Language Myths

by Adam Brown
English Language & Literature AG, NIE

Report by Emmeline Payne

On 5th March 2003, to a lively and appreciative audience, Dr Adam Brown, author of the book "Language Myths", gave an entertaining talk on "English Language Myths in Singapore". From the 30 myths presented in his book -- considered by many language teachers in Singapore as rules -- he selected five for discussion:

• "How come?" is a Singaporean expression
• You cannot start a sentence with because
• "An" (not "a") is used before "a,e,i,o and u"
• "Flower" and "flour" are pronounced differently
• English sentences cannot be exactly ten words long

Words of wisdom, PowerPoint style ...

... and the source of the words of wisdom

Having identified the rule they were most interested in, the audience reflected on it by answering the following questions:

• Have you ever heard the rule before?
• Where have you read it?
• Can you think of any logical reason why this might be true?
• Can you find or produce a counter example?

The audience listening with rapt attention

Dr Brown assured the audience that the same reasoning could be applied to the other rules as well and that rules were no more than generalizations about the way English speakers use language. He then proceeded to scrutinize the remaining rules using the same set of questions.

This talk encouraged us to change our perceptions about the way we look at language and its "rules". We left with the knowledge that a rule needs to be examined critically before it is to be believed and with the cautionary words of Henry David Thoreau ringing in our ears:

Any fool can make a rule.
And every fool will mind it.
(Henry David Thoreau)

Adam explaining why our spelling is so messed up ...

... and so there!

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