Bonnie,

A very interesting comment from a fellow victim of French education ( I
actually really enjoyed it). I agree that some discipline of form is
essential to being able to express oneself, and even to being able to
organize one's ideas. This form can very from culture to culture.

It is very difficult to leave the form of one's original culture. When I
write in Japanese or Chinese, I am basically expressing myself structurally
based on my European language educational background, while using Chinese or
Japanese words.I must assume that it is difficult for the Japanese or
Chinese student not to do the same in reverse, when writing in English.

That is where I think words are so important. When I correct writing, if the
words are used correctly, in terms of meaning, and in terms of which words
are used with which, a certain amount of unstructured wandering, or
"cultural license",  seems to be acceptable, and as you say, what is most
important, still leaves the meaning understandable.

Steve




-- 
Steve Kaufmann
www.lingq.com
1-604-922-8514
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