Quote:
Originally Posted by burro  <1. can communicate in different social situations using different registers. >
You talk about registers, but what about different dialects? |
I think this is a complex issue. The needs have to be addressed individually. In a way you are right only standard language is taught and dialects are neglected. People even forget that a standard language like Queeen's/King's English was originally nothing but a dialect of the south. Dialects are usually promoted to standard language for a variety of reasons.
1. People who speak a dialect are more dominant and powerful either militarily or politically.
2. Literature and the Bible play a role if they are written or translated in a dialect
3. A dialect which has been promoted to standard language has to gain neutrality ie all people in the country accept it. In Norway for example there are two dialects that have become standard language Bokmål (literally "book language") and Nynorsk
Norwegian language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. BBC has already started accepting people from other dialects as newsreaders.