If someone tells you someone is using a language in an illiterate or improper manner, or even if it's just "nonstandard", tell them to consider French. French sprang from Vulgar Latin spread by the Roman legions, which was itself the nonstandard Latin of the day. Then in the Dark Ages, after centuries of misuse by the illiterate uneducated masses, French was born. Some people still say French is the height of sophistication. But it wasn't always this way. French started out originally as Old French c. 800 to c. 1550 AD. Charles Panati says in PANATI'S BROWSER'S BOOK OF BEGINNINGS (1984) "Old French of this era was primarily the language of a race hardy warriors and farmers, uncouth and ill-mannered. The tongue was full of strong stresses, hard and full-mouthed sounds, and comparatively little phonetic grace. To a contemporary student of French who recognizes the language for its milk and honey articulation, this probably would have been a roguish speech. Its tones were more similar in rhythm to present-day English than to the softer cadences of modern French." Anyway, the only purpose of language is to be understood. If you've done that, you're using it properly and correctly IMHO.
