Sounds like Greek to me

[Miriam E Ebsworth]

Dear Robert,

I believe that Dennis Preston has done substantial work on 'folk linguistics.' I hoep this helps.
Best,
Miriam

Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth, Ph.D.
<MEE1 at nyu.edu>
Director of Doctoral Programs in Multilingual Multicultural Studies
New York University,635 East Building
239 Greene St., New York, NY 10003


----- Original Message -----
From: Ronald Kephart <rkephart at unf.edu>
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008 3:05 pm
Subject: Re: Sounds like Greek to me
To: lgpolicy-list at ccat.sas.upenn.edu


> On 12/11/08 1:34 PM, "Robert Lawless" <robert.lawless at wichita.edu> wrote:
>  
>  > Do any of you know of any work by a linguist that focuses on these 
> folk models
>  > of easy languages, language that sound nice, where these notions 
> come from,
>  > etc., etc.? Robert.
>  > 
>  I don't know. Some parts of this article, such as...
>  
>  > It all started with the gorgeous sounds emanating from our crew. 
> Have you
>  > ever listened to spoken, modern Greek? It pearls right over you, 
> far richer
>  > than French or Italian ­ the usual contenders for most lovely language.
>  > Greek is a crocheted language, an afghan of sound: large bright 
> squares of
>  > color covering you with their tonal warmth. It's soothing and 
> energizing at
>  > the same time.
>  > 
>  ... are perfect illustrations of the sort of thing I tell my students 
> I¹ll
>  take points off for repetition of: insupportable blathering nonsense.
>  Unless, of course, the blathering nonsense is being used to exemplify
>  language attitudes.
>  
>  Ron
>  
>  
>