Mastering Grammatical Choices in Language Use

The Grammar of Choice

When the meaning is held more or less constant, speakers still face socially or discursively motivated grammatical choices. The discussion of such choices involves the dimension of use.

The "One Right Answer" Myth

One of the enduring myths about grammar is that there is always one right way to convey a particular meaning. Contrary to this myth, teachers know that there is often more than one right answer to a question about grammar. The choice of which grammatical structure to use depends on the context or the purpose for which the language is being used. Grammar is not a linguistic straitjacket; it is much more flexible.

Basing Choices on Social-Interactional Factors

There are reasons for our choices. We often base our choices on social-interactional factors—those factors that have to do with the interpersonal relationships we establish and nurture. Our students will be judged for the way they say something as much as for the forms they use or the meaning they express. Students will need to understand that, as speakers or writers, they have choices to make, and that those choices have consequences, so that they can learn to use the language in a way that honors their intentions. Teachers should help students understand the linguistic options available.

Pragmatic Factors Signaled by a Change in Form

Attitude

One pragmatic effect of grammatical choice is that we convey a particular attitude depending on the grammatical forms that we choose to use. Teachers who teach a foreign language can also derive comfort from the fact that sharing a native language with their students, which they often do, makes them more sensitive to their students' expectations in terms of the social norms of language use.

Power

Knowing a language can be empowering, and hence there is a political dimension to language proficiency. The continuous choices that speakers face in exploiting the potential of the grammatical code can also hinge on issues of power.

Identity

There are a number of contributing factors to identity development that may influence the patterns of grammar use. It is well known that language use is age-graded. Many other identity factors influence the forms we use, including:

• Origin
• Social status
• Group membership