Grammar tends to be one of those aspects of life that so easily gets overlooked. In the grand scheme of society, it seems to be such a minuscule part, and yet, all of language hinges on grammar’s rules. Grammar controls words, and words control the world. It is a powerful force, one that is not to be tampered with.
One of the best ways I can explain this thought process is by pointing you to one of my favorite books: Anthem by Russian-born philosopher Ayn Rand.
But first, some context:
No one in this universe has names of their own, nor special possessions or differentiating opinions. Everyone is equally impoverished to live out their monotonous existence, which is chosen for them by the Council of Vocations. In this world, the word “I” is known as the Unspeakable Word, as individualizing yourself from the collective of humanity is seen as a crime. There can be no individuality in this world, as individuality is what leads to personal opinions, and personal opinions lead to dissenters. In order to remedy this, everyone in this world refers to themselves as “we/us” and refers to others as “they/them.” You own nothing in this universe, not even yourself, and that reality is reflected in the improper use of grammar.
What Does This Mean For Us?
While this world built by Rand is a major exaggeration of an ultra collectivist society, I cannot help but see some direct connections to the world we live in today. For instance, there is one mainstream narrative that everyone is expected to adhere to, and to dissent from that narrative gets you labeled as a racist, sexist, and a bigot. The same is true in Anthem, where one cannot even have a differentiating opinion without dire consequences.
Like Anthem, one way to dissent from the main narrative of our world today involves breaking grammatical law and calling others by pronouns that do not make sense from a linguistic perspective, such as using “they/them” to refer to individuals rather than a group.
The way that Ayn Rand chose to use grammar in this book got me thinking about how powerful grammar really is and why it is so important to obey its laws. People believe that they can shift grammar to obey their own whims and desires, but the fact of the matter is, when you do bend the rules, confusion and miscommunication run rampant.
For example, let’s return to the fact that in Anthem, everyone refers to themselves as “we/us” rather than “I/me,” and refers to others as “they/them” as opposed to “you” or “he/she.” If you haven’t noticed already, the obvious problem with this is that to refer to a single person as “they,” you are essentially robbing that person of all individuality. They are no longer their own person, but rather, simply a member of the proverbial crowd, or at least, according to the grammar that you have chosen to use.
To say this is dehumanizing is an understatement. To be referred to as nothing more than a part of the thousands? When we constantly shift grammar to match our own selfish desires, we train our brains to see this new, flawed grammar as truth. And the more our brains recognize as truth, the harder it is for us to escape our delusions.
Why do you think mental illness can be so debilitating? Because it changes the way your brain thinks and allows it to recognize falsehood as reality. That is why it is so important to fight the thoughts that illnesses like depression and anxiety put into our minds. Because if we do not fight, we become lost in a sea of lies, which our brains are registering as truth. Thus, the more we cater to the incorrect use of grammar, the more mentally ill our society will inevitably become.
Disobeying the laws of grammar is a slippery slope that starts with causing confusion and ends with the acceptance of the falsehood it created.
You are an individual. Your worth can be found in your own uniqueness and individuality, not in your membership to any crowd. Do not allow the mainstream whims of society to make you reject these innate truths. Do not allow the laws of grammar to be broken; they have more power than you think.
There is so much more that can be said about this incredible book, but in an effort to stay on topic, I will end my post here. You can earn more about Ayn Rand and Anthem by clicking the link to the left! You can also request a free copy to read for yourself!
Leave a Reply