"Request from a frustrated listener"

[AAllan at AOL.COM]

Mr. Allan,

I wasn't able to send my letter below to the American Dialect Society due to
some unknown problem with the ADS website. Would you forward this along to
ADS, please?


Dear ADS,


I am a diligent listener to my language. I have two B.S. degrees, Psychology
and Accounting, and have parents who speak clear and succinct sentences and
model good language. I am a fan of good diction and writing, though I mainly
take in media like radio news and talk, local TV news, and printed fare such
as magazines and newspapers.


I would like to register my concern about the apparent abandonment of grammar
by local radio and TV newspeople. I grew up regarding media as the preeminent
source of grammar and usage. However, it seems the media is full of reporters
who don't seem to know how to construct sentences, and whose editors don't
care to edit their product for correctness. Indeed, most of my friends don't
care, either, that the language is being butchered.


The principal offenses I refer to are inverted predicates, "he will let me
know what can I do to help", and singular/plural confusions designed to be
gender neutral, where 'they/their' is substituted for 'his or her(s)'when a
phrase modifies a singular subject or object.


I'm sure there are many other common mistakes made by media folks, and I
probably broke a rule or two in this note.


Is there a movement afoot in the land that seeks to refocus education and
educators on the importance of grammar, and media people, especially editors,
on the correct use of the language? Is there a perception extant that allows
language misuse in the interest of transient notions of political correctness?


Thanks for hearing me out.


Kevin Murphy
KMURPHY at BURNETTECH.COM

----------------------

Dear Mr. Murphy,
  Thanks for your message. I'm happy to post it to the American Dialect
Society's discussion list.
  I should let you know that the main concern of our society is studying
American English rather than reforming it. Something like scientists who
study earthquakes rather than agencies that issue suggestions for earthquake
perparedness. So we don't undertake our own measures for changing the
language. However, we are interested in what you and others have to say.
  Best wishes - Allan Metcalf
Executive Secretary, American Dialect Society