Brock - Good question, one that I've been trying to address in my class.

In fact, the event is highly suited to a discussion of grammar because it
is grammar that we use to create meaning.  Specifically, instead of the 8
parts of speech, I have the students address what we have come to call the
"six parts of meaning" - who, what, why, where, when, and how (thanks,
journalists!).  If they can answer these questions when they write, they're
good writers; if they can discern the answers when they read, they're good
readers.

The way that they answer the questions is with grammatical constructions -
primarily, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, and dependent clauses, each
building the level of specificity with which the writer answers the basic
question.

Therefore, a simplistic "They attacked the WTC." leaves out a lot of
meaning.  Who is "they" (requires an understanding of world-wide
terrorism)?  What is the WTC (as both a structure and as a symbol)?  Why
would "they" attack it (requires an understanding of the Middle East
conflict, etc.)?  Where did they attack and when did they attack it
(requires an examination of the duration of the terrorists training in the
US as well as their other attacks on the US overseas prior to this one).
How did they attack (requires understanding of the process of terrorism -
recruiting, training, etc.).

In other words, you can't understand the situation without grammar!

Geoff Layotn


At 04:10 PM 9/18/01 -0400, you wrote:
>I've been wondering whether and how the terrorist crisis connects in any
>ways to ATEG and the discussions of teaching grammar.  Our lives take place
>in a different context now.  Will our discussions change also?
>
>I don't know, but I think so.  Language is so central, grammar is not just
>about English, and English itself is global.  Perhaps in the years
>ahead--years, for most wars last longer than people expect--the issues
>surrounding language diversity vs. Standard English will intensify.  Perhaps
>the Arabic and Farsi languages and grammar will be of interest to more
>people (although I don't remember very broad interest in Russian during the
>cold war).  We will no doubt see more propaganda than we usually do and have
>more to say about its semantic tricks.  And probably the phenomenon of
>global English(es) and grammar will attract more attention than now.
>
>We will see.  On the whole I think that the discussion of teaching grammar
>will not be an insignificant place to be in the new world.
>
>Brock Haussamen
>
>
>Brock Haussamen
>English Department
>Raritan Valley Community College
>[log in to unmask]
>phone: 908-526-1200, ext. 8307
>
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