hmm. i wasn't much interested in this thread, but bridget you brought up an interesting idea..
I am seeing a bit of a trend toward using language/linguistics as a way of reinforcing difference/applying value judgments rather than finding commonality --

which i have been thinking about,--
namely how group of people always seperate themselves into us or them (in or outs, proper or improper..

and virtually idential groups often are the most virulent in making sure that 'false' members don't try to slip in and pass for one of them.

language is just one way of doing it, (and its been done before.. shibboliths have exist for ages.)

you are first a member of family (nucluar) then extended, then you join in the neighborhood, (via school or church or both) then, you join in a larger neighborhood in Jr HS or HS. University, is often in a different town or city, or you join the military, and ove the course of your lifetime, you extend and enlarge the groups you belong to.

or most people do. and people can do that because they can find some commonality.. (and yet, the continue, always judging,and finding small differences for why they are better. (and perhaps acknowledge some other better groups that they aspire to join!)

i think of Dicken's in the wonderful opening chapter of our mutual friend--as the woman striped and robs the dead man of his clothes, but hold her self higher than the criminals who knocked him out, and robbed him.

She didn't harm anyone, (what use does a dead man have for clothes?) and she could use them, (and the money she got, selling the used clothes) How high she placed her self above the other thugs and villiens..

how common the experience. (how great of dickens to find the lowest person we could admit to our society--just (barely) a step above a true criminal, but so low, on the 'normal social scale'...
ok, this idea has been running circles round my mind.. mostly i admit, in trying to understand the polital thinking of the people who elected the current administration, but in others ways people behave too



my other obsession