Why Poor Grammar Doesnt Equal Incompetence: Challenging Hiring Biases

Name Case Study project Language and Power Introduction One can express the power of language through the communicators’ ability to speak and be understood, and the ability to listen and understand as effective communication proves two–way traffic. Arguing from such a point of view, it is clear that people who possess strong language powers express great potential to communicate effectively, especially in social settings. However, the power of language has severe effects on many people's lives, especially when grammar becomes the sole determinant of one's abilities in some social settings like the job environment. I might not have the best grammar, but that does not mean I am incompetent in delivering to the demands of my line of professionalism and passion. I remember that day like yesterday when three years ago, I took my applications letter for an open position advertised in one of the local companies within my residential area. The HR opened the letter, read word after word, looked straight into my eyes, and asked me what I meant by an exclamation mark after greetings as though I was commanding the receiver. "I will get back to" serves as the last words I heard from that HR and never secured a position that I feel to date I deserved. Though most employers believe that good grammar defines the candidates' ability to read, write, and reason, it is imperative to understand that not all jobs require good writing and grammar, thus the need to offer candidates chances as employers lose most deserving talents for such silly considerations. In his article “What Good Writing Indicates, and Doesn't," Haussamen argues that most employers assume that “A good writer is always a good reader” (Haussamen, 2012). However, it is imperative to note that people are gifted differently. A person may have limited bilingual abilities but con