Biblical Hebrew Forum

[HarryJ_Harm AT kastanet.org]

Dear Dave (Washburn),

Greetings from Mississippi.

In this discussion of what is well formed or what is not I lean toward 
Peter Kirk's view.  The decision of whose language is well formed and 
whose is not can be a value laden judgment.  My brand of linguistics 
tends to be more descriptive than prescriptive.  However, it would be 
valid to report that John Doe's speech is different than the speech of 
the majority of the members of community YYY.  It would also be valid to 
report that the members of community YYY tend to view John Doe's speech 
as non-normative, i.e., not well formed.  However, it would be possible 
to write a grammar of John Doe's idiolect or if John Doe was a member of 
a minority speech community in community YYY we could write a grammar of 
John Doe's dialect.

Even though I I hold this view I still find myself to be frustrated as I 
study the Choctaw language.  I know two sisters who are only separated 
by a few years who grew up in the same house who have some substantial 
differences in their speech.  Each thinks that her own way of speaking 
is correct and that the other's speech is not well formed. Since 
literature is not well established there is no prestige or book Choctaw.  
It makes my linguistic life interesting.

Sincerely,

Harry J. Harm  :{)