The Importance of Grammar or Usage?

I’m going to be honest, this chapter was a drudge to get through, and I could not wait until the end. Personally, I felt the chapter should be divided into two. Williams is driving me crazy with all of this information, and he is so confusing. I was under the impression that he hated grammar, and now Mr. Williams is talking about the importance of it.

I must admit all of the grammar classes I have taken have been similar. The grammar lessons I had in 7th grade were basically the same as the class I took in college. I’m so confused. If it has been proven that grammar does not improve writing, then why are teachers still teaching it? Why would they simply ignore the research? Do they not know the research? None of this is clicking in my mind.

I think I get it. My problem has been that I forgot the important difference between grammar and usage. Individuals already know grammar; however, usage can change meaning. Example:

“I want a ham and cheese and turkey sandwich,” said Bob. (All one sandwich)
“I want a ham and cheese, and turkey sandwich,” said Bob. (Two different sandwiches)

I’m not sure if this makes sense, but meaning changes when usage is incorrect. Therefore, I would argue that usage (not grammar) is as important as content. Usage can cause content to be very unclear.

I still have issues with words like lie and lay. The problem is you here them used incorrectly all of the time, so they both sound write. Who and whom is another problem I have a lot. I really need a class that is going to drill all of these words into my head, otherwise I will continue to struggle with them.

There are so many different types of grammar! In school I was obviously taught traditional grammar. I found it annoying sometimes, but I’m thankful for it now. Cognitive grammar seems kind of obvious in some respects. Of course everyone makes mistakes when they speak, and the older you get the less mistakes you will make. The psychology aspect of transformational-generative grammar was interesting. I did not fully comprehend the importance of the phase-structure grammar. Chomsky stated, “ . . . that phase-structure grammar was inadequate because it failed to explain and describe even simple sentences and because it failed to provide a theory of language” (199). I suppose if something did not work, then all that is important is to understand why it didn’t work. Overall, I don’t see anything wrong with traditional grammar. Personally, I felt like traditional grammar is the most beneficial; however, I’m not sure if that is what Williams wanted me to think. I'm never sure what he wants me to think. He is a tricky man.