Grammar, Usage, Standards: Passe?

[Paul Johnston]

I can think of a British example, anyway, besides the usual language
mavens and style guides--a man named John Honey, who used to come to
sociolinguistic conference to debate with the participants and argued
not only for a "restoration" of strict prescriptive standards with
respect to syntax and morphology, but for English Received
Pronunciation as an intrinsically-superior accent ,which he believes
any part of Standard English is, i. e. it is NOT just a matter of the
dialect of the rich and powerful ruling.  We used to think of him as
a bit of a crank, but he at least did mount arguments.

Paul Johnston
On Jun 8, 2010, at 1:27 PM, James Dawson wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       James Dawson <jamesndawson at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Grammar, Usage, Standards: Passe?
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
>
> Well, I finally decided I'd better just try to jump in here, rather
> than wa=
> iting for the perfect moment, as I'm sure if there'll never be one.
> =A0
> What is the climate of opinion these days on the question of
> "proper Englis=
> h", i.e. grammar, usage, etc.=A0 Among language professionals and
> enthusias=
> ts, is it an outdated and pedantic concern?=A0 As dialectians, my
> understan=
> ding is the interest of most of you is the dialect as it is, and
> not so muc=
> h as it should be.=A0 For that reason, I've been a little hesitant
> to ask q=
> uestions about "proper" grammar and usage, thinking few of you may
> even bel=
> ieve in such a concept anymore.
> =A0
> I've read The Miracle of Language by Charlton Laird, so I'm a
> little famili=
> ar with the "proper-grammar-skeptical" arguments,
> =A0
> Is there some group, which I presume would be unofficial, that sets
> standar=
> ds?=A0=A0Certainly standards have been challenged almost=A0to the
> breaking =
> point, perhaps especially with the growth of=A0Internet=A0jargon,
> but=A0may=
> be they still exist, though maybe in a more relaxed form.=A0 I'm
> interested=
>  in the presevervationist, or prescriptionist perspective, with
> respect to =
> English.=A0 I=A0know such an approach is problematical, and I'm not
> necessa=
> rily a purist myself, but I'd=A0still like to be=A0aware of it.
> =A0
> Are there any other forums where my questions would be better asked?
> =A0 Any=
>  PRINT publications, for the layman?
> =A0
> Are there any=A0books that deal with this, and recent changes in
> the langua=
> ge?=A0 In, say, the last 5, 10 or 15 years?
> =A0
> If I=A0don't find any, I may be back with questions on specific
> words and p=
> hrases I've had questions about.
> =A0
> Thanks!
> JND=A0=0A=0A=0A
>
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