tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post7137637145636944124..comments2024-01-12T00:24:35.544+01:00Comments on St Bloggie de Riviere: Don't mention the G wordSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-66189015987686538902010-04-26T09:50:48.400+02:002010-04-26T09:50:48.400+02:00I think it boils down to the old political concept...I think it boils down to the old political concept of 'why keep it simple when you can make it really complicated and hope that everyone will not quite understand what you mean but not want to show it so be more willing to to along with it and hope for the best'.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-11921253511912107742010-04-25T08:26:26.169+02:002010-04-25T08:26:26.169+02:00That is what they want for Scotland and that is de...That is what they want for Scotland and that is defined for that country. If you are talking of world literacy then you should read this.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiteracyJohnny Norfolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900659617233793880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-16120529319903546862010-04-23T18:06:25.906+02:002010-04-23T18:06:25.906+02:00We regularly 'parsed' sentences while at s...We regularly 'parsed' sentences while at school. At least I think that's what we did.<br />As to that Scottish definition, why not just remove all that mumbo jumbo about families, workers, citizens and state that it is all about making oneself understood without ambiguity.<br />Although, come to think of it, our current world of work and politics thrives on ambiguity.the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-20762432310112502852010-04-23T14:23:35.082+02:002010-04-23T14:23:35.082+02:00That was totally my experience too. No grammar at...That was totally my experience too. No grammar at all during my entire school education, until at Uni I was suddenly faced with accusatives and nominatives and Beowulf. Not much of it sank in. It's only been through teaching English in Spain for years (thank heavens for text books with teacher's notes) that I learnt English grammar, not always one step ahead of my students... <br />Now I'm only computer/numerically illiterate...Pueblo girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04904318623281033442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-38276416866185397142010-04-23T11:51:19.931+02:002010-04-23T11:51:19.931+02:00I find my grasp on grammar is slowly slipping and ...I find my grasp on grammar is slowly slipping and for that I blame my increased use of French (well, I've got to blame it on something, right?)French Fancy...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04941577892849157015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-33446741418585780592010-04-23T09:23:00.055+02:002010-04-23T09:23:00.055+02:00I had the same problem, Jon, with Arabic - had to ...I had the same problem, Jon, with Arabic - had to learn basic grammar in English first.<br /><br />Those trendy 70s educationalists have a lot to answer for!! It was a very narrow dumbing down view and completely lacked vision.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-87829261244763788302010-04-22T21:30:51.281+02:002010-04-22T21:30:51.281+02:00It's a bit like trying to teach someone medici...It's a bit like trying to teach someone medicine while pretending physiology isn't important.<br /><br />"This is the liver. Don't worry too much about how it works just prescibe the blue ones."Jonhttp://www.vendeeblog.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-18968649569562939242010-04-22T21:27:36.102+02:002010-04-22T21:27:36.102+02:00I first learned the grammar of English when I was ...I first learned the grammar of English when I was obliged to learn Dutch in my 20s.<br /><br />I'd completed my education with only the haziest idea as to what an adverb was and the strongly held belief that grammar didn't apply to English but was something foreigners had to deal with.<br /><br />My Dutch teacher had to teach me the basic grammar of my mother tongue before she could teach me the language she was being paid for.<br /><br />Humiliating.Jonhttp://www.vendeeblog.netnoreply@blogger.com