Throughout the history of the United States, the Constitution and the rules which it lays out have remained constant. Sometimes in history it became necessary to make amendments and revisions; but the base meaning of the Constitution has remained the same. Just as it has been necessary for these laws to remain the same, it is crucial for the communication of people that punctuation stay in use. Through the base rules we can gather enough meaning from any piece of text to draw conclusions from it and understand the author's message. Digital communication and its code and lack of grammar has led to the, "downfall of literacy," (Hitchings) and the loss of expression among teenagers. The thought that punctuation isn't needed because poetry can function without out it is preposterous, writing can be divided into two subsections, creative expression and technical writing. In creative expression such as "On Punctuation" by Elizabeth Austen, Austen can convey to us as readers that she is not a fan of the "formality or tight-lipped fence/ of the colon," (Austen) as this is a simple thought and doesn't require definite limits on it. But if Dr. Lewis Thomas was writing instructions on how to take the prescription pill he gave a patient, I would feel more comfortable if he wrote with proper punctuation and grammar. The agreement between author and reader for the transfer of "grocery bags" (Dolenick) as the author gives the reader responsibility is crucial for the continuation of literature in society. We must not change the rules or usage of punctuation in today's society or else we will doom ourselves into a "dystopian [world]" (Hitchings).
I agree that punctuation rules must remain constant. Students must continue to learn them, or, otherwise, language itself will lose clarity and writing will not be concise.
ReplyDeleteI think your evidence effectively proves your claim, but I personally disagree with it. LACK OF PUNCTUATION AND FREEDOM TO EXPRESS LANGUAGE IS VITAL!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your claim, for how will the future understand the past if the standards of punctuation is lost in the present? Nice post!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the presence of amendments in the Constitution proof that no rules stay constantly applicable? Nobody is saying we should ban punctuation, merely that it should be adjusted.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the dystopian world of no grammar is extremely hyperbolic. Under no rational circumstances would such language be the norm unless it was universally accepted and taught in school. Also the very users of such language on a daily basis (on their phones, Twitter, etc.) do not attempt to use this in formal writing because they know it is inappropriate. Also, regarding the point about understanding the past, we have been able to decrypt entire dead languages such as Latin. Thus even if English becomes unrecognizable as a result of this revolution, future generations will find a way to understand it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I like how you used the example of the Constitution; like it, grammar and punctuation fluctuate slightly, but the essential meaning must remain the same. You also managed to find good, short quotes to support your point.
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