Phil, You can't have a scope and sequence without terminology. The only question is whether you do so carefully and thoughtfully. Scope and sequence is a big job, so we have been routinely delegating it to sub-groups. Many of us are veterans at writing for publication. Craig> >Again, I agree that the ATEG forum would be the right place to work >>on a revision and standardization of the grammar metalanguage. I can >>assume that this is what Ed Vavra would also like to see happen, but >>how can we make it happen? >> > > > Another letter on this tread suggests the terminology discussion be part > of the Scope and Sequence project which seems a little fishy to me. A > separate committee would undoubtedly be better and more focussed. > Certainly the problem of terminology comes up when you look at the scope > of the problem, but I don't see how it fits in the Scope and Sequence > committee. They are already charged with significant enough > responsibility. A separate team doing the research and writing would be > required. And of course for any ATEG committee, principles should first > be worked out before making proposals. > > All of this needs to be of publishable quality to have the necessary > effect. > > Phil Bralich > > >> >>On Wed, 26 Jul 2006, Phil Bralich wrote... >> >>>>I agree with the statement you make in your article that there is=20 >>>>great confusion concerning words used to define grammatical terms. >>I=20 >>>>have recently reviewed 18 (eighteen) grammar books of different >>sizes=20 >>>>and origins, including Quirk=92s =93Comprehensive Grammar of the >>English= >>>=20 >>>>Language,=93 and each one of the uses a different set of terms to=20 >>>>describe the grammar system of the English language. >>Standardization=20 >>>>of grammar terminology would eliminate a lot of confusion and >>would=20 >>>>make different grammar books more accessible to teachers and >>students. >>> >>>ATEG would be a good group to do this. =20 >>> >>>>I do not have any trouble with the term *gerund* probably because >>I=20 >>>>learned this term when I was in grammar (junior high) school, but >>I=20 >>>>agree that the term is redundant. As you know, it comes from >>Latin=20 >>>>(gerundium), and can be easily abandoned as the term *participle* >>can=20 >>>>be used to describe both the verbal and the nominal functions of >>the=20 >>>>[-ing] form.=20 >>> >>>The only reason I bring it up is because is so often confounding. >>If the r= >>>edundant and unnecessary nature of the term is pointed out, it >>clears stude= >>>nts heads. A "Ban the Gerund" movement might be eye catching and >>helpful t= >>>o put together a list of standardized terminology. How about >>the "Ban the = >>>Gerund" ATEG Working Group for the Standardization of Grammar >>Terminology. = >>> =20 >>> >>>>Someone asked a question about *parts of speech,* a term which >>seems=20 >>>>rather counterintuitive for grammar (as grammar deals mainly with=20 >>>>written language), and I found out that some grammar book authors >>use=20 >>>>the term *word classes* to describe the same thing. I believe >>that=20 >>>>WORD CLASSES is much better than PARTS OF SPEECH to describe the=20 >>>>different categories into which we can prototypically categorize >>the=20 >>>>lexicon of every language. >>> >>>Parts of Speech if fine for me. It recognizes the more primary >>aspect of l= >>>anguage as Speech. The ability to analyze all Speech (not just >>writing) is= >>> what grammar offers. =20 >>> >>> >>>Phil Bralich >>> >>>To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web >>interface at: >>> http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html >>>and select "Join or leave the list" >>> >>>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ >> >>To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web >> interface at: >> http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html >>and select "Join or leave the list" >> >>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface > at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html > and select "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/