Rules and conventions of language are intricate and intriguing, and users frequently twist, distort, and break them. For ESL and EAP instructors, navigating the subtleties and peculiarities of several languages and cultures can be a tough undertaking.
The use of the royal prerogative, in which monarchs and other rulers utilize the royal 'we' as a singular pronoun, is one of the most fascinating examples of this. This is evident in English, where expressions like "We are not amused" are popularly credited to Queen Victoria. The equivalent is 'HAM' in Urdu and 'asan' in Saraiki. These pronouns are not common in spoken language and show respect for authority and power.
For native and non-native speakers alike, the English language presents several difficulties. Many grammatical errors and strange usages, such as the use of double negatives or irregular verbs, might be difficult to grasp. For instance, the expression "I ain't got none" is frequent in speech yet deviates from accepted English syntax.
Gender bias and stereotyped language usage are major problems in English. For instance, using the pronoun 'he' to refer to a general person or using terms like 'fireman' or 'policeman' to imply that these are only male-dominated occupations. The use of vocabulary that is gender-neutral, such as "firefighter" or "police officer," has made an effort to address these concerns, but changing deeply set habits may be a tedious and challenging process.
Language diversity presents another difficulty because different languages have distinct conventions for using pronouns and words with specific genders. For example, the adjective and noun in Spanish must have the same gender, with the masculine form being used by default. Although 'he' and 'she' have separate words in Punjabi, they are not utilized in the same way as they are in English.
Finally, because there is no future form for verbs in the English verb tense system, the language poses a special issue. Instead, the present tense is frequently employed to discuss upcoming occurrences, as in the sentence "I leave for the airport tomorrow." Non-native speakers who are used to a more explicit future tense in their own languages may find this puzzling.
In summary, language is a difficult and dynamic phenomenon that is full of turns and complexities that may be both interesting and frustrating. There is always something new to learn about and investigate, whether it be the use of the royal prerogative or the difficulties presented by gendered language and verb tense systems. We may improve our ability to communicate and increase our awareness of other cultures by embracing the complexity of language.
