and you just get to the best part when suddenly he interrupts,

而當你講到最精采的橋段時，他突然打斷你並說：

"The alien and I," not "Me and the alien."

是「外星人和我」不是「我和外星人」

Most of us would probably be annoyed,

大部分的人在這種時候應該會覺得很掃興

but aside from the rude interruption,

但先撇開這無禮的打斷不說

does your friend have a point?

你的朋友是對的嗎？

Was your sentence actually grammatically incorrect?

你剛剛講的真的是文法錯誤的句子嗎？

And if he still understood it, why does it even matter?

如果那樣講他也聽得懂，那幹嘛管那麼多？

>From the point of view of linguistics,

從語言學的角度來看

grammar is a set of patterns for how words are put together

文法是當你講話或寫作時，各單字組成

to form phrases or clauses,

片語或子句

whether spoken or in writing.

所依循的模式

Different languages have different patterns.

不同的語言有不同的模式

In English, the subject normally comes first,

在英文中，主詞通常擺第一個

followed by the verb,

後面接動詞

and then the object,

然後是受詞

while in Japanese and many other languages,

但對於日文和很多其他語言來說

the order is subject, object, verb.

順序則是主詞、受詞、動詞

Some scholars have tried to identify patterns common to all languages,

有些學者曾試著找出所有語言的共通模式

but apart from some basic features,

但除了一些基本要素

like having nouns or verbs,

像是都有名詞和動詞之外

few of these so-called linguistic universals have been found.

幾乎找不到任何語言共通性

And while any language needs consistent patterns to function,

而任何語言要能有效運作都需要穩固的模式

the study of these patterns opens up an ongoing debate between two positions

人們對於這些模式的研究進一步開啟了一場無止盡的辯論

known as prescriptivism and descriptivism.

這兩方分別為「規約論」和「描述論」

Grossly simplified,

簡單來說

prescriptivists think a given language should follow consistent rules,

規約論者認為一個語言必須要遵從一套不變的規則

while descriptivists see variation and adaptation as a natural

而描述論者則認為變化和演進是

and necessary part of language.

語言自然會經歷的必要過程

For much of history, the vast majority of language was spoken.

從歷史來看，絕大多數的語言都是口語的

But as people became more interconnected and writing gained importance,

但自從人們有更多的互動並且寫作愈來愈受重視後

written language was standardized to allow broader communication

書面語言開始被標準化來用在更廣泛的溝通

and ensure that people in different parts of a realm could understand each other.

並確保一個領域中不同地區的人們可以了解彼此所說的

In many languages, this standard form came to be considered the only proper one,

在很多語言中，這樣的標準形式是唯一被認可的

despite being derived from just one of many spoken varieties,

儘管它只是源自眾多口語變化的其中一種

usually that of the people in power.

而被認可的通常是有權勢的人們所使用的

Language purists worked to establish and propagate this standard

語言純粹派學者試著詳細的列出一套能反映當時文法的規則

by detailing a set of rules that reflected the established grammar of their times.

來建立並普及這樣的標準

And rules for written grammar were applied to spoken language, as well.

同時寫作的文法也適用在口語上

Speech patterns that deviated from the written rules were considered corruptions,

偏離寫作規則的說話方式被認為是腐敗

or signs of low social status,

或是低社會階級的象徵

and many people who had grown up speaking in these ways

而很多從小就這樣講話的人

were forced to adopt the standardized form.

也會被強迫使用這樣的標準形式

More recently, however,

然而到了最近

linguists have understood that speech is a separate phenomenon from writing

語言學家了解到口說是獨立於寫作之外的

with its own regularities and patterns.

有著自己的規則和模式

Most of us learn to speak at such an early age that we don't even remember it.

大多數的人們早在還沒有記憶時就學會講話了

We form our spoken repertoire through unconscious habits,

我們講話的功能是在無意識的習慣中形成的

not memorized rules.

不是依循背誦的規則

And because speech also uses mood and intonation for meaning,

而我們講話時也會用到情緒和聲調來表現不同的意思

its structure is often more flexible,

所以結構也比較有彈性

adapting to the needs of speakers and listeners.

能因應講者和聽者的需求

This could mean avoiding complex clauses that are hard to parse in real time,

像是避免使用難以即時解釋的複雜子句

making changes to avoid awkward pronunciation,

避免讓舌頭打結而改變單字的唸法

or removing sounds to make speech faster.

或省略一些音來講得更快

The linguistic approach that tries to understand and map such differences

這樣的語言學方法，試著了解並列出兩者間差異

without dictating correct ones is known as descriptivism.

且不侷限於只有一個是對的，被稱作描述論。

Rather than deciding how language should be used,

與其決定語言應該被怎麼使用

it describes how people actually use it,

它描述人們實際上是怎麼使用語言的

and tracks the innovations they come up with in the process.

並追蹤在使用過程中被創造的新用法

But while the debate between

但當規約論和描述論

prescriptivism and descriptivism continues,

持續爭論的同時

the two are not mutually exclusive.

這兩者間其實不是完全排斥的

At its best, prescriptivism is useful for informing people

規約論最好的地方在於告訴人們

about the most common established patterns at a given point in time.

在某個時間點最廣為接受的模式

This is important, not only for formal contexts,

這非常重要，除了對於正式的文字使用之外

but it also makes communication easier between non-native speakers

也讓擁有不同背景的非母語人士間的溝通

from different backgrounds.

得以更順利的進行

Descriptivism, on the other hand,

另一方面，描述論

gives us insight into how our minds work

則讓我們洞悉心智是如何運作的

and the instinctive ways in which we structure our view of the world.

還有我們如何出於本能建構對世界的觀感

Ultimately, grammar is best thought of as a set of linguistic habits

結論是，文法最適合被解釋成一套語言習慣

that are constantly being negotiated and reinvented

它會經常被語言的使用者們

by the entire group of language users.

討論和重新創造

Like language itself,

就像語言本身

it's a wonderful and complex fabric

它是美麗又複雜的編織品

woven through the contributions of speakers and listeners,

由講者和聽者

writers and readers,

寫作者和讀者

prescriptivists and descriptivists,

規約論者和描述論者

from both near and far.

從古至今共同努力編織而成的