7.1089, Disc: Non-standard grammar

[The Linguist List]

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LINGUIST List:  Vol-7-1089. Wed Jul 31 1996. ISSN: 1068-4875. Lines:  69
 
Subject: 7.1089, Disc: Non-standard grammar
 
Moderators: Anthony Rodrigues Aristar: Texas A&M U. <aristar at tam2000.tamu.edu>
            Helen Dry: Eastern Michigan U. <hdry at emunix.emich.edu> (On Leave)
            T. Daniel Seely: Eastern Michigan U. <dseely at emunix.emich.edu>
 
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Editor for this issue: dseely at emunix.emich.edu (T. Daniel Seely)
 
---------------------------------Directory-----------------------------------
1)
Date:  Wed, 24 Jul 1996 13:26:00 CDT
From:  cfwoolhiser at mail.utexas.edu (curt fredric woolhiser)
Subject:  Re: Non-standard
 
---------------------------------Messages------------------------------------
1)
Date:  Wed, 24 Jul 1996 13:26:00 CDT
From:  cfwoolhiser at mail.utexas.edu (curt fredric woolhiser)
Subject:  Re: Non-standard
 
Re: vol-7-806
 
>From:  <AM.Henry at ulst.ac.uk>
>Subject: Non-standard grammar
>
>It is a commonly held view among linguists that, linguistically, all
>language varieties are of equal value, and 'standard' languages are no
>'better' than non-standard; however, I wonder if we really 'practise
>what we preach' in this regard. For example, does anyone encourage
>students to submit work in non-standard English, or non-standard
>varieties of other languages?  Has anyone tried to get their
>institution to uphold the rights of speakers of non-standard varieties
>not to be penalised for submitting work including aspects of the
>grammar of these varieties? It seems to me that many students are
>penalised for using 'non-standard' grammar - an issue which often gets
>confused with being able to write in a clear style, produce good
>argumentation etc, which is of course quite different. Any views?
>
>
 
Returning to the question that launched last month's discussion on the use
of non-standard language varieties in academic settings, I know of at least
one possible precedent in the English-speaking world. According to Alasdair
Allan (in a 1995 article, "Scots spellin -- Ettlin efter the quantum lowp",
English World-Wide 16:1 61-103), thanks to the intercession of a Prof.
Lyall he was permitted by the Senate of Glasgow University to submit his
doctoral examinations and dissertation in Scots. Admittedly, Scots is a
somewhat special case, since it does have a literary tradition and there
have been some attempts at codification (not to mention the fact that many
would deny that it is a variety of English at all!). I'd be interested to
know if there are any similar examples from other language areas.
 
========================================
Curt F. Woolhiser
Dept. of Slavic Languages
University of Texas
Austin, TX 78713-7217
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