Little Need to Worry?

metal56 · Post by **metal56** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:36 pm

David Crystal, in an article called Little Need to Worry, said "I've never counted just how many non-standard constructions of the type "we was" and "ain't" there are, but I would be surprised if the figure were more than 100".

How many do you think there are? Is there a really major difference between so called Standard English and so called Non-Standard English?

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:35 am

Could we have a link to the article.

Considering Crystal's ravings about the number of English speakers in India, I suspect Mathematics is not his strongpoint.

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:26 am

Here's the link: http://www.crystalreference.com/DC_arti ... lish63.pdf

The problem is Crystal is referring to another article by Tony Freeman, which we have no link to or inkling of where to find. Oh dear!

I tend to agree with Crystal's main point. However because he is basically repeating truisms, the article is not very enlightening.

metal56 · Post by **metal56** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:33 am

Stephen Jones wrote:
However because he is basically repeating truisms, the article is not very enlightening.

Again, Stevie, for whom? Plus, note the date of the article.

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