HOSTESS. Oh, nonsense! She speaks English perfectly…
““HOSTESS. Oh, nonsense! She speaks English perfectly. NEPOMMUCK. Too perfectly. Can you shew me any English woman who speaks English as it should be spoken? Only foreigners who have been taught to speak it speak it well.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Shaw critiques pretentious language standards, mocking the idea that only native speakers can speak correctly.
In simple terms: Language rules are often arbitrary and elitist.
Key Takeaway
Question linguistic elitism.
Themes
language
elitism
authenticity
Mood
witty
critical
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- teaching English
- multicultural workplaces
- literary analysis
- media criticism
Key Concepts
sociolinguistics
cultural identity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do language standards limit expression?
- How can we value diverse accents?
A Different Perspective
May be dated in modern context.