The Positive Identification of Incorrect Grammatical Forms.

Grammar is the way in which we combine, organise and change words, parts of words and groups of words to make meaning. We use grammar unconsciously when we read, write, speak and listen in a language. When grammar is used correctly the meaning conveyed in a message is properly understood. But when it is incorrectly used, the message's meaning is not understood. Teachers, tutors and lecturers use grammar by referring to its uses and forms. Teacher, tutors and lecturers are interested in prescriptive grammar which is concerned with the correct usage of grammar. Hence, we instruct the correct usage of grammar through the conduits of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Whenever errors are made we instinctively correct the error even if it is only in our minds and outside the classroom.

However, there are instances where the correct grammatical form is not used, but the message is understood. This anomaly occurs when it is socially acceptable for sentences to be constructed (or framed) in a manner which is in direct conflict with the rules of grammar. The combination, organisation and sequence of the sentence even with omissions of certain parts of speech, a sentence is still understood. 

The following set of sentences will illustrate this phenomenon;

1. Incorrect forms: Electricity still I have not paid / Electricity bill I have not paid.

    Correct form: I have not paid my electricity bill yet. Or I still haven't pain my electricity bill (yet).

2. Incorrect forms: The butter and jam are not finished yet, see first/ The butter and jam not finished yet, why open new ones?

    Correct forms: The butter and jam aren't finished yet. Why are you using a new block of butter and opening a new bottle of jam?

3. Incorrect form: The water bill you have paid already. (This is actually a question constructed in the form of an affirmative declarative sentence). 

    Correct form: Have you paid the water bill yet?

4. Incorrect form: The car are all still in the traffic jam. (No use of the plural form for the noun- car).

   Correct form: The cars are all still in a traffic jam or gridlock.

This is apparently so in Malaysia, which is my country, and is pervasive. This is due to a conflict between the native language or mother tongue of users and learners , referred to as L1, and the new language, English, which is referred to as L2. The native languages of  Malaysians is Malay, Tamil (and some other  south Indian dialects), Punjabi (and some other north Indian dialects), Iban, Kadazan, Dusun, Mandarin, Hokkein and other Chinese dialects. In these non-English languages the sentence structure which I have shown are actually largely correct. It is perfectly correct to say in Tamil, Hindi, Malay and Chinese; "My car not repaired already" in their languages  and incredibly, they are fully understood. It is perfectly correct to say in Tamil; "My house already repainted". What people do is to refer to the structure required in English (L2) by referring to how it is in their language (L1). 

By understanding English by referring back to their mother tongue , they understand what has to be uttered or written in English and likewise frame their sentences in English with a similar structure. Even errors in the singular and plural can still be understood. This is what I mean by the positive identification of incorrect grammatical forms. People while using what in prescriptive language terms incorrect are held as positive or correct.

This conundrum starts from childhood. When at home many Malaysians use their native or mother tongue and steadfastly hold on to it when they enter school. This is due to ethnic pride, cultural pride and shaming when they use English. This is compounded by the dismal quality of English language instruction in Malaysia. The poor quality of English language teaching is due to the politically induced policies of successive governments in this country and is now a big issue here. Thankfully it is now being addressed but belatedly for a few generations of English language learners who have gone before. Many students do not know the parts of speech and their functions and cannot create grammatically correct exponents according to the desired function in an given context. There are students studying at tertiary level or for professional qualifications who do not know proper English.

To conclude, it might be a little too late for some, but we cannot be complacent for the sake of future generations of students. We live in a connected global society and Malaysia is an export oriented nation. one way or other, our citizens or many of them, will have to use English which has become the de facto international language. English is no longer the possession of Britain or other Anglo-Saxon nation like Australia. It  belongs to the international community. 

Please view my earlier posts; 

The need to learn English (https://theenglish-teacher.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-need-to-learn-english.html)

The Importance Grammar in English (https://theenglish-teacher.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-importance-of-grammar-in-english_25.html)