Britain: NO LOVE, DEARS

[Rachel R. Reynolds]

Dears:

Isn't one of the general Labovian theories of language change this:  it is
strong working class women at the center of dense and multiplex networks
who have their hands, so to speak, on the language-change button.  After
all, you can't fight city hall...

Rachel Reynolds

At 01:03 PM 8/15/2003 -0400, Harold F. Schiffman wrote:
> >From the New York Times, World Briefing (Europe), August 15, 2002.
>
>BRITAIN: NO LOVE, DEARS
>
>Receptionists and the security staff at government headquarters in Bristol
>have been told to stop calling members of the public "dear" or "love," and
>to address them as "sir" or "madam" instead. The order came from Barbara
>Janke, the new leader of the City Council, who said that some visitors to
>city offices had objected to the informal way they were greeted. But in a
>city known for its use of endearments, the move has not been universally
>popular. "I think the majority of visitors prefer a friendly welcome,
>rather than being confronted by faceless bureaucracy," Richard Eddy, a
>council member, told The Times of London.
>
>    Sarah Lyall (NYT)