Is the speaker below saying that informal/conversational English is incorrect use?
"Swan is a strong descriptivist who often classifies things differently from more prescriptive grammarians. What swan calls correct, I would call informal/conversational. What he calls excessively formal, I would call standard and correct."
Informal/conversational English
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It's strongly implied, isn't it?
If I think somebody is a crypto-fascist but you think they are slightly right-of centre, and if somebody I think a bit right wing you consider a dangerous lefty then I can only surmise that you would put Ken Livingstone in the same boat as Stalin and Beria. Even if you haven't in fact said so.
I bet this person wouldn't like me (or would they prefer "my"?) using "they" after "somebody", a comma before "and" and a full stop before "Even if" (Not a full sentence and I call myself educated?).
Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/language ... 01817.html
If I think somebody is a crypto-fascist but you think they are slightly right-of centre, and if somebody I think a bit right wing you consider a dangerous lefty then I can only surmise that you would put Ken Livingstone in the same boat as Stalin and Beria. Even if you haven't in fact said so.
I bet this person wouldn't like me (or would they prefer "my"?) using "they" after "somebody", a comma before "and" and a full stop before "Even if" (Not a full sentence and I call myself educated?).
Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/language ... 01817.html
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Oh Swan, how dare you be so descriptive?"Swan is a strong descriptivist who often classifies things differently from more prescriptive grammarians. What swan calls correct, I would call informal/conversational. What he calls excessively formal, I would call standard and correct."
I totaly agree with JTT, the speaker doesn't baldly come round to say 'what Swan calls...I would call it incorrect, careless, sub-standard and the like' but it's heavily implied or at least the speaker plays down the role of 'informal' English.
I might be mistaken, but what I know Swan does is classifying things with remarks like 'some people consider this incorrect or too formal' for example, I don't think he'd positively go and say only 'this is correct' for he writes for non-natives, he has to warn people to avoid the Grammatical Police, in a test I'd put if I were you.... once I put "she said the president is here..." and yes I got a red mark, I was supposed to write ...the president was.
The Grammatical Police's turned the corner, you'd better run for cover.






José
<I totaly agree with JTT, the speaker doesn't baldly come round to say 'what Swan calls...I would call it incorrect, careless, sub-standard and the like' but it's heavily implied or at least the speaker plays down the role of 'informal' English. >
Yes, I think he's just avoiding using the word "inc*rrect".

Yes, I think he's just avoiding using the word "inc*rrect".
