Valley-girl English and Ebonics and West Virginia dialect are all equally valid and internally consistent, according to this approach.
There is also value in maintaining a common standard. Try speaking Ebonics outside black ghettos and besides the status hit, people will have a hard time understanding you.
Why not the Received Pronunciation that’s promoted (and used to be required) on the BBC? Everybody’s heard it, even in the U.S. (where I am). A Midwest U.S. dialect might also work, but I can’t judge that as well.
There is also value in maintaining a common standard. Try speaking Ebonics outside black ghettos and besides the status hit, people will have a hard time understanding you.
Is there any dialect that is readily understandable to everyone who speaks English?
Why not the Received Pronunciation that’s promoted (and used to be required) on the BBC? Everybody’s heard it, even in the U.S. (where I am). A Midwest U.S. dialect might also work, but I can’t judge that as well.