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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="PT-BR">===========================================<br>
L O W L A N D S - L - 23 February 2009 - Volume 06<br>
===========================================</span></p>
<p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br>
From: <span class="ep8xu"><span style="color: rgb(121, 6, 25);">James Wilson</span></span></span><span class="hccdpe"> </span><span class="ldacoc"><<a href="mailto:jawi2300@gmail.com">jawi2300@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Subject: <span class="hccdpe">LL-L "Language diversity" 2009.02.23 (02)
[E]</span><br>
<br>
Hi Tom & Paul,<br>
<br>
From Paul:<br>
<br>
'A former colleague had a very strong Northeast accent, but I
never heard him use a single dialectial expression. He'd pronounce
"our" something like "oor", but never said "wor";
"go" had the long dipthongised vowel of Northumberland, but he never
said "gan". He speaks Standard English...'<br>
<br>
'But it's our choice in the end, nobody's forcing us, not anymore.'<br>
<br>
Yes there is, you! And many others of a similar attitude. As long
you you emphasise the speaking of Standard English (and consequently teaching)
regional dialects/languages will suffer; as they have suffered. <br>
<br>
'For many years, certain English dialects have been viewed more positively than
others. Many of us make assumptions based on the way people speak ― judging
certain dialects or accents as too posh, harsh, aggressive, unfriendly,
'unintelligent' or 'common'. Unfortunately many individuals have suffered as a
result of this irrational prejudice. No one dialect is better at communicating
meaning than another. The fact some dialects and accents are seen to be more
prestigious than others is more a reflection of judgements based on social,
rather than linguistic, criteria. We live in an increasingly homogeneous
society and so the vocabulary, structure and sounds that define the speech of a
particular region, should be and indeed are for many speakers, a source of
great pride and an important expression of <strong>cultural identity</strong>.' <br>
Sounds Familiar? homepage from British Library Board at <a href="http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/" target="_blank">www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/</a>
(Emphasis is BL).<br>
<br>
I love this website (as I do <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/voices/</a>) as there is no emphasis on Standard
English but on the equality of <i>British </i>dialects/languages. <i><br>
<br>
</i>Regarding Standard English, listen to part 6 of series 3 of Melvyn Braggs
show "The Routes of English" at <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/routesofenglish/storysofar/series3.shtml" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/routesofenglish/storysofar/series3.shtml</a>.
<br>
<br>
Also from the same website under series 2 part 3 the following may be read:<br>
'Many companies with telephone call centres base their offices in the North
East because they've found that customers respond well to a Geordie accent.'<br>
<br>
I hope it's not envy that drives you Paul ;)<br>
<br>
Tom, do people ask you whether you are Scots when you are in Edinburgh?<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
James<br>
Copenhagen</p>