Re: off topic: language, long

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

One applauds the lively defense of Zach Wolff's positions.

All but one point were vigorously supported. Here is the loner.

> > (7) "The real use of these rules is only to make distinctions
> > regarding class and education.  What
> > grammar books call "right" is only a prestige dialect. Knowing this
> > dialect is beneficial, as its use implies that the user is a member
> > of the prestige class that speaks this dialect.  It is not more
> > correct than other options."

> > Zach, you are making a political statement here,  which, of course, is
> > your right.  On the other hand, I will claim, that
> > these "rules' help, nay, are necessary for efficient and effective
> > communication.
> >
> > Brian McInnes
>
> I disagree that the vast majority of prescriptive
> rules actually facilitate efficient and effective
> communication.......
> Zach Wolff


I need to point out that para 7) is a lift of an English (as opposed to
 American) language critic's position.
   It appears to derive from a text generated perhaps fifteen or more
years ago.

In English usage at that time, the Oxford accent was the touchstone -
 and promulgated on the audible media channels.
In a land where natives could readily identify accent origins to within a few
 miles, the precious Oxford accent as cultivated by all the (private) Public
schools was exceptionally easy to classify.

 The contrast with spoken English on recent BBC programs broadcast in the US
is striking. The Oxford accent is now a minority sound there.

  You may have noticed that most American accents are hard to
place in a specific social class. This may also apply to Strine.
brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK