Many writers such as Dowst, Sale, Thomas and Albutt have enlightened me to their own views on what constitutes good or bad usage. The thought never occurred to me that I too am guilty in many ways of improper use of the English language, including grammar, word use, tense, structure, the list could go on. But then again what is termed good use by me may not be good to another. To me, my own personal use of language is acceptable and could probably stand some improvement. However, without learning grammar, syntax, diction, etc., I never would have been able to get to where I am now today, a college senior and counting the days until graduation.
Good usage begins early in life and is a never-ending process.
According to Cyndee Miller in Advertising Age, the Asian American population is the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and is expected to reach around 15 million by early next century. To a good portion of this growing segment, English is not their first language. Many languages do not have the same grammatical or structural form which makes it extremely difficult translating either way. Usage of English language has its purpose, to convey meaning and understanding to a certain audience. People still communicate in their own Native tongues and have so for many years.