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Ask-A-Linguist - Message details
Subject: Standard vs. 'proper' English
Question:
Is ''proper'' English really proper at all? The Brits love to view their version of the language as ''standard'' but if they changed it, then it is not standard at all. Whose pronunciation has changed the most -- the British or the American?

Noah Webster said that the snobbery of British aristocracy changed the language in England. (Wikipedia). But I don't know if this was just his patriotism speaking or if it was the truth, or when this took place. Obviously he made this comment in the first few decades of our nation's history. Webster gave us Americans spellings such as center, color, neighbor, and so on.

From a Hungarian colleague I have learned that British English has changed more in vocabulary then American English. This is determined by viewing writings by authors of the same era on both sides of the Atlantic, and comparing it with current usage.

Thank you,
- Steve

Reply:
This is a trick question.

The truth is that the determination of "proper" or "standard" language is a
sociological issue, not a linguistic issue. The "standard" language is whichever
dialect the educated classes are speaking.

However, if you compare any two dialects - even an elite dialect vs a non-elite
dialect, the chances are that each will contain a mix of innovation and archaic
features. In addition, you will likely find instances where the non-elite dialect is more
consistent or more "logical" than the elite dialect.

The judgement that some dialects are superior or inferior is a cultural issue. A
classic example are U.S. Southern accents which are considered "gracious" in the
South but "tacky" or "hick" in the North (and vice-versa).

While it is true that American dialects preserve some archaic features, it is also true
that British dialects preserve some archaic features lost in the American dialects.
Further, both dialects have innovated in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary.

From a linguistic point of view, neither dialect is considered more superior, more
archaic or more innovative. They are two outcomes of a historical chain of events.

Reply From: Elizabeth J Pyatt    click here to access email
Date: Oct-20-2009
Other Replies:
  1. Re: Standard vs. 'proper' English Suzette Haden Elgin    (Oct-20-2009)
  2. Re: Standard vs. 'proper' English Anthea Fraser Gupta    (Oct-21-2009)
  3. Re: Standard vs. 'proper' English Joseph F Foster    (Oct-20-2009)
  4. Re: Standard vs. 'proper' English James L Fidelholtz    (Oct-20-2009)
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