Tuesday, January 1, 2008

A Limerick To Get Us Started

English is my cup of tea,

For I like proper grammar, you see;

But my friends, with their "ain't"s,

And "got no"s, and "cain't"s,

Ain't got no respect for me!

© Lori F. Dowell, 1984

 

Yes, my friends, the time has come.  I am opening a new journal -- because you can never have too many journals to write in, right?  And none of us can ever have too many journals to read,  right?

This journal has come about because of my love of language, of words, of grammar, of correct sentence structure, of witty phrases -- and because during Eler Beth's recent language arts lessons I've discovered that there are many things grammatical which I had forgotten!

Now DO NOT BE ALARMED!!!  This isn't going to be an English 101 class masquerading as an AOL Journal.  It is going to be fun if I have anything at all to say about it -- and since it's my journal, I do!

I firmly believe that if one is writing in a journal or any piece of personal correspondence general rules of grammar don't have to apply.  In other words, poetic license extends to prose in those instances.  When I read journals, I love knowing that I'm usually reading the way the writer talks or thinks.  It makes it personal and interesting.  In my journal I often begin my sentences with "and" or "but", and I end them with prepositions, too (but believe me it hurts when I do that!).  Donna (Mosie) recently titled an entry "Some Things I Forget To Be Thankful For" and then said that she realized if she'd wanted to be grammatically correct she'd have said "some things for which I forget to be thankful", then she asked "but who talks like that?"  Well, I am ashamed to say that I do -- usually.   Please remember that I have mild OCD, and that is one of the things about which I am compulsive.  So don't think too badly of me, okay?

I've wanted to do this journal for a long time, and I finally decided that I'd start it on January 1.  I want to discuss words -- beautiful, lovely, inspiring words!  I want to discuss lovely phrases, especially archaic phrases that one doesn't hear much nowadays; perhaps words or phrases you may have heard your parents or grandparents using, but don't hear often now.  I want to discuss styles of writing.  I also want to open the journal up for questions and answers.  Do you wonder when it is correct to use "then" and when you should use "than", for example?  Email a question or leave it in the comment thread, and someone will supply the answer.

As I re-teach myself things like when to use an "appositive noun" and the difference between "main" and "subordinate" clauses, etc., I will share that here.  Believe me!  Somewhere there is someone who will like to know!

So please bookmark this journal and come back to visit.  If anyone would like to contribute an entry, just let me know, and I'll make it possible.  Even if the "words" part or the "grammar" part doesn't interest you, come back anyway, because I plan to keep the entries light and fun, even funny at times.  At the very least, read long enough to give me your opinion of it, because I really want to know what others think.

Thanks for reading this far.  Oh, and the limerick at the top of the entry??  During my Senior year of high school our English teacher asked us to write a limerick.  I have written many different types of poems and works of prose, but I had never been able to write limericks to my own satisfaction.  My sister Barbara can rattle one off in fine style, but I never could.  This is my one and only limerick, and I was rather proud of it, if I do say so myself.  It will be the theme for this journal.  I think it starts it out on the right track, don't you?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Based on your description, your blog idea sounds interesting.  I'll be sure to come back for another visit.

Anonymous said...

I'll try to keep up with you!  I'm a grammar nut too.  
Traci

Anonymous said...

Good idea. Like Mosie sometime I know better but it is just country me to say it the way my mama said it. Sometime I don't know if I am writing it properly. I have written here before about the English teacher I had for three years in high school who was the Superintendent's wife. She announced in class that she was only teaching (I use that word loosely) because her husband wanted her too. The girls read novels and the boys gathered 'roung her desk and they discussed football etc. everyday. When time for exams came she would write something on the board for us to study so she could give a test. Bet that doesn't go on at that school now days. Maybe I shouldn't blame her, had I been a studious person I would have found a way to learn. Paula

Anonymous said...

looks like fun! i'll definitely be back :)
~Cathy

Anonymous said...

sounds like it's going to be a very wonderful journal.

Anonymous said...

well, I am just proud as punch to be here
Marti

Anonymous said...

Groovy. I'll stick my eyeball in.  
;)
mj
Congratulations on your  launch.  Looks great!

Anonymous said...

OK, I've subscribed to this journal through bloglines.  When I turned 50 I vowed to start speaking correctly, toss out the hillbilly-speak and so forth.  That lasted about a week.  LOL.

Anonymous said...

I too love to read proper grammar and love to hear it spoken -- if only for the giggle of contentment I get that there really is such a thing!  But you won't read it or hear it from me.  I look forward to more wonderful entries as above.  ~K

Anonymous said...

I shall certainly be dropping by

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

What a fun idea!  I will try to read along...

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

sometimes in my journal or chatroom etc.....I will revert to "hillbilly" style talking or some such...in order to bring some humor that otherwise might be lost....I have always enjoyed the saying "tis better to be thought dum...than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!!!"  LOL...I am sure I will drop in from time to time to read...hugs ... Ora in KY

Anonymous said...

Love your limerick!
Alert on :-)

Anonymous said...

This could be fun, Lori :-)

Anonymous said...

I like the proper use of grammar, and I'll admit that sometimes I get irritated when it's not used. Not that I'm perfect...I'm not by far. In my private journal, I let the grammar slide. But, where I work, we have to use perfect grammar in our charting or else we actually get "reminded" in a nice way of our error.
We also must use good grammar in our speech to the visitors where I work. If we don't and it's noticed....we get another reminder! LOL!
Have a good day!
Pam

Anonymous said...

Girl, you know I need this journal... lol...more then I want to admit!!  I am thankful you are willing to take the time to help the rest of us. :)

God bless-
Amanda

Anonymous said...

I haven't taken the time to read comments, so if someone has said this already I do apologize.

When I started back to school this fall, I had to take a Compostition course. My professor is (was) a professional writer (among a couple of other things). Even though this was a college level course, the Board said that we had to have two weeks of grammar. Well, let me tell you that some things have changed even since I was in High School. The reason that I mention it was your comment about starting sentences with 'and' or 'but' ... now it is accepted! Can you believe that? I was shocked because it was pounded into our heads NEVER to  start a sentence that way. There are a couple of other of rules that have changed-can't think  of them off the top of my head...

Anyway, I thought I would share with you.

::rechecking for errors::

:)

~Heather

Anonymous said...

Yep..as you can tell..I read all the way down..and book marked!
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...

i knew there was an english teacher lurking somewhere in you. ;-)