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To: mcg1969
The point is this, Conspirator. Whether you like it or not (and I, frankly, do), there is a single vernacular in American professional culture, and that is English spoken with a reasonably neutral accent. It is not leftist newspeak to suggest that people must learn this language in order to be successful, whether they are Vietnamese, Russian, or Appalachian.

I'm not opposed to everyone knowing standard English (which is a rather recent concept, btw). I just don't want to destroy the legitimate heritage of the various dialects and accents that people have had for hundreds of years. Does this bother you?

I'd avoid folklore anthologies if I were you.

43 posted on 06/04/2004 1:22:09 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (I'm a Noachide . . . if **everyone** doesn't hate me, I'm not doing my job! :-))
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To: Zionist Conspirator

Of course it doesn't bother me, or anyone else here. You're obviously reading more than necessary into what we're saying. As long as public schools teach standard English, and as long as we create a culture that recognizes the true importance of it, I don't mind if people have a second language (whether that is in fact a dialect or a true second language or something in between); nor do I mind that students read literature written in dialect. What I object to, as did Bill Cosby, is the apathy many parents have over insuring their kids can function in the professional mainstream.


45 posted on 06/04/2004 5:42:28 PM PDT by mcg1969
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