8 859 disc punctuation john phillips 8 859 asks respect apostrophised plurals e g dyslexic sonata exactly grounds condemning usage one joys linguistlist could question asked academic address think benji wald perceptively remarked ebonics debate linguists linguists believe equal value language forms perhaps might widen question grounds condemning particular variations human symbolic behaviour vocabulary accent spelling non si units facial hair clothes tied untied laces alas answer universalistic comes one two tyrannical reasons harm job prospects even tyrannical peers make fun depends take reference group american readers much feel like fight lot academic linguists fact neutral issue want sort compensatory justice usage disadvantaged groups threatened languages like biologist colleagues threatened species course selfserving well moral reasons may go way explain gulf incomprehension people hard find common ground believe bettering oneself think invidious rubbish roger depledge freelance translator toulouse