Linguistic Rights:
What language should a nation officially call its own?
- Language
- Rights
- Tradition
- AAVE
- Irish
- Dictionary Myths
- People Power
- Censorship
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LANGUAGE AND A DIALECT?
"A LANGUAGE IS A DIALECT WITH AN ARMY AND A NAVY."
Language in Society 26:3 (1997), p.469
This saying, long part of oral tradition among sociolinguists, was quoted in a review by Alan Kaye in _LiS_ 26:484 (1996). In his manuscript, Kaye had attributed the quote to Max Weinreich; the editor of this journal changed the attribution to Uriel Weinreich [from whom I first heard it in 1957 -- WB]. However, it has also been attributed to Joshua Fishman.
Recent e-mail correspondence involving Christina Paulston and Ellen Prince, as well as Kaye and Fishman, has brought out the following points:
- (a) Some scholars believe that the saying is an expansion of a quote from Antoine Meillet, to the effect that a language is a dialect with an army. Up to now the source has not been found in the works of Meillet. Can any readers provide information on this?
YES -- HERE IT IS FOUND and scanned by Source
- (b) The earliest documentation of the saying is in a publication in Yiddish by Max Weinreich. The following is a translation (by Ellen Prince) of a posting on "Mendele", a Yiddish e-mail list, by Yoshua Fishman on Oct. 28, 1996:
Avrohom Novershtern (Jerusalem) found for me the source of Max Weinreich's saying that _A shprakh iz a diyalekt mit an armey un a flot_ ['A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.']
This is found in Weinreich's "YIVO and the problems of our time," _Yivo-bleter_, 1945, vol. 25, no. 1, p. 13.
Weinreich attributes this formulation to a young man who came to his lectures, and he decided, "I must bring to a large audience this wonderful formulation of the social fate of Yiddish." Congratulations to our good friend Novershtern and to all Mendele-subscribers who helped look for the largely forgotten source of a famous saying that is relevant to Yiddish and to all "one-down" languages.
- (c) Joshua Fishman believes that he may have been the young man who, as a student of Max Weinreich, originated the saying. It is clear, in any case, that the dictum derives from the tradition of Yiddish linguistics, and that it was made familiar by the Weinreichs and by Fishman. Further information from readers will be welcome. [end of quote]
From: Cary Karp Director of Internet Strategy and Technology, Swedish Museum of Natural History 9/05
"The attribution of the army-navy statement to Joshua Fishman is unlikely to be correct. In his 1945 article, Max Weinreich says that his informant immigrated to the USA as a child. Since Prof. Fishman was born there, he does not fit that part of the description. He was also no older than 18 at the time and in school elsewhere, thus not likely to be a teacher at a Bronx high school. Finally, the unnamed source of the saying knew little about the history and linguistic status of Yiddish. Joshua Fishman's knowledge of both was already significant.
"Think 22nd Century Linguistic Rights"
What Language Should a Nation Officially Call Its Own?
Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights a statement that argues for the protection and encouragement of minority languages. The facts provided by the Educational CyberPlayGround expose the myth making in censored state sanctioned text books found in the classroom written by pedantic scholars and academics, who are part of the Education and Dictionary Indu$try $upply Chain that censors information and access.
From Threatened Languages to Threatened Lives Daniel L. Everett
All of history is one long story, nothing more than story telling.
THE ORAL TRADITION
WORDS GET BORROWED FROM OTHER LANGUAGES.BORROWED WORDS BECOME POPULAR and BECOME PART OF THE VERNACULAR
WHEN THEN GET USED WIDELY ENOUGH THAT THEY MOVE FROM THE STIGMATIZED SLANG STATUS AND ACHIEVE THE STATUS OF VERNACULAR ENGLISH THEY ARE THEN PUT INTO DICTIONARIES AND FINALLY AQUIRE THE STATUS OF STANDARD AMERICAN ENGLISH.
"A people without a language of its own is only half a nation. A nation should guard its language more than its territories--'tis a surer barrier, and more important frontier, than fortress or river." ~Thomas Osborne Davis April 1, 1843 Irish poet, Lawyer, and contributing Editor of the very first publication of the Irish "Nation" newspaper. "
African American Vernacular English
AAVE is often erroneously perceived by members of mainstream American society as indicating low intelligence or educational attainment.
