I've created a new language that I would like to represent to you all. It's called "Substandardish". Who would like to learn it?
Substandardish
Mxsmanic, are you plain crazy? Some of your students must have managed to wind you up, and that makes you write such crap.
<<"Substandard" is so passé. "Nonstandard" is the new substandard.>>
So true.
This term is ever so old fashioned nowadays. It is hardly ever used by English linguists because it has negative connotations (sub = under, so substandard = below standard). Of course, it is still used by German linguists but not in a pejorative sense,( for want of a better word: they can't say "nonstandard", "nicht standard" would sound pretty awkward).
I know... you will say "nonstandard" is nothing but a euphemism for "substandard", and students have to learn to speak and write "correct" English. But this is a linguistic term, and not political correctness sneaking into the ELT arena! Moreover, "substandard" has always been used to describe native varieties (dialects, sociolects) of a language. I don't think anyone has ever used it to describe non-native varieties. (For you always mention this in connection with your ESL/EFL students, but please correct me if haven't got the slightest intention of doing so this time.)
<<"Substandard" is so passé. "Nonstandard" is the new substandard.>>
So true.
This term is ever so old fashioned nowadays. It is hardly ever used by English linguists because it has negative connotations (sub = under, so substandard = below standard). Of course, it is still used by German linguists but not in a pejorative sense,( for want of a better word: they can't say "nonstandard", "nicht standard" would sound pretty awkward).
I know... you will say "nonstandard" is nothing but a euphemism for "substandard", and students have to learn to speak and write "correct" English. But this is a linguistic term, and not political correctness sneaking into the ELT arena! Moreover, "substandard" has always been used to describe native varieties (dialects, sociolects) of a language. I don't think anyone has ever used it to describe non-native varieties. (For you always mention this in connection with your ESL/EFL students, but please correct me if haven't got the slightest intention of doing so this time.)
<<I've created a new language that I would like to represent to you all.>>
Should it be "present" instead of "represent"? "Represent" is a wee bit "substandard" in this context, innit, though? :-))
BTW, is it you, Mxsmanic or a troll using your name?
Should it be "present" instead of "represent"? "Represent" is a wee bit "substandard" in this context, innit, though? :-))
BTW, is it you, Mxsmanic or a troll using your name?
<<I would like to learn it.>>
Good. Being substandard as it is, it's not that difficult to learn.
Good. Being substandard as it is, it's not that difficult to learn.