Definition of Grammar

         Definition of grammar is often changed. The shifting of grammar definition is merely to improve the old grammar perspective with the better one. The old one refers to traditional view while the better one is functional view

        Commonly, the teaching of English grammar in Indonesia is under an assumption of traditional view point for the term of grammar. In this view, grammar is regarded as a set of rules that govern language behavior. It describes how a speaker produces sentences using the words, and serves as a way to manipulate language and combine words into sentences. If we look more carefully, traditional grammar more focuses on the language form rather than meaning. Moreover, this view left the importance of how to use grammar in real life. As stated by Alexander the primary concern of traditional grammar is with the forms of grammatical structures rather than with their meanings or uses in different contexts. Therefore, the teaching of grammar with this view makes students not be able to connect grammar with their lives. Consequently, students will feel grammar not meaningful to be learnt and finally their motivation to learn grammar will decrease

          On the contrary, the functional view includes a consideration of the structure functions and their meanings in context. In this view, grammar is regarded not only as a set of grammatical forms, but also grammatical meaning and use as a whole. Thus, grammar deals with three dimensions i.e. form, meaning and use. This assumption leads teachers to teach grammar that should be meaningful in the context and also teach students how to use it. As a result, students can connect grammar with their lives and their motivation to learn grammar will increase.

        In short, the two different main streams for the term grammar are traditional and functional views. The former more focuses on structure rather than meaning and use whereas the last focuses on not only structure but also meaning and use.