Date:  Mon, 11 Sep 1995 14:08:47 -0600

From:  POLSKY ELLEN S <Ellen.Polsky[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]COLORADO.EDU>

Subject: Re: FOR English Only



Can anyone really define STANDARD American English? We can't say that

it's what the newscasters use, because they speak on t.v. in a variety of

dialects. To say it's what the grammar books in school use is not

satisfactory because there are many traditionally ungrammatical

structures in the grammar books. So, what is "standard" English?



If the Official English movement is in favor of having non-native

speakers of English communicate in English, do they also support,

and will the government, then, fund ESL programs across the country? As

an ESL instructor, I can report that our programs are being CUT, not

expanded!



Ellen S. Polsky (Ellen.Polsky[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]Colorado.EDU)