Is there a grammar of spoken English?

Originally Posted by DBP

True to the first part, M56. Regarding the second, I don't have the slightest idea.

You can trust me.

[DBP]

That I'll do, M56.

Have a great day !

Originally Posted by DBP

That I'll do, M56.

Have a great day !

U2!

[edinohio]

Hello all!
I have posted some replies to the same thread in a different forum so sorry M56 for posting the same things here. I just want to share the same thoughts with a different group of people.
Regarding the different views on SEG I would have totally agreed with view number 2, had I given my opinion some time ago. However, I do see it's limitations and how it actually neglects the reality of the spoken language. I guess we all agree that when we speak we use grammatical entities but I am glad to learn that some people feel that the particularities of the spoken language should be studied seriously andd should be given the attention they deserve!!
I loved the explanation of the small look-ahead window to actually account for some of those particularities in view number 3.
However, this whole SEG makes me wonder about the future of the language. We've agreed that there are rules and patterns in SE, which sort of define its grammar. On the other hand, it's a fact that things that were once only part of the spoken form of the language, permeate into the written language as time goes by. Does this mean that SEG is a driving force that leads to the evolution of the written grammar? In the end, what matters is what people say, isn't it?
Personally, I disagree but it's a common point of view.
I guess this is one of the reasons why I believe that studying SEG is important so the patterns and rules are described.
Cheers
Ed

[Tdol]

Given that written communication is growing exponentially with the rise of the internet, and the creation of new forms of expression there, it could be argued that written forms may equally be the driving forms of evolution in the futurew, and certainly the gap between the two is becoming less distinct in such writing, IMO.

[edinohio]

Good point tdol. however do you think this "new" written communication style originated in the internet follow the standard pattern of written grammar? I'd say that manytimes it doesn't follow cannonical grammar, does it?
Cheers
Ed

[Tdol]

No, it is departing rapidly from the standard written grammar. It shows features of spoken language and uses visual features, which have never been an accepted party of written English, as well as phonetic features. And it's gr8.

[edinohio]

Well, that's exactly my point. This "internet grammar" (IEG) resembles SEG. Moreover, it'll find its way into written grammar eventually, maybe even faster that SEG has in the past. However, since I guess SE is the bases for this internet english, it is in the end, SEG the driving force for grammar evolution. On the other, hand this IEG has particular features not shared with SEG....

[Tdol]

That's the problem- it's spoken English, but has many written and visual features. There's always two way traffic between written and spoken, but with IEG, it's hard to say exactly what it is.

[edinohio]

Thanks for the comments.
Have a great day