The Egalitarian Spirit and Attitudes toward Usage

Abstract

I N THE FIRST LESSON of highly successful direct-mail program called Magic Power of Words (n.d., p. 1), potential subscribers are promised that by expanding their vocabulary learning correct usage they will experience an exhilarating feeling of self-assurance, advance in their jobs, achieve leadership over others. The reader is warned that a person's use of language is often taken, rightly or wrongly, as measure of his native intelligence, of his ability to engage in various occupations..., even of his honesty, reliability, trustworthiness.... A glaring misuse of language often spells the difference between obtaining not obtaining what you want, whether it be in business, in social relations, or in personal affairs (p. 2). The message is plain: avoid appearing stupid or unworthy. Avoid failure in business social relations. Achieve mastery of speech, the program says, and the power of will help you along the path of mastering your future (p. 2). However much we may squirm on hearing the sales pitch for magic power of words program, while recognizing the exaggeration of some of the claims made, the essential arguments are true. From the layman's point of view, it does not matter whether the concept of correctness in usage has any intrinsic validity. Almost everyone who counts in his life-his boss, co-workers, teachers, family, friends--believes that language can be used rightly or wrongly, will judge him accordingly if his usages vary from the standards they regard as right. J. J. Lamberts (1972, p. 23) remarks that 'good' English in any given situation is the kind of English that certifies person's competence to deal with the subject he is speaking or writing about. It is believable language. And for every person it is to some degree unique. A physician is believable is using good English when he talks like physician; desk clerk at motel is believable when he talks like desk clerk. Nei-