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Society No Longer Values Language Or Writers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

Picture Ronde Barber cruising down I-275 when he notices a billboard of himself wearing a pair of Nikes.

At first, he's confused; he doesn't remember doing the ad. Then it dawns on him. He shot a commercial earlier in the year, but the contract only covered television. Faster than you can say "more money," Ronde's on the phone to his agent demanding reparation.

The odds that Nike would "forget" to compensate a star like Ronde Barber for using his image in a different medium are slim to none. If a mistake like that did slide under the radar, rectifying it would merely require a phone call. So why are the news and entertainment industries not owning up to their "mistake" and begrudging the members of the Writer's Guild of America what is rightly theirs?

When television is riddled with "news" show hosts, pundits and anchors whose banter is peppered with incorrect grammar and misused words, it's clear that proper use of our language is not a priority. When advertisers take more than "poetic license" to drive their points home to consumers, the message is obvious: don't take the time to do it right; shortcuts are acceptable.

A survey cited by MSNBC reports American companies shell out $3 billion a year to retrain employees in basic English and grammar, and it's clear we don't respect our own language. This makes the hue and cry over Spanish infiltrating American customer service recordings, restaurant menus and government publications ironic since we, as a society, clearly don't value correct usage of our own language.

Whether you blame it on computers, text messaging, schools or bad parenting, the attitude is that as long as someone understands what you're saying, it doesn't matter how you say it.

I used to get infuriated as a kid when I would ask my mother where something was at, and she would reply, "behind the at." My mother cherishes the only language she speaks and made sure I used it correctly.

I also had teachers who didn't know an FCAT from an LSAT, but they didn't tolerate poor grammar or misused words and required me to learn how to utilize the power of language to express myself.

I understand that throwing a football takes skill. I've heard modeling is challenging. But writing is hard. Communicating thoughts and ideas coherently on paper, especially when you're limited to the number of words you can use, is a craft no different from sculpting or woodworking.

The ability to persuade, entertain and inform through written word is a skill that takes years of practice to hone. And just like an athlete or an actor, you lose a little blood, sweat, tears and soul every time you do it.

The news and entertainment industries have a unique opportunity to send a powerful message to Americans about the importance of language, the craft of writing and the significance of recognizing the value of those team members who allow the stars to shine.

Staci Backauskas is a Tampa writer and teacher.

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