![]() ![]() ![]() This complex and largely tacit system becomes a matter of explicit discussion when it collides with competing, different, equally complex and largely tacit systems, in particular various non-standard and regional varieties. Not ony complex - consider the huge Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (which aims to give an account of the grammar of “general-purpose, present-day, international Standard English” and is focused primarily on syntax) - but almost entirely below the level of consciousness. The core of what linguists think of as the grammar of a language is the very complex system of sentence structure in the language, its syntax. So it is, alas, with the Whamond cartoon. But if you look at some of the enormous number of sites using the expression, you’ll see that most of them aren’t about what linguists think of as grammar, but about what I’ve called garmmra (largely spelling and punctuation). Grammar Police is an instance of the X police snowclonelet (which I haven’t posted on before), and a very popular one at that. An alert on Facebook by John Gintell on 2/15, to this Reality Check cartoon by Dave Whamond from 10/14/16:īut wait! Just what is being policed and corrected here?įrom my 6/9/12 posting “The Grammar Police”:
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