What is the writing that colleges should teach? And why?
Good questions. (Thank you, Stanley Fish, for your post What Should Colleges Teach?)
I'll start out by declaring that I try to write in what I consider to be modern American English, as it is described in Brian Garner's Modern American Usage. Why?
Because I think adhering to a logical, contemporary style creates a forum in which a person may understand, and be understood by, its contemporary practitioners. However, attempting to propagate such a style amid the ubiquitous winks and nods of marketing-and-advertising language (as well as that of specialists) plants us in the path of a stone rolling down a mountainside.
But does that mean we should surrender the attempt, lie down as if we are not Sisyphus?
Nope. And I think the teaching of writing is no mere bromide. Teaching grammar alongside a formalized, modern style (how we communicate generally, without local or regional variances) can inculcate the following:
So when a local florist--in a fit of mercantile whimsy--substitutes "bokay" for "bouquet", we can chuckle.
And when a bureaucratic entity--governmental or corporate or specialist--substitutes "population" for "people", we can, at least, grimace.
And then we can start talking about cleaning up the streets.
I'll start out by declaring that I try to write in what I consider to be modern American English, as it is described in Brian Garner's Modern American Usage. Why?
Because I think adhering to a logical, contemporary style creates a forum in which a person may understand, and be understood by, its contemporary practitioners. However, attempting to propagate such a style amid the ubiquitous winks and nods of marketing-and-advertising language (as well as that of specialists) plants us in the path of a stone rolling down a mountainside.
But does that mean we should surrender the attempt, lie down as if we are not Sisyphus?
Nope. And I think the teaching of writing is no mere bromide. Teaching grammar alongside a formalized, modern style (how we communicate generally, without local or regional variances) can inculcate the following:
- Recognition of logic--through syntax (word order)
- Recognition of local and regional variances--by establishing a baseline
- Recognition of a "language forum"--where we can debate the "big ideas" and the big "little ideas" with less linguistic feedback
So when a local florist--in a fit of mercantile whimsy--substitutes "bokay" for "bouquet", we can chuckle.
And when a bureaucratic entity--governmental or corporate or specialist--substitutes "population" for "people", we can, at least, grimace.
And then we can start talking about cleaning up the streets.
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