The period of the Middle Ages refers to 500-1500 AD. During this time, people mostly maintained and commented on pre-existing ideas about grammar. However, the Middle Ages raised Latin to an elevated, important position, as it was the primary subject of language study during this time. Aelfric's Latin Grammar and Colloquium ("Conversations" c. 1000) were children's instructional materials aimed specifically at English speakers, some of the earliest of their kind. This foreshadows the later tendency to base English grammar on Latin models.
The main contribution of the late Middle Ages (1100-1500) is "speculative grammar". This is based on the Latin word speculum ("mirror") and the idea that language "mirrors" reality. Medieval scholars, the modistae, produced speculative grammar between 1250 and 1350. The modistae tried to relate language to the natural world in their treateise De modis significandi tractatus (Treatise Concerning the Modes of Signifying). The modistae were also the first to perceive grammar as a separate field of study, as opposed to viewing it as part of literary criticism or foreign language study.
The period produced principles for constructing acceptable sentences (they must have the necessary components, be inflected correctly, and be collacable, meaning each word must be compatible with adjacent words). The study of grammar also incorporated the parts of speech, parsing, conjugation, and declension. The liberal arts were also divided into two tiers: the trivium and the quadrivium. The trivium, or lower tier, included grammar, logic, and rhetoric, while the quadrivium, or higher tier, was composed of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. Due to this curriculum, grammar served as the basis for teaching students to read and write Latin, bringing about our modern term grammar school.
During the Renaissance (1500-1650), European scholars began to give attention to languages other than Greek and Latin, especially Hebrew, Arabic, and Chinese. The study of vernacular languages of Europe (ordinary, everyday language, as opposed to learned language) and the vernacular languages of Africa, Asia, and the Americas began. Scholarly and scientific publications began to use vernacular, and there was an attempt to raise the stature of vernacular languages. The Renaissance also ushered in the expansion of European printing. As literacy spread and the demand for education grew, texts, grammars, and dictionaries were in high demand.
Finally, the Renaissance brought about the rationalist grammar developed by the Port Royal School. A group of hermits living in France, the Solitaires, came to be known as the Port-Royal grammarians. They tried to write a universal grammar containing all properties common to languages known at the time. They investigated concepts such as "subject", "predicate", and "preposition". They tried to explain features commonly shared by all languages. They argues that if language is used to communicate thoughts, then speech should reflect the structure of the thoughts being expressed. At this time, speech was considered to be an imperfect representation of writing.
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I think it is appropriate that grammar was of the lower tier of liberal arts. Learning to read and write Latin requires a certain amount of intelligence and understanding that would be important when learning arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy.
It is funny, however, that the standards of our language were developed by a group of men who were known as hermits. Maybe that is why it is sometimes so difficult to master all the rules of grammar. They were created by a group of men who were obsessed with its perfection and may not have always considered how the common person would view it.
This all comes down to the original introduction of the Trivium in the education of the times. Grammar has always been considered an important skill to have and master, for without this grammar nothing else skill wise would come to pass.
Learning grammar in another language can sometimes be a hard thing to do.Its hard enough learning english grammar.But we must master the skill of Grammar because it will always be considered a must know.
"They were created by a group of men who were obsessed with its perfection and may not have always considered how the common person would view it."
Freaking elitist hermits! :)
While I can see where the idea of learning to read MUST come before learning arithmetic (and I'm not trying to downplay the importance of learning grammar!) I don't know that I necessarily agree. After all, what about the people who are awesome at math and utterly fail at English? I'm sure there had to be some of those "back in the day."
Anyway. What really is interesting about this is the idea that speech was an imperfect form of writing. That really struck me since there were so many cultures that had no written language at all. Doesn't speaking come first? Wouldn't it make more sense to say that writing is a more perfect form of speech?
Grammar we all know is a tough thing to master and we should understand that its a very important aspect of all language. Its understandable that learning grammar in other language could be the most difficult thing, but English grammar is probably the hardest of all forms to learn.
Grammar is a tough thing to master. But we all know that it is a must, you have to know it. I think it would be extremely difficult to learn the grammar of another language, but I feel for those who learn English grammar as their second language. English grammar is very confusing with so many rules.
Whenever there is any mention of grammar people always are a little hesitant to dive in becuase of its complex nature. Grammar is a must know, no matter how much pain and agony can come from studying it and trying to perfect it. I am not sure that anyone ever really perfects grammar, but then again that is just my personal opinion. In terms of Latin, I do not want to even think or bother with the idea of trying to learn Latin grammar. English grammar is hard enough. One final note about the hermits for me is that anyone willing to sit around obsessing over the perfection of grammar is not something I find enjoyable or will ever see my self doing. I am a common person who understands the importance of grammar and continuously work on trying to improve it; but when push comes to shove I am not going to dwell over it. I do not think I will ever be a perfect grammarian.
When it comes to the importance of reading and grammar as a foundation to all other learning I have to agree. Especially now, when we are so reliant on textbooks and other reading materials for all subjects, the first skill a student needs is to understand the written language. Of course, mastery of the language is not required before progessing to other areas of education.
Grammar is the hardest thing to learn when learning a new language. However, it is one of the most important things you need to know about a language. A person could know all the vocabulary of a language, but without the knowledge of grammar, he would have no idea how to use the vocabulary. It all ends with the idea that grammar is a must know.
Grammar has to be learned by everyone, regardless of the language. It can be tricky sometimes and may even seem to be stupid with too many rules and regulations, but unfortunately that is the way that is was developed.
Learning grammar is very hard because their are so many rules that can be applied to one word used differently. Learning it in another language is definately a challenge, especially if you haven't mastered your own language yet. But it is important when you have to write formally in that language.
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