[…] a linguistic description that is not expressly that of a dated idiolect should be expected to subsume divergent usages. If the existing variations are not sacrified on the altar of descriptive simplicity and are duly presented, the result will be the establishment of some sort of hierarchy among linguistic oppositions: some distinctions are found to be universal among the members of the group under consideration.; others are found to be kept by some members only and to be disregarded by other membres.
- Martinet (1962), a pag.107