LL-L "Language varieties" 2002.10.22 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 22.OCT.2002 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Gary Taylor <gary_taylor_98 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language varieties

Hi All

George wrote:

"Do people think on balance it is a good or a bad
thing for language
conservation?"

with regards to comedy books on regional dialects. I
think it can be a bad thing. Whilst looking for books
in Germany on regional dialects, I always have to go
to the 'Local' section - fair enough - but then any
books on the local dialect are usually to be found
under the 'humour' subsection. For serious study of
dialects I've found most of the books to be pretty
useless.

There are however a few humourous books on dialect out
there which are also quite informative. Going from my
own 'Estuary English', there's a book by Paul Coggle
(I haven't got it to hand, but I think it's called
'Estuary English' or 'Do you speak Estuary?') which
goes from humourous introductions into a closer
description of the differences with RP English, and it
also points out some of the differences with Cockney,
all done in a fairly amusing but informative way. I
disagree with some of his descriptions, and he does
have a nasty habit of reducing the Estuary speaker to
a 'shell suit wearer', which I object to, never having
worn one in my life, but it is a good introduction.

So comedy dialects as a means of promoting a dialect -
ok, but only if they're quite accurate.

Gary (OK he points my name out as being one typical of
an Estuary speaker, along with Sharon, which is my
sister's name!)

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