|
It's interesting how "proper", literary versions of langauges have become so idolized in time. I'm not saying that proper language isn't important, since it serves as a great tool of unification and is essencial in the survival of a language (that goes especually for endangered languages). But on the other hand it's good to realize that official versions of languages which would be considered as proper literaly ones are nothing but one of many dialects that was (for one reason or another - usually cause first literary works or grammar books were written in it) chosen to unify the language as a whole. It's nothing but a dialect which was chosen to be the official representative of the language. Lets not forget that Portugese, Romanian, Italian Spanish and French were nothing but dialects of vulgaric latin at the beginning and as they evolved into languages their linguistic entities got unified by taking a syntax and adapting most grammar rules according to ONE of the many dialects spoken in the region. Dialects by themselves are very fascinating and show fluency in language changes... they fill the holes that appear among languages of one family and even bridge the gaps between different language families. And furthermore dialects are a celebration of diversity - a living story of historical influences that shaped a certain language. I think they're absolutely fascinating and definitely not worth less than any formal and mutualy accepted dialect that represents the literal language.
|