Monday, August 8, 2011

Writing Systems: One of the Greatest Human Achievements

The ability to acquire and use language represents a dramatic evolutionary development. No individual or people discovered or created language. The human language faculty appears to be biologically and genetically determined.

This is not true of the written form of human languages. Children learn to speak naturally through exposure to language, without formal teaching. To become literate, to learn to read and write, one must make a conscious effort and receive instruction.

Before the invention of writing, useful knowledge had to be memorized. Messengers carried information in their heads. Crucial lore passed from the older to the newer generation through speaking. Even in today’s world many spoken languages lack a writing system, and oral literature still abounds. However, human memory is short lived, and the brain’s storage capacity is limited.

Writing overcomes such problems and allows communication across space and through time. Writing permits a society to permanently record its literature, its history and science, and its technology. The creation and development of writing systems is therefore one of the greatest of human achievements.

~ An Introduction to Language 6th ed. by Victoria Fromkin and Robert Rodman.

Grammar Fumblerules

No sentence fragments.
Avoid run-on sentences they are difficult to read.
A writer must not shift your point of view.
Reserve the apostrophe for it’s proper use and omit it when its not needed.
Write all adverbial forms correct.
Don’t use no double negatives.
Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
The passive voice should never be used.
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
Use parallel structure when you write and in speaking.
Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.

~ William Safire’s Fumblerules: A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage.