Brad and other "correctionists" worry about "bad grammar," but we  
need to keep in mind that language changes, and tense/aspect systems  
change. It is very hard to stop linguistic change. Some changes may  
lessen the communicative effectiveness of the language, but context  
usually resolves this. We have to remember that human communities  
have invented their languages and will not allow them to decline to  
the point of nonfunctionality -- communication is too vital to human  
society. As I always insist, language is a reflection of thinking; if  
language degenerates, it is because thinking degenerates. A society  
will have a language that satisfies its needs and desires, and  
reflects its thinking habits.

People sometimes claim that grammar improves thinking, but I think  
this is not so much because grammar introduces "better" thought  
patterns, but because, as a pursuit, it cultivates analytical habits  
of mind, and that is what improves thinking. Also, like other  
analytical pursuits, it reveals to the student the complexities of  
world phenomena that we take for granted, thus enriching the  
student's knowledge base and encouraging analytical thinking about  
other topics. Those of my students who don't mind linguistics often  
make remarks reflecting the latter effect.

If we want subtle tense/aspect systems, why not introduce some from  
other languages that make more distinctions than English? How would  
that be different from trying to prop up a distinction that is  
possibly dying or changing? Are we as English speakers poorer  
thinkers because we have fewer tense/aspect distinctions than  
speakers of other languages?

Dr. Johanna Rubba, Ph. D.
Associate Professor, Linguistics
Linguistics Minor Advisor
English Dept.
Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Ofc. tel. : 805-756-2184
Dept. tel.: 805-756-2596
Dept. fax: 805-756-6374
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba

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