Serpent wrote:I'm very interested in non-standard dialects and I even have that reflected in my profile. Generally I'm more interested in understanding. I'd rather be "busted" as a non-native than make someone think I'm mocking or not respecting their dialect.
I particularly enjoyed your perspective on this. In my experience, people can identify themselves with others, form associations based on shared beliefs, characteristics, et cetera and, over time, develop a level solidarity that permits members of the group to employ self-deprecating, self-mocking humour that would be reprimanded in the harshest of terms when employed by people who are not established members of the group.
I would imagine that many of us have either experienced ourselves, or witnessed others, as “visitors” to a group who, wishing to partake in the
bonhommerie,
over-step their “visitors’ privileges” by engaging in the self-deprecating, self-mocking humour of the group and discover very quickly, if not painfully, that such intimate language is reserved for "bona fide" members. That is, “we” can laugh at those traits that set us apart from outsiders, but woe betide even long-standing "visitors" who believe that they enjoy the similar privileges! Even genuine, well-intentioned attempts at emulating certain characteristics (such as accents) can be misinterpreted.