Libby Purves writes The word on the street is: spoken English reely matters
The BBC provides more background
In another example of Gert-the-Fogey, I say I agree wholeheartedly. Actually, Libby Purves is spot on - teaching children about the different styles of English and when to use them is a vital component of creating an egalitarian society, and, actually, not fogeyish at all.
It ties in with my exasperation at the illiterates that pop-up with tedious frequency on this blog. If they cannot grasp why they should communicate in standard English, it is unlikely that they will ever learn to do so. And they sell themselves short, because one would assume they have the intellectual capacity to assimilate and analyse information and form thoughts. But those thoughts of our no value if they cannot persuade other people.
