Jack dowdell blog post 2 topic 1

Dalrymple’s statement that Pinker doesn’t really believe a thing he says is an obviously false one. Pinker would not take the time to conduct the research or write the essay if he did not care. Rather, the statement seems to be made in order to show a hole in Pinker’s logic.

Dalrymple is because Pinker writes in a tone pleasing to schoolmarms.  This is because the basis of this essay is that we all can, without education, speak in elegant complex language within our own dialect. In almost a parallel to what the writing is about, the writing itself is clear, concise, and elegant. The elegancy is what most likely upset Dalrymple.                                                                                             Many reasons have been suggested for why Pinker wrote that piece the way he did however. One thing we mentioned in class and certainly deserves consideration is the audience intended. This essay was meant for people who spoke the standard English dialect. How could we learn about the equality of the dialects and the other important points in his essay if we could not understand him.

Also, Pinker made arguments pointing out the equality of these languages. However, he never made a single point that they were appropriate in todays’ society. His purpose was to express their equality from a technical standpoint and to stop discrimination against these people on the pure basis of their speech patterns. In know way did he state that they should be accepted as a standard.

Another thing to consider is that Dalrymple is a British physician. This means that most likely he speaks near perfect English as many British people do. On top of this he is a physician which means he is highly educated. This is a man who has dedicated quite a bit of time to speaking and writing properly. Any paper that comes straight out and says that these lesser dialects in his mind are now alright is bound to rub him wrong.

Dalrymple and Pinker represent opposite ends of a spectrum. Pinker the more liberal welcoming party and Dalrymple in the conservative preserve the old writing. I believe both are necessary. As the world grows different dialects will spring up and looking down on them is not an option anymore. However abandoning our language is not an option either. Between the two opinions i believe balance can be struck