The
About Grammar!
I can, without a shadow of a doubt, clearly say that, grammar, in particular, spelling, was and still is, a means of dividing the classes in the UK.
For those who find that hard to believe, here is the simplest of tests to prove that claim.
Read and say the following:
‘Which, which is which’
There were, by Grammar standards (spelling and punctuation) two notable errors. Errors that, however, only apply when it is typed or written and not when it is said. Then, when it is said, spelling goes straight out of the proverbial window; does not exist, while punctuation is down to phrasing and emphasis: ‘I beg your pardon’. It can either be a question, one begging forgiveness or an exclamation at an outrage.
At the time during which the TV series ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ was set, the downstairs being the servants to the owners, the Upper class owners could afford education for their children, leaving those of the servants and, indeed, the servants themselves, lacking in education. A point most noted when Rowan Atkinson, in Blackadder II, tried explaining counting and arithmetic to his servant, Baldrick.
The spoken word, can, however, be misinterpreted, as this example from the book ‘Good Punctuation’ demonstrates.
‘A more serious lapse occurs when the lack of commas leads to ambiguity. A well-known illustration of this involves the fate of a young warrior in Ancient Greece who, on the eve of departing for a war, consults the Oracle at Delphi.’
What he was told: Thou shalt go thou shalt return never by war shalt thou perish.’
What it meant: Thou shalt go, thou shalt return never, by war shalt thou perish.’
Examples of different spellings of words being unnecessary: ‘I rained in the horse’. ‘It reigned last night’. ‘Queen Elizabeth reined for N years’.
‘How do you like my shear negligee?’ ‘I’ll just go and sheer the sheep’.
Provided the rules of grammar are used, in particular, the subject (the item in question), there is no confusion whatsoever and, with it, no need for different spellings of words that, when said, sound the same.
As well as spelling, in particular, when something is said, there is the downright confusion of when to use ‘hyphens’ (-): ‘un-natural’ or ‘unnatural’ when it is typed out or written. The only time that hyphens should be used is when a word, usually a long word, wraps around two lines (the end of one and the start of the next).
Here is a further challenge. Can anyone reading this article or anyone who has been told about it, come up with an example like the ones above that proves the correct spelling of a word, one that can be spelt in more than one way, is necessary, in order to avoid ambiguity?
To make it interesting, the TRUTH will donate £500.00 to the NHS for the first person who can.
(See 'contact us' below.)
The only rule is, it must abide by the rules of grammar; the way words are arranged in a sentence, meaning that a subject/object has to be included, while speech, for the reason made clear at the start, does not apply.
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