Language Log

Greetings, comrade

This explains a lot of public discourse about language, at least in America:

You could start with Mark Twain's famous linguistic takedowns of Fenimore Cooper and Mary Baker Eddy, and work forward. The traditional British equivalent is mocking social inferiors who presume above their station -- or is that an unfair stereotype? Anyhow, both impulses together support the Bushisms business, whereby elitists can mock the powerful for being low-class.

Posted by Mark Liberman at November 27, 2006 05:57 AM