Knowing what is correct in a language will always be a matter of discussion between the academic and theoretical world of linguistics and how everyday people use language, particularly when it comes to determining what is right or wrong, which refers to the usage of language. When professional linguists are generally concerned with documenting the way language moves forward and changes, the public, schools, and institutions are more prescriptive, constructing rules about which usages should be correct.
When a person is very young, they appear to be less worried about whether someone talks (uses language) in a way that is considered not standard. Once a person enters school, becoming part of the English culture, it is recognized as important and becomes a standard. Educators see it as part of their responsibility to encourage students to express themselves using formal and standard English. This creates confusion over whether we want to take regional dialects or other forms of English away from students or correct them when they are speaking in that way. There is even more confusion with the social differences that exist in the form of English for all kinds of countries including the differences between America and the UK. What is considered correct has even more to do with convention than a superior or inferior way of using a language form.
The teaching of a standard language has both benefits and challenges. On one hand, it makes sure that students can access the language that is used in power and education. On the other, it can exclude or marginalize students who grow up speaking a dialect that is different from the standard, reinforcing inequalities. Even though linguists prefer a descriptive approach, prescriptive norms still shape how language is used in schools, media, and society in general. Even those who claim to be descriptive must set some boundaries when analyzing linguistic variations. So, in the end, this debate is not only about language but also about identity, power, and cultural values.
Applied linguistics tries to find a middle ground between these two perspectives. It recognizes linguistic diversity but also understands the importance of having a standard in practical situations like education, language tests, and speech therapy. The challenge is to create a balance between respecting the descriptive study of language and recognizing the role of societal language norms. In making language policies, applied linguists must consider public concerns while ensuring that decisions about language education are based on research and take into account social and political realities.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario