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Klavier Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
English Grammar organism
Hello. I wonder if English Grammar has an organism or institution that rule all the subjects, some kind of "police" of well written and well spoken english. I ask this because in Spanish we have the Real Academia Española, so it's supposed that what they say is "the law", we have to "obey" to them
Top answer
No we have no organisation prescribing our use of language in any official capacity. However, there are a couple of organisations that campaign for the use of Clear/Plain English, who have created a set of rules and will accredit writing that meets their standards. This is more to do with getting rid of outdated/over-formal/beaurocratic/jargon-ridden language and making sure that organisations are writing accessibly.
- No we have no organisation prescribing our use of language in any official capacity.
- However, there are a couple of organisations that campaign for the use of Clear/Plain English, who have created a set of rules and will accredit writing that meets their standards.
- This is more to do with getting rid of outdated/over-formal/beaurocratic/jargon-ridden language and making sure that organisations are writing accessibly.
- For example, most councils and public bodies now get all their documents accredited and I have to gain accreditation for publications I write for work.
- They are even tackling acts of parliament, legal documents and contracts and the notoriously awful government departments.
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9 Answers
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No we have no organisation prescribing our use of language in any official capacity.
However, there are a couple of organisations that campaign for the use of Clear/Plain English, who have created a set of rules and will accredit writing that meets their standards. This is more to do with getting rid of outdated/over-formal/beaurocratic/jargon-ridden language and making sure that organ
However, there are a couple of organisations that campaign for the use of Clear/Plain English, who have created a set of rules and will accredit writing that meets their standards. This is more to do with getting rid of outdated/over-formal/beaurocratic/jargon-ridden language and making sure that organ
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The problem with English is that what is considered correct grammar in American English may not be ok in British English and vice-versa. In Philippine English, "officemate" is a synonym of "colleague" or "coworker" but it's not even listed in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
British:
I stay home at weekends.
Manchester United are playing a great game.
Amer
British:
I stay home at weekends.
Manchester United are playing a great game.
Amer
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In Philippine English, "officemate" is a synonym of "colleague" or "coworker" but it's not even listed in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
I think it's not bad to coin a new English or English-like word everywhere in the world as long as the word is understandable for most English speakers. How about "skinship"? This word was coined around 195
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And the French also have language police, but we English speakers just run wild! (Compare a "French garden" and an "English garden".)
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Eric, We have differences but mainly related to the meanings of some words, I think that's natural, it happens to all languages. But in english you have for ex. the endings -ise ize, in your example, at the weekends, on the weekends, Why not agree with just one ending and just one preposition? My life would be easy if I hadn't to memorize so much. If I'm in England say it like this, if I'm i
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I hope in future some international organization like UN will undertake the reform of English for international use, somewhere. But probably the president of the United States will refuse any attempt like this for the sake of his re-election.
paco
paco
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Latin, I agree with you that everyone's lives would be much easier but that would be wishful thinking. It would be close to impossible to have just one English standard. Who's going to give way, the Brits or the Americans? I don't think either would.
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Hi,
Over the years, I have read many suggestions that the freedom of English to develop and its lack of a central control is a major reason for the language's great and continued vitality and success.
Clive
Over the years, I have read many suggestions that the freedom of English to develop and its lack of a central control is a major reason for the language's great and continued vitality and success.
Clive
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Hello Latin
Oddly, the '-ise/-ize' distinction isn't an entirely reliable 'British/American' indicator.
Although most British magazines and newspapers now use '-ise', the more reputable publishing houses (e.g. Oxford University Press, Penguin) still use '-ize' in their publications (except where the word is of French origin, e.g. 'advertise'). The Times also used '-ize'
Oddly, the '-ise/-ize' distinction isn't an entirely reliable 'British/American' indicator.
Although most British magazines and newspapers now use '-ise', the more reputable publishing houses (e.g. Oxford University Press, Penguin) still use '-ize' in their publications (except where the word is of French origin, e.g. 'advertise'). The Times also used '-ize'
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