Date: Tue, 7 Oct 1997 17:55:45 -0400 From: "Jeutonne P. Brewer" Subject: Re: "The Backbone of America"; First Monday in October; NY Yankees I don't think that Beverly Flanigan's question was inappropriate or inconsiderate. When a post has very little to do with dialect (or usage), the writer can point out that fact. I don't think we want to discourage Barry Popik; generally I find his posts have interesting points to consider. However, there is a great deal of difference in citations and dates for them (see Fred Shapiro's recent comments) and personal comments about family. I do understand about the need to write through some of the interesting, irritating, discouraging and fascinating aspects of dealing with the deaths and serious illness of close family members. Some of my friends have read a great deal of my views on this subject (as 3 of my/our 4 parents have died in recent years in addition to my brother, my grandmother, and early loved aunt and two uncles). Although I have published only one article on language subjects to date, all of these events have affected my perspectives and my published comments. Let's be fair to both Beverly Flanigan and Barry Popik. Jeutonne Brewer On Mon, 6 Oct 1997, Evan Morris wrote: > -----Original Message----- > > From: Beverly Flanigan > To: ADS-L[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UGA.CC.UGA.EDU > Date: Monday, October 06, 1997 6:48 PM > Subject: Re: "The Backbone of America"; First Monday in October; NY Yankees > > > > At the risk of sounding cold and hardhearted (like Mayor Giuliani), may > > I ask what Mr. Popik's life story anecdotes have to do with the study > > of dialects? > > > Quite a lot, usually. Please don't discourage him. I always read his posts > first. > ********************************************** Jeutonne P. Brewer, Associate Professor Department of English University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC 27412 email: jpbrewer[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]hamlet.uncg.edu URL: http://www.uncg.edu/~jpbrewer ***********************************************