This page outlines the duties of the Grammarian.
Summary of the Grammarian role:
- Chooses a word or phrase for members to incorporate into speeches.
- Comments on speakers’ use of grammar and good wood usage.
- Reports on over-use of filler words like ‘um’, ‘ah’ and ‘so’.
Before the meeting
- Choose a word or phrase for members to use in the meeting.
- The chosen word or phrase should stretch members vocabulary.
During the meeting
- Explain the Grammarian’s role.
- Introduce the word or phrase and outline what you will be listening for.
- Write the word or phrase on the whiteboard.
- Make notes on what you hear. Your write-up should include:
- notes on how members used the word or phrase.
- any interesting figures of speech, pronunciations and word usage.
At the end of the meeting
- Summarise your notes in the commendation/recommendation/commendation format.
- Give a brief speech on your observations.
Figures of speech
The following are figures of speech to look for:
- ALLITERATION
Repetition of initial letters e.g. dealing destructions devastating doom. - EUPHEMISM
Using a gentle expression instead of a harsher one e.g. income shift for tax or gender realignment for sex change. - GOBBLEDEGOOK
e.g. ‘optimum group dynamics’. - HYPERBOLE
Exaggeration for effect e.g. That music is so loud it can be heard across the sea. - INNUENDO.
Where something is hinted at and not directly stated. - IRONY
Where one thing is said but the opposite is intended e.g. Your friend turns up in ripped jeans. With a smirk, you say, ‘I see you have put on your best clothes!’. - MALAPROPISM
An amusing inaccuracy in word usage e.g. hydrostatics for hysterics. - MEIOSIS
Deliberate understatement for effect. - ONOMATOPOEIA
Words which echo the sound that they suggest e.g cuckoo, murmur, tingle. - OXYMORON
Combining contradictory words e.g. honest lawyer, green science, accurate horoscope. - SIMILE
Comparison using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ e.g. Her eyes were like emeralds.