re Re: re Re: re Re: SLSL language

[David Morris]

--- jbor <jbor at bigpond.com> wrote:
> on 16/3/03 9:07 AM, calbert at hslboxmaster.com wrote:
> > I think we disagree here only with respect to HOW such "recognition" is
manifested........Just as it oversimplifies (and I do apologies for intimating
such) your position by  saying that you seek  to have it "taught in place of",
I think a similar effect is at work with the issue of "recognition". My
feelings about its place in education in now way inhibits my fascination and
admiration of any argot... 
> 
> Again, you are situating yourself and your language as superior. For you, the
language spoken by African-Americans is fascinating and strange. But it's not
really a proper way of communicating. It's an "argot". That's a very
condescending attitude.

Sometimes people speak a dialect which *purposely* flaunts the rules of
standard language and thereby exhibits a pride of ethnicity.  Cajuns, for
instance.  And down here in Louisiana sometimes politicians purposely use
locally accepted sloppy english forms too, partly in order to sound like "one
of the boys."  These forms spring from the street -they start from accidental
mistakes contrary to Standard English, not from purposeful expression- which, I
think, is important to acknowlege.  But over time they become a commonly
understood form of speech.  There are times and places for these forms of
expression, and they work fine down here because everyone is familiar with
them, even though everyone knows they sound "ignorant."  We even knowingly wink
at some of them, like when we call some locals "Yats" from their use of the
expression, "Where ya AT?"
 
> > As long as we don't "lose" the  practitioners along the way.....not all  
assimilation is bad....
> 
> Not sure what you mean. Any policy or system of assimilation means that
people are forced to conform to imposed rules or standards of conduct, whether
they want to or not. It can only be enforced punitively.

All this talk about "inferior-superior" and "enforcement" ignores the fact that
the standard s widely accepted, understood and prefered by buisiness, academia
and your mama.  An inability to use Standard English limits one's mobility in
many ways.  We will still always have our "Horacio Algers," but we shouldn't
rely on them.  In the abstract these dialects are not "inferior," (because they
stll adequately communicate within their limited realm) but most of us don't
live in the abstract.

David Morris



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