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Bad Language

Edwin L. Battistella

2005240 pagesabout 4–6 hours
2005
first published
  • 2005Oxford University Press · ENGISBN 9781280428067
  • 2005Oxford University Press, USA · 240 pages · ENGISBN 9780195172485

"Examining grammar and style, cursing, slang, political correctness, regional and ethnic dialects, and foreign accents and language mixing, Battistella discusses the strong feelings evoked by language variation, from objections to the pronunciation NU-cu-lar to complaints about bilingual education. He explains the natural desire for uniformity in writing and speaking and traces the association of mainstream norms to ideas about refinement, intelligence, education, character, national unity, and political values. Battistella argues that none of these qualities is inherently connected to language."--Jacket.

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