>
> > However, American (elementary) schools that teach penmanship
>
> Such schools exist? One would hardly imagine so from looking at
> samples of handwriting from the US.
C'mon Scott. Don't look so far down your nose that you can't see
what's in front of you.
American elementary schools *all* teach penmanship. (As do all other
elementary schools around the world that teach literacy in their
respective scripts.) They don't necessarily teach "good" penmanship,
since unlike in the 19th century, that is no longer considered much
of a socially requisite skill. When was the last time you were snubbed
for an invitation to the ball because your note to Lady Astor was
scrawled in a hand like that of an uncouth merchant?
Tex's point was that accent marks are *not* part of the literacy
and penmanship curriculum in this country. Effectively that determines
what the general public grows up feeling comfortable and at home
with. The accents in (American) English words are learned haphazardly
later -- and are actively manipulated by advertisers for effects that
have nothing to do with lexicographic correctness. No wonder everyone
is confused about their resumés.
>
> > The general population (I suspect) has no idea and is probably confused
> > by them, excepting
> > those that have secondary language exposure.
>
> The general population of the US has little idea of how to use
> an ordinary _c_, to say nothing of a _ç_.
>
> Scott Horne
And believes in angels and UFO's and buying lottery tickets.
I don't see your point, Skott.
--Cen
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jul 10 2001 - 17:20:48 EDT