<<What is Southern if not slang?>>
Linguistically, a dialect is a language (a full language
spoken by a given population, such as Southern, American
Black English, Jamaican or Cockney).
Slang is usually a jargon of smaller groups, be they racial,
professional (cops, crooks and thugs in crime fiction). Slang
functions *within* the dialect. A person can speak Southern
without using slang.
As to "standard English", such a concept is dubious and the
idea of it very new (it originates in 15th century Spain,
with the publication of Nebrija's Grammar). The vast majority
of the population of the world is not standardized in this
way, though the age of show tends to roll over everything,
and standardization is one of its goals.
I do agree with you that slang can sound authentic when it is
properly applied. It is a valid literary device. I was
talking about *abuse of slang*, when the device becomes too
visible and intrudes. In Chandler, piled-up slang is in
conflict with the narrative voice, which is obviously that of
a refined person. If you catch the author "slumming" though
his narrative voice, his credibility diminishes.
I have never been bothered, or even noticed much, the dialect
spoken by Faulkner's people. The whole (story, narrative
voice, milieu, dialogue) works harmoniously.
Best,
MrT
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