Geoffrey Nunberg - the language of blogs: "The high, formal style of the newspaper op-ed page may be nobody's native language, but at least it's a neutral voice that doesn't privilege the speech of any particular group or class. Whereas blogspeak is basically an adaptation of the table talk of the urban middle class -- it isn't a language that everybody in the cafeteria is equally adept at speaking."

Huh? The op-ed page of a newspaper doesn't privilege the language of the urban middle class? I think it does. Newpaper editorials tend to be pompous, with a tone of civic-highmindedness that asks for vague, well-meaning assent.

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I guess I know what he means. The editorial addresses the generic citizen, whereas the blog assumes the reader is part of an ongoing conversation.