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"Good and bad words": in defense of Venezuelan speech
If we assert here that the omission of final "s" or "r" sounds in Venezuelan speech is not a product of illiteracy, but rather part of the natural enrichment of the language, the reader will likely receive this idea with skepticism. Even using a colloquial expression like "mamando gallo" (a slang term for joking around) to illustrate this point might lead one to think that we are disregarding academic forms or using what are considered "bad words."
TL;DR
- Ángel Rosenblat's 1956 essay "Good and Bad Words" defends Venezuelan popular speech.
- The essay argues that phonetic variations like omitting final 's' or 'r' sounds are natural language enrichments, not indicators of illiteracy.
- Rosenblat believed popular speech has its own legitimacy and deserves respect.
- He contended that no words are inherently 'bad,' each possessing dignity and historical significance.
- The work explores the origins of popular expressions and phonetic variations in Venezuelan daily life.
- Rosenblat also authored "The Fetishism of the Letter" and "The Language of Don Quixote," emphasizing the importance of preserving identity through language.