SWE and Me

Everything in here could be the result of a drastic mis-reading.

In 621, we just finished exploring the theory of SWE (Standard Written English) as being equivalent to a foreign language. Meaning, there is spoken English and Written English. The reason being it explains many of the errors which arise in the work of Basic Writers.

I do not profess to know the theory in full detail or to understand it in such a way where I can stand as staunch proponent or opponent of it, but given the limited knowledge and acquisition we have gone through thus far in concern to this theory, I feel its implementation may be problematic. As a method of composition, I see it having a vast amount of benefits which put the detractors to sleep rather quickly. Taken to its extreme, it removes written English from culture, thus creating a universal written form which could even cross the Atlantic, while allowing linguistic subcultures to exist without conflict. It standardizes the curriculum to where we acknowledge the existence of the cultural spoken language and the universal written language, removing the hierarchy and aristocratic notions who speaks proper English. It simply forms a sense of cohesion and answers many of the questions on how teach English.

Yes, there would be a period where all hell breaks loose, no one knows what to read or write, teachers chain smoke with their students, cats sleep with dogs, while all sorts of other confusions and hypocrisies frolic through the education system. But isn’t that expected of all major changes?

What I am more concerned about is artistic aspect of writing. If we approach this teaching of SWE as that of a different language, effectively removing it from vocalization and culture, don’t we run the risk of losing the flavor which come along with it? Someone who knows the theory better than me may want to chime in at this point. But developing this universal structure, I feel that we remove the individual from the writing. Voice is non-existent. Vivid detail will just become detail. Would SWE even be considered a living language at that point? Without the influence of cultural vocalization and trying to find the balance between the two, SWE will essentially remain a stagnant form. A student in class brought up the scenario of the Middle East where they all read and write the same language but speak a different one depending on their culture. It is in some way the full realization of this view of SWE being a separate language.

When I started writing this, I was primarily concerned with how this view potentially removes the personal element to writing, but now I see it as a little more destructive. It basically changes the conception of what English is in order to meet the needs of the students. Agree or Disagree? Is this really what we want? It is not even a theory but just a given that we need to help our students in any way possible, but are we necessarily helping them by altering the language itself? I just can’t justify it. I feel that is what I don’t like about this view in the end. Although I hate the idea of changing the language, I am much more concerned about how this represents a P.C. view of teaching which ends up in being so concerned about the students self-awareness that we drastically alter the subject material for this concern and not the actual student.