Right and Proper

Words, like people, aren't necessarily better just because they sound posh. A possible exception is anything related to food. An ordinary snail will forever fail at sounding tasty, but the escargot can pull it off. It just sounds yummier in French. Still, that doesn't mean that going up the stairs is inherently inferior to ascending them.

Talking about interesting English words and phrases over food and drinks, a lawyer friend mentioned the legal expression right and proper. He thought that it probably meant to express what's lawful (right) as well as what's expected or even morally correct (proper). I suggested an additional etymological explanation that he couldn't dismiss out of hand - but which may not be accurate.

The word right has Germanic roots, and proper is of Latin origin. That echoes the influence of the two major contributors to modern English: Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French. Possibly the legal expression was also aimed at including these protagonists and their once separate groups of speakers under one British law.

There's no denying that those in power shape the language. It determines which regional dialect gets to call itself the received pronunciation. It also shows in the etymology of countless English words. The battle of Hastings in 1066 brought Norman rule and the Norman-French language that would gradually merge with Anglo-Saxon into modern English.

My favourite example is how we call farm animals and their meat. Why are cows, calves, pigs and sheep transformed into beef, veal, pork and mutton once they land on your plate? These words still echo the medieval contrast between peasants and aristocrats: the Anglo-Saxon farmers bred and fatted the animals for the Norman rulers to feast on at their banquets.

It is strange that the two still seem to be at odds a thousand years later. Especially on Instagram and in YouTube clips, you'll find online English teachers urging learners to use posh words at the expense of common ones. You'll probably have seen their posts contrasting ordinary English with so-called advanced, better, or IELTS English.

These posts aim at expanding vocabulary, and that's always a good thing. Unfortunately, they also spread the misguided notion that words of Latin descent are vastly superior to those with Germanic roots. And they do language learners a disservice by suggesting that you need posh words for speaking proper English. 

Getting students to speak English is hard enough as it is. They feel insecure about speaking a new language and should get lots of encouragement and practice. The last thing they need is people telling them that their beginners' vocabulary isn't good enough, branding them linguistic peasants, as it were. 

Everything is right and proper in its place, improper when out of place. 
  ~ Mahatma Gandhi        

It's good to know that there are alternatives for using the word very, for instance. But if you can't remember famished or hilarious, then very hungry and very funny will do just fine. Many situations call for leave and do not require depart. In principle, all words and expressions are right; the specific context will then determine which are also proper.

Lexical variety is what counts, not sounding posh; the context rules, not snobbery. Advanced students should be able to demonstrate that they've progressed, of course. They should not come to believe that part of the lexicon is intrinsically wrong. If that were the case with any words of Germanic origin, the Norman conquest would have erased Anglo-Saxon, most likely. 

Words, like people, show an enormous variety, and the language is richer for it. Advanced speakers may use that to their advantage; beginners have something to aspire to on their learning journey. Norman-French has enriched modern English, but so has Anglo-Saxon - as have countless other languages.

By assimilating all those influences, the English language has demonstrated incredible inclusiveness. That's certainly an example to follow for those speaking it. So instead of insisting on posh words only, and in doing so limiting and frustrating learners, let's all embrace and celebrate the vast lexical wealth of modern English. It's the right and proper thing to do.

Like, comment and share if you enjoyed reading this post

grammarCORE/GrammarBob's continuing mission: to boldly go where no grammar has gone before and make essential English grammar easy for all

grammarCORE: I help English language teachers discover how a radically new approach to grammar will empower them and their students