Re: [SL] Je me souviens!

[Roy P <or...@sh...>]

On Sunday 26 November 2006 22:24, Stuart Luppescu wrote:
> On =E6=97=A5, 2006-11-26 at 20:34 -0600, John Hasler wrote:
> > Because qu=C3=A9b=C3=A9cois and parisian are two different dialects of =
french.
> > Neither is "higher" or "lower", but they are different.
>
> Moreover, ``High German'' and ``Low German'' refer to the altitude of
> the places they are spoken in.=20

OK since everyone seems  to want to make this a thread I'll just go with th=
e=20
flow for a bit.

=46or some reason people think higher and lower have some qualitative inten=
t.=20

In my understanding, "Lower" in this case usually refers to a derived diale=
ct=20
that is less common.=20
I have also seen the definition "linguistically subordinate" used.
It's NOT a qualitative term.


In regards to High German and Low German referring to usage locations..
There is a quote that explains it better than I can...

=2D----------------
"The common, though technically incorrect linguistically, use of these term=
s=20
is:=20
High German or Hochdeutsch=20
The official language of Germany as promulgated in the schools, the press, =
the=20
broadcast media, and specifically in the dictionary series called the Duden=
=2E=20

Low German or Plattdeutsch=20
Any dialect that differs from High German."
=2D---------------------------

That common, non technical definition quoted above, is the same as used by =
my=20
German born In-laws who speak Low German and my German born grandmother who=
=20
spoke High German and the local language school I took basic German from 25=
=20
years ago.

There is nothing to say that Low German is inferior in any way no matter wh=
ich=20
definition of the term you use.
(It was the 1st language of my wife so if anyone thinks it inferior she may=
=20
come over and punch you..!! LOL )


Here's is what I mean by lower and higher languages
Languages are derived from others historically preceding it.
Hence American, Australian and Canadian English ARE sub-dialects/lower form=
s=20
of Formal English.=20
or.....Cajun is a sub-dialect/lower form of Acadian French which is a=20
sub-dialect/lower form of French as spoken in France.

It's not snobbish at all....It's the hierarchy of what you could call=20
the "family tree" of languages


A recap of my thoughts from my original post:
1) Learning as many languages as possible is a very good thing.
2) Learning a dialect is not a good idea. It's better to learn a more,=20
universal, higher form to increase your chances of being easily=20
understood by as many people as possible.


Regards,
Roy


AND PLEASE..  if you want to reply to me on this topic, then do it directly=
=2E..=20
I can CC: everyone else in the thread if they wish.=20
I don't think other list members subscribed to "SQL-ledger users", want to=
=20
sift through this type of off topic discussion. I will truly welcome your=20
emails, since I enjoy discussions like this. I only wish we could all do it=
=20
over some coffee.