English Is Not Normal By John Mcwhorter

A Verbal Warning Will I ever use this in real life? With this representing one of the most frequently asked questions in my classroom over the years, it serves as a test for myself in regards to the use of Standard English grammar rules, specifically those in regards to the use of verbs. From the earliest of elementary-level instruction, verbs are introduced and their relationships are built with the other parts of speech such as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. They represent themselves in active roles and show support as helpers while linking other parts of speech. Even before they are mastered in written form, they are spoken aloud as conversations grow and develop with others. Real life proves to be an active place and time for both active
Often I have heard the accusation that Southerners have their own way of speaking their own language. This thought resonated with me when reading John McWhorter’s article, “English Is Not Normal”. He states that language is fundamentally about speaking and that even in its spoken form, the English language is just weird. McWhorter goes on to say that our language feels ‘normal’ only until you get a sense of what normal really is. For me, I spoke normally until experiencing other environments such as continued years of attending different schools and at times when traveling beyond the South. During those experiences, the fact that other English-speaking Americans sounded differently than this Southern girl resonated with
The combination of differing cultural enunciations and colloquialisms intrigue me, while at the same time, the use or lack of usage of Standard English rules are noticed when heard. Does this mean that all people should sound and write the same? NO, however, the exposure and learning of Standard English rules allow for a basis of understanding of all parties. As a current educator of secondary English, Anne Curzan’s argument that I should abandon my job as an English teacher if I do not ask students to question how they are expected to write in school and other institutions resonates with me. The thought that I could teach and require the use of prescriptive rules to the degree that my students would not feel comfortable speaking their thoughts and opinions presents a tumultuous situation within me. My desire for them is to develop such a comfort with the use of these rules that they do as Curzan says in her article, “Says Who? Teaching and Questioning the Rules of Grammar”, “Question everything except Standard English”. In an academic world where so much stress is placed on the “grade”, this task becomes more and more difficult. Like me, the quiet and introverted student, voice proved to be more challenging than learning formulaic rules and patterns of language. For that reason, it is a “given” that I want all of my students to learn first the