Sunday, May 21, 2017

PERFECT ENGLISH

My perception of the English language; as seen from my very own point of view:
My thanks to my dear friend Vicky, for inspiring me to write this!

What I have written here, has all been written with regards to those of us, who have been born in the U.S.A. and those of us who speak English as their primary language.  I invite your rebuttal or any other comments, which you may care to make.  Whether you will agree with my viewpoint or not, I think that you might find it quite interesting....

Babies are born with the quest for language and speech, already genetically present within their brains, and from the moment of their birth and forward, the baby's brain begins to absorb and to process all of the incoming information.  The baby's brain sorts out all of the information all on its very own accord, and it is not necessary for the baby to be required to concentrate on whatever he may understand and just how that information should be interpreted.
Now after saying this to you; I can now tell you for certain, that if immediately after birth, a baby were to be capable of reading a text book, which would very perfectly describe the structure and the process of the English language; that baby would then immediately begin to develop that skill within his brain, and that baby would then be able to speak perfect English, right from the very first moment in time, when his very first words are about to be spoken. However, this is not possible, so the baby must learn by "association".  This means that the baby will then learn very much about speaking the English language mostly from listening to his parents, as well as listening to others around him, who are always very close to him. All of this will then occur, long before this child will ever receive his very first, formal English lesson, from a school.  The baby's brain will always try to interpret the incoming information in the most simple manner.  The baby's brain will always search for the easiest way!  The easiest way for the baby's brain to do this, is to evaluate every spoken word that he may hear.  These are the spoken words which are learned from those who would be there, and very close to him.  Those people around him do not speak perfect English either, for this very same reason. So this problem is now very much self perpetuated.  By the time that baby (child) goes to school, his knowledge and speaking skills will have already been very well established, and as far as the child's brain is concerned, he already knows all that he needs to know about speaking and comprehending the English words. Now, after about 6 years of experience, this child will then go to school. His brain is then struck with some new information from a teacher and some text books, which are now informing the child, that what he had already learned (so far), is really not entirely correct. He is then being led to believe that his brain must now make some very necessary reparations in order to improve his English comprehension and speaking skills. He must now learn how to speak the English language, in the most proper and predetermined manner. The child's brain doesn't like this idea very much, because his brain has already become quite accustomed to, and quite satisfied with the manner in which it has already learned this skill.  His brain is now wondering why, something which works so perfectly well, must be changed. But this child had also learned about discipline very early on. He understands the meaning of order and uniformity, and so the child knows that he must now follow some new rules and instructions.  This child will then listen to the teacher with full comprehension, and he will read his text books.  He will then learn all of the new information as it is being presented to him.  He will now learn to read, speak and to write in accordance with this new English language information, doing this in the very new manner in which he is now being taught.  Much of this new information will change the child's understanding of the English language for the child's entire lifetime.  However, the logic within that child's brain, will allow him to accept only the changes which will allow that child to respond to any new incoming information, in a manner in which that child's brain can determine to be the least complicated. Logic, will then dictate to that child, that it is very illogical to choose to apply a very complex action or thought process, when the most simple action or thought process, will work equally as well. The least complicated manner will also require the use of much less energy and time. Truly, it would require very, very much concentration and self discipline for anyone to totally change their interpretation of the English language, along with that person's methods of applying it.  Many people can actually accomplish this, but most will not.  Now why is this so???  ...When all of us look around, and we witness the activities of others, we can then realize that everything (regarding the use of the English language), is working PERFECTLY well for us. Everyone can speak, write and read this simplified, wrong form of the English language, so perfectly well. So logically, why should we change it?  I am one of such a person.  I have altered and improved my English language perception very much during the course of my lifetime. However, I have done so, only because my choices regarding my learning and my use of proper English, to the very best of my ability, has given me much dignity, respect, and also the rewarding feeling of accomplishment. When I attempt to write something to a very special person, or if I may write something which might require public exposure; I will always try to do my very best to make all of my English statements very properly legible. I would also be following just as close to the correct rules of English, as I possibly could. However, I have not achieved perfection in all of these endeavors.  Now, it would be impossible for me to do any better, because there is that little voice, deep down inside of me which repeatedly continues to inform me of the fact that: Everybody around me still continues to read, speak and write, while using the English language in the most simplified manner.  We can also comprehend everyone's version of the English language very perfectly well.  We experience no comprehension problems what-so-ever from the errors of our grammar. We can also understand those people who use 'perfect English', just as easily as we can understand those who do not. Logic determines that it is a lot easier and much more simple to do it the wrong way, than it is to do it the right way.  So, if we find that there is really no logical reason why we should do it the right way; then why should we do it the right way at all?  When I had been in High School, I had taken a course in English.  I had a very excellent and wonderful English teacher, who had known perfect English, very well.  This teacher would speak and demonstrate very many examples of perfect English to our class, so very remarkably well.  Then one day, I have had the opportunity to accidentally overhear my English teacher while she had been engaging in a spontaneous conversation with another teacher.  While she had been speaking so very eloquently with the use of her English skills, I had still noticed that her manner of speech had been slightly different than the English which she had been teaching in the classroom. It had then occurred to me that she had known perfect English, she could teach perfect English, but she could not speak perfect English while she had been actively engaged in a spontaneous conversation with another person. This had been quite amusing to me.  It has been said that "Old Habits Die Hard"!  I would venture to say that this statement is very true to life.  Especially when those old habits had been formed so very early on, in a person's life.  When we speak in a very simple manner, this leaves us so very much more room for us to apply additional words of power, as well as emotion, to whatever feelings or emotions, which we may be attempting to express.  Poets and Songwriters, have always done this as well, and they still continue to do so.  This is what is known as "Poetic License".  Poetic License, is actually a license to do it the wrong way.  Regarding any of those Poets from the past (even the very best), who had ever written a very beautiful and emotional poem; this would not have been possible, if that Poet would have chosen to use perfect English for expressing his feelings and emotions.  I guess that when it comes to the English language; sometimes even bad things can be good!
My conclusion to all of this, is that people will always love to strive for perfection, even though it is not possible to achieve perfection. There are no perfect human beings.  We may always fall short of our goals by some degree, but we can find so very much satisfaction and pride, with just knowing that we had done our very best in all that we have attempted to do.