Re: [Lingo] Re: [tlug] Correct particle to use

[Shawn <javajunkie@example.com>]

Hi,

> I am pretty sure I speak better keigo than most Japanese people under
> the age of 25 or so, cf.
> 
> http://jmglov.blogspot.com/2007/06/ogikubo-yuki.html

It reminds me of a study about an immersion program in Canada where the
second graders (if I recall correctly) spoke with an acceptable French
accent (acceptable to the French-Canadians at least).

Later in third grade, they suddenly had lost the correct accent and some
linguists were called in to explain why.

It turns out the kids crossed the line where they went from seeking
teacher approval to seeing the teacher as separate from them and not so
cool anymore.  Usually kids will develop their own lingo to modify the
language somehow to mark themselves as being cool.  Obviously this is
what slang is about.  

Lacking the linguistic resources as immersion students, this one group
chose to vary their accent to mark themselves as a social group.

I do not know Japanese linguistics even close to well enough at all to
know what is coming into play in the variance you cited.  All that is
certain is that identity can be one factor in linguistic variation.  I
speak this way, therefor I am a member of this group.

Shawn