Do you talk good?

Grammar. Grammar, grammar, grammar.

I engaged in a passionate (on my end, mostly) debate with a close friend of mine yesterday about using "improper" grammar. I'm a descriptivist; I believe that language should be studied objectively without establishing any rules. I think dialects should be valued equally. I also like to know the socially established "rules" of Standard American English (SAE), but choose not to judge anyone who breaks those "rules".

Specifically, the debate I had with my friend was about whether or not it is polite to correct someone's English, whether or not you believe in the idea of there being "correct grammar". What do you, my humble handful of readers, think? I think it's rude, even if one thinks they are just trying to help. I think the only time that it is appropriate is when someone either asks you directly to edit their speech or writing.

This is important for me to think about as a teacher of English. I don't speak perfect SAE, and I don't know many who do so. There are parts of verbal communication that I pay more attention to, but I choose never describe someone as being lazy, wrong, less intelligent, or ignorant from their language alone. Do I think it's important to learn and know the "rules" of SAE? Sure. The reality is that it pays off to speak the standard. That's exactly how I plan to approach grammar studies to my students. In the end, it's up to each individual as to how the English Language can work for them.

[steps down from her soapbox]