Why Poor Grammar Doesnt Equal Incompetence: Challenging Hiring Biases

Abstract

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 conquer other areas requiring a practical application. A great example may come in the form of the automotive industry, where little writing defines the competency of an engineer. On the contrary, practical application and use of automotive gadgets like spanners, nuts, steeling, types, and the rest define their eligibility and credibility in their work area. It is unfortunate to acknowledge that through a simple grammar problem. However, my writing was also not appealing. The HR rated me as incompetent and never gave me a chance to prove my potential. Just as Haussamen (2012) puts it, “most employers assume that a well-written cover letter signifies that the applicant can read well” however “A weak writer is not necessarily a weak reader, and the applicant whose writing seems halting may be fully fluent in other areas, like visual media or social skills ." On the other hand, McWhorter (2012) argues that most good applicants come along with lousy grammar, thus the need to dig deeper into understanding the candidates’ potentials without mere consideration of grammar. Based on such assumptions and confirmations, one can argue that my letter was not appealing should not have been used as a sole justification of my inabilities to deliver in an area where passion served as the leading guide. Given a chance, maybe HR would have been shocked for imagining what a talent the company would have lost for language consideration. People understand and use language differently. For instance, the public and private teachers might differ in their approaches of defining grammar to their students, which results in differences in its application in all odds of life. In her article on “Harm when schools play down grammar," Lynne Truss emphasizes the need for proper teachings on the meaning and application of language in all social settings as its power has defined effects on the users. When a child is trained that looking closely at words on a page makes them more attentive to details, another becomes trained that listening to a teacher even without writing is essential in understanding and expressing attentiveness. Such characters embrace different approaches to understanding language. To this effect, it is imperative to understand that language is for all, and its powers affect all, thus the need to remain considerate of others in any...