One viewpoint is that of the person himself. Isn't my usage good enough for me? Isn't the way I use language a personal thing? A personal preference? Don't I have the freedom to determine my usage of the language? Do you (or anyone else) have the authority to tell me how I can use my words? In one sense, this is true. We do, indeed, have the freedom to tell our own words what to do. However, whether these words are then understood in the way we wish them to is another question. I can insist all day long on my freedom to call the four-footed canine that lives in my house a bird, but nobody will understand me when I talk about taking my bird out for a walk on the beach.
So, whose authority will we all agree to be bound by? At one time, the final authority on the matter of language was the King. The phrase "the King's English" was coined in the 16th century during the rule of King Henry VIII (1509-1547). He was a poet and a man of letters and his example set a standard for the English language. The King's English persisted as standard even under kings who could not speak English and, in recent years, the monarchs of England have not been known for their exemplary style of speaking. In America, there was never a move towards the standard being the President's English (which is probably a good thing).
Contrary to the French government's development of an Academy to set the standard of good usage, the speakers of English have looked to good writers to set the standard for proper usage. This sounds good at the outset, but carries its own set of troubles. For instance, ask the general population for the best writers and you will get many answers. There are some choices that will be consistent, though. As an example, most people would agree that Shakespeare is one of the world's greatest writers. Shakespeare, however, is notorious for his disregard for grammatical agreements. Besides, the language has changed significantly since his death. Can even the best writers, so long dead, be used as a model for the living language that is English?
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