don rumfeld's colloquial language

[Dennis R. Preston]

Hmmmmmm. Why would you read a book, digest it, think about it, talk
with other folk about it, and so on and then want to talk like it? I
wonder which of the books I've read I should want to talk like? Even
in my "formative" years (doctoral candidacy) I can't remember wanting
to sound like Aspects of the Theory of Syntax.

dInIs

>:It seems that the more powerful people become in US politics, the more they
>:want to disguise just how powerful they actually are.
>:
>
>Same's frequently true of well-educated people and their language, even in
>academics.  'Tis a puzzle.  We prize education so much, but most never speak
>as though they've ever opened a book.
>
>rhk

--
Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736