Eugine_Nier comments on Folk grammar and morality - Less Wrong

20 Post author: Emile 17 December 2010 09:20PM

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Comment author: Eugine_Nier 17 December 2010 10:48:56PM 5 points [-]

Valley-girl English and Ebonics and West Virginia dialect are all equally valid and internally consistent, according to this approach.

There is also value in maintaining a common standard. Try speaking Ebonics outside black ghettos and besides the status hit, people will have a hard time understanding you.

Comment author: Tenek 20 December 2010 03:53:57PM 0 points [-]

Is there any dialect that is readily understandable to everyone who speaks English?

Comment author: TobyBartels 22 December 2010 08:14:54PM 1 point [-]

Why not the Received Pronunciation that's promoted (and used to be required) on the BBC? Everybody's heard it, even in the U.S. (where I am). A Midwest U.S. dialect might also work, but I can't judge that as well.