The Role of Good English in Different Social Context
Good English recommends the use of proper grammar in writing and speech, commonly known as Received Pronunciation. It is the kind of English spoken by major English countries, among them, the US, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. Non-natives of these countries cannot speak recommended English because of the influence of their mother tongue. However, it is imperative to learn to speak recommended English to live in such high-end societies comfortably. Therefore, students, professionals, and community-based groups have to learn how to interact with the right choice of English.
As a student, I interact with different subjects, teachers, subordinate staff, and fellow students using English as the medium of communication. Passing exams, effectively understanding instructions, and replying to anyone in school is pegged on understanding proper English (Tan, 1990). Additionally, later as a professional, I would need a high level of professionalism in communicating within the professional corridors. I would talk with clients from all walks of life in the language they understand, and proper grammar is significant in relaying information and convincing them. Furthermore, community membership comprises of different people who use different dialects to communicate. Therefore, I would use proper English that all groups can understand. English language, coupled with native dialects, is effective in communicating in a community setup.
As a teacher, I would teach my students language by using the standard white English recommended for teaching. Some students are affected by their native dialects during communication and writing. However, students have no options in choosing the kind of English to use; standard white English is the preference for use (Wallace, 2001). For instance, “Nobody is giving nothing” as double negation, common among black Americans, is not allowed in written and spoken discourse. I would recommend, “Nobody is giving me anything.” As a Managing Director, I need qualified experts who can effectively communicate with colleagues and clients in proper English (Wiens, 2012). No use of wrong word structures like, “Can I help you?” instead of “How may I help you, sir or madam.” As a teacher and as a director, be strict on language efficiency helps teach proper use of English in both contexts, and eventually giving the best result in class and field of work respectively.
References
Tan, A. (1990). Mother tongue. The Threepenny Review, 43(7).
Wallace, D. F. (2001). Tense Present: Democracy, English, and wars over-usage. Harper’s Magazine, 302(1811), 39-58.
Wiens, K. (2012). I won’t hire people who use poor grammar. Here’s why. Harvard Business Review, 20