SCAFFOLDING
The Historical Context of Communication helps us capture the complexity of literacy.
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF COMMUNICATION
New Orleans Louisiana - The Dictionary of Louisiana Creole - The only comprehensive dictionary of Louisiana Creole Edited by Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, and Kevin J. Rottet
The History of Black Codes, Code Noir - royal edict about the discipline of black slaves in louisiana 1724
Furthermore, as with many other nonstandard dialects and especially creoles, AAVE sometimes has been called "lazy" or "bad" English by those who do not understand creolization or the role of null phonemes. Such appraisals also may be due in part to AAVE's use of aspect for tense in some cases. Some challenge whether AAVE should be considered a valid form of English at all. However, among linguists there is no such controversy, since AAVE, like all dialects, shows consistent internal logic and structure.
In the late 1990s, the formal recognition of AAVE ("Ebonics") as a distinct language and its proposed use as an educational tool to help black students become more fluent in SAE became a controversial subject in the United States.
Irish American Vernacular English
Our National (Irish) Language ~ By Thomas Davis
MEN are ever valued most for peculiar and original qualities. A man who can only talk commonplace, and act according to routine, has little weight. To speak, look, and do what your own soul from its depths orders you are credentials of greatness which all men understand and acknowledge. Such a man's dictum has more influence than the reasoning of an imitative or commonplace man. He fills his circle with confidence. He is self-possessed, firm, accurate, and daring. Such men are the pioneers of civilization, and the rulers of the human heart. <snip>
PEDANTIC SCHOLARSHIP AND MYTH MAKING
MISSING THE BIG PICTURE
WHO IS TELLING THE STORY?
Thought Police: You can't think all that wonderfully well without words and whoever controls the language controls the conversatoins and perhaps what you are allowed to thing and know. THIS IS CENSORSHIP.
An entire country of Irish people / journalists / musicians, and athletes speaking Irish to each other have no problem with the etymology of jazz being Irish. Irish Language Speakers know how TEAS is pronounced and what it means. We will not tolerate word robbery that fosters obscurity and oblivion of the very words that keep the threads "knowing", a people's identity, and culture intact. The very words that cut back through the fog of time and our the culture's memory.
A people's language being relegated to the UNKOWN as if it doesn't exist. As if a people's identity which is entirely known by their language do not exist. As if what their culture, and cultural memory knows doesn't exist. No theft of memory allowed here, words trace our memories, and our identities.
From Threatened Languages to Threatened Lives Daniel L. Everett.
Etymology of Sneak -sneaky gossip serves a purpose If you do not get to - have - keep - and possess your own words, then in time you and your people won't remember and know what you know.
PEDANTIC SCHOLARSHIP AND MYTH MAKING
MISSING THE BIG PICTURE
WHO IS TELLING THE STORY?
Thought Police: You can't think all that wonderfully well without words and whoever controls the language controls the conversatoins and perhaps what you are allowed to thing and know. THIS IS CENSORSHIP.
An entire country of Irish people / journalists / musicians, and athletes speaking Irish to each other have no problem with the etymology of jazz being Irish. Irish Language Speakers know how TEAS is pronounced and what it means. We will not tolerate word robbery that fosters obscurity and oblivion of the very words that keep the threads "knowing", a people's identity, and culture intact. The very words that cut back through the fog of time and our the culture's memory.
A people's language being relegated to the UNKOWN as if it doesn't exist. As if a people's identity which is entirely known by their language do not exist. As if what their culture, and cultural memory knows doesn't exist. No theft of memory allowed here, words trace our memories, and our identities.
From Threatened Languages to Threatened Lives Daniel L. Everett.
Etymology of Sneak -sneaky gossip serves a purpose If you do not get to - have - keep - and possess your own words, then in time you and your people won't remember and know what you know.
DICTIONARIES ARE TRUSTED SOURCES
INFORMATION OR PROPAGANDA?
