The child comes into the school with language of a
sort, but it needs rectification in order to render it readily available
for the purposes of society. Herein lies the crux of the whole matter.
If this child were not to become a member of society, it would matter
little what sort of language he uses or whether he uses any language. If
he were to be banished to some island there to dwell alone, language
would be unnecessary. Hence, his study of language in the school is,
primarily, for the well-being of society and not for himself. Language
is so essential to the life processes that, without it, society would be
thrown out of balance. The needs of society are paramount, and hence
language as it concerns the child relates to him chiefly if not wholly
as a member of society.
=Grammar.=--Grammar is nothing else than language reduced to a system of
common terms that have been agreed upon in the interests of society.
People have entered into a linguistic compact, an agreement that certain
words and combinations of words shall be understood to mean certain
things. The tradesman must understand the purchaser or there can be no
exchange. The ticket-agent must understand the prospective traveler or
the latter cannot take the journey and reach his destination. Hence,
grammar, with all that the term implies, is a means of facilitating the
activities of society and pertains to the individual only in his
relation to society.
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