Dear Editor,
The English language has long not been owned solely by the English. (American English now has far greater influence.) I have listened to English spoken by many whose first language it was not, and who spoke it with varying degrees of proficiency and flair. In a global internet village the criteria are reducible to brevity and felicity in the conveyance of meaning. In particular, the universe of technical communications has no time to waste; ultimate success here is the reduction of everything to mathematics.
So while I am glad to see the engagement of George Cave in the Raj Singh criticism of SN’s Grade 6 Assessment Practice Papers, there has to be a limit. I therefore respectfully disagree with SN and the venerable Mr Cave in the attempt to change Mr Singh’s “Which hobby Rachel favours the most?” Mr. Singh’s version best fits my criteria above.
This is not to say I am condoning anarchy in the language. When there is doubt we should certainly consult reputable dictionaries and rules of grammar, some of which are also changing with time; and when there is dispute the legal system will gladly avail itself for fees and damages. When we require entertainment without confining our imaginations strictly to the disciplines of fact we may indulge in novels and poetry.
But for examinations, especially so for children at this level, let us instruct them in the simplest possible language to do precisely what is required. I remember in 1980, suffering the heavy burden of having to correct the exam papers compiled by many CPCE graduates for my high school students. And when I am tired I make my mistakes too.
So, although I agree with most of Mr Singh’s observations, and some of Mr Cave’s, I think the point has been made that we should be vigilant. I am for returning all exam papers to the students, so that everyone can get involved in genuine education, and not merely live for the convenience of the administrators.
Yours faithfully,
Alfred Bhulai