Sneaky Dictionary Dicks, publisher$, editor$, online player$, and word a dayer$ are the thought police not Irish Subject Scholars, merely ordinary people; who happen to control what gets into a print and online dictionary. And just like any other ordinary person, can be arrogant, ignorant, sexist, classist, and very wrong. By refusing to acknowledge substantiated evidence and print the sanas of Jazz is Irish and by refusing to print that there is a possibility that sanas of Jazz MIGHT be Irish it confirms that when dictionary dics say "origins unknown" it really only means "THEY don't know". With reputations to establish or protect and because some are climbing the academic ladder it is easy for them to pollute the scholarly record.
 Listen to Cassidy Book Interview |
How the ISBN: 9781904859604 |
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Factoids are stupid things H-Bot a history of a software agent.
Factoid: An invented fact believed to be true because of its appearance in print – Webster.
ANOTHER example is the word Vigorish all the online dictionary dicks say it's Yiddish.
WRONG it is NOT Yiddish but another excellent example of the "Racialization of Language".
Oral Tradition - Gossip Serves a Purpose
Lakoff writes that "Every word, like elephant, evokes a frame, which can be an image or other kinds of knowledge: Elephants are large, have floppy ears, and a trunk, are associated with circuses and so on. The word is defined relative to that frame. When we negate a frame, we evoke the frame...this gives us a basic principle of framing, for when you are arguing against the other side: Do not use their language. Their language picks out a frame--and it won't be the frame you want."
PEOPLE POWER
AND THIS BRINGS US TO THE 21 CENTURY - THE INTERNET - CENSORSHP - PEOPLE POWER - LANGUAGE AND THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
It's about The People's Right To Know!
Freedom to Connect, access to knowledge and content. There is no Digital Bill of Rights. As more and more intelligence migrates to the edge of the network, users of the network need to be part of the policy debate.
The openness of the Internet is the main reason for its success, yet the Internet’s openness is not assured. It is written that Freedom of the Press is only for those with presses. But the Freedom to Connect is potentially available to everybody allowing you to find the information you are reading now, free from the censors that would control the internet.
CENSORSHIP
POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Remember what is Personal Is Political
From the meatspace to cyberspace The Army and Navy move Censorship Online.
Cyber Space is The Eighth Wonder of the World
Bless the Founders of the Net, the women and men who pioneered this whole thing and changed the world forever! Yes, it was the Hippies who left us sex, drugs, rock and roll and THE internet! What other culture on earth would have? No one. It's a strictly grade A USA creation and it was meant to make the world a better place!
Help everyone to Defeat Censorship Filters
The Internet And The Neutrality Question -- A Conversation With David Farber - This video interview was produced as part of the 37th KMB Conference, March 8, 9, &10, 2006 held at St. Pete's Beach FL.
"FREE AS AIR, FREE AS WATER, FREE AS KNOWLEDGE" ~ Stewert Brand
THESE ARE ONLY SOME FOLKS WHO CARE ABOUT 21ST CENTURY LINGUISTIC RIGHTS, FILTERS, CENSORSHIP, NET NEUTRALITY, ACCESS AND YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW.
- Dave Hughes, CEO, OldColo.com
- Ed Felten, Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs, Princeton University
- Dewayne Hendricks, CEO, Dandin Group
- David Isenberg, Principal, Isen.com
- Jonathan Krim, Director of Strategic Initiatives, WashingtonPost.com
- Bruce Kushnick, Chairman, Teletruth
- Om Malik, Senior Writer, Business 2.0.
- Chairman Michael Powell, Former FCC Chairman
- Doc Searls, Senior Editor, Linux Journal
- Gigi Sohn, President, Public Knowledge
- Brad Templeton, Chairman, Electronic Frontier Foundation
- David Weinberger, Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
- NET NEUTRALITY EXPLAINED : Here's a little video on Net Neutrality from Public Knowledge. Bill was Killed in committee but apparently it's been resurrected / reintroduced. PR statement and The actual bill
- How the War on Terrorism Affects Access to Information and the Public's Right to Know Prepared by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Who Controls the Internet?
The Internet began as a digital Wild West, lawless and immune from market or government control. Columbia law professor Tim Wu explains not only how important national borders have proven to be, but also why policing them might not be so bad. mp3: <> Transcript
