Date:    Sat, 28 Mar 1998 14:18:29 -0500
<br>From:    Grant Barrett  gbarrett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]DFJP.COM 
<br>Subject: RE WHEN DID THE FOCUS OF THIS LIST CHANGE?
<br>
<br>Well, we have been off-topic, but I hardly think your alarm is necessary.
<br>
<br>Although nobody will deny the focus of this list is American Dialects, a study
<br> of the archives reveals that while we usually stay on track, we also spread our
<br> talks to related topics. That tends to happen when any bunch of educated,
<br> intelligent and opinionated people get together.
<br>
<br>In general order of most common first, our discussions tend to cover:
<br>
<br>American Dialects
<br>American English phrase/word origins
<br>American English usage
<br>English usage in other countries
<br>Anecdotal or personal examples of words, usage or dialect
<br>English usage in the media
<br>English grammar
<br>Language-related news events
<br>Teaching-related language issues
<br>ADS-related events
<br>Calls for papers
<br>
<br>So, hang in there. We'll come back to vowel shifts and the like shortly.
<br>
<br>Grant Barrett
<br>gbarrett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]dfjp.com
<br>
<br>--------------------------------------
<br>Date: 3/28/98 1:54 PM
<br>To: Grant Barrett
<br>From: Buchmann
<br>Quite seriously, folks!
<br>
<br>When was an ADS list focused
<br>on changes in usage highjacked
<br>by a bunch of high school
<br>grammarians?
<br>