[net.nlang] Seeley's Joke

lew (12/02/82)

Donn Seeley's article on linguistic relativism reminds me of a Nietzsche
aphorism titled "Kant's Joke", the gist of which is:

Kant argued that the common man was correct, but he argued in a way
that only scholars could understand. He wrote in favor of the common
man, but for scholars.

I submit that a sentence such as:

"Speakers of the non-prestige dialects alter their language to the extent
that they think it will confer upon them the advantages associated
with the prestige dialect."

shows a sophisticated linguistic ability, which confers real advantages
on the one who possesses it.

Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew