharevousa if you want to come across as a literary or learned person.

Now that English is fast becoming the global language, it's only proper that the general population should speak Americanised English - and write like it's computer script - while the intelligent people speak and write British English.

Language is for communication, and without communication you'd be all alone. Nothing more, nothing less.

Answer 3

If you want to get on in life, you need people to understand what you are saying. What if, for instance you were in a difficult situation in the battlefield, and the noise was horrendous? Everyone can understand the Queens English, and you would need to then!
Nothing against accents,it makes us unique. It's just that some are worse than others. I really love a Scottish accent spoken well!

Answer 4

You are sorely mistaken! Proper language is not just for show but ensures that we will understand each other fully with no vagaries. Often when incorrect or improper English is spoken, the speaker has inadvertently formed a sentence with a different meaning then what was intended.

Answer 5

I really couldn't agree with you more. The whole idea of speaking English "properly" implies that there is a standard that we are supposed to follow, and the standard is always defined by the people with high status. Therefore, speaking "properly" really means speaking like people with high status. A famous linguist has called linguistic discrimination the last acceptable form of prejudice.

Answer 6

yes it matters....it makes all the difference...whether or not we merely understand one another is neither here nor there...the cavemen probably used grunts and tones and understood each other but as they became more civilized and technological advances were made a more complex (and concise) way of communication was necessary...as for it being an upper class thing - i dont buy it....use of proper english portrays intelligence but more importantly it makes sure that the point of any given command or request is understood

Answer 7

Actually good use of manner shows self respect and respect for what you are talking about. I was once talking to my brother on the porch and this guy cam,e swagging up to our porch. It was raining and everything and he was trying to talking about a reading program or something. . but the fact he use Ebonics to hell and his tone of voice just threw me off i basically told him not to step foot on my porch and to leave. Also how would you want your lawyer doctor or other speaking to you. they get paid a lot of money to make sure they can communicate properly. but the fact that only proper English is spoken in England is true. So just because we use slight different English in America doesn't give ignorant people the right to tell us that speaking proper English from basic elementary English is worthless.

Answer 8

you're right, as long as we can understand each other! however, sometimes it just gets under my skin when people butcher the language..not all the time, and i do get over it and remember that it is just a communication thing...but it makes me think.. that someone who can use the language properly and doesn't , are they just stupid? because they sound it when they butcher it.

Answer 9

Depends what the audience is. If you're just talking to your friends it's okay not to use proper English, but if you're interviewing for a job or writing a paper for school, then it does matter.

Answer 10

1 d0nt c ny r4sn y 1 shud r1te 1n a wy m0st ppl can unnerstnd esly.

Yea, text speech or abbreviations and crap aren't half as easy to read as normal writing with grammar and punctuation. They should be more bloody considerate.