This article and the theory it presents has some interesting intersections with how society actually works (i.e. the elite being anyone who has real leverage).

This article and the theory it presents has some interesting intersections with how society actually works (i.e. the elite being anyone who has real leverage). I liked the depiction of the intellectual classes, but I believe that rather than hiding from reality they are commenting on it and influencing society's culture, not having to worry about material security. Also, the categories/ladders are looser than one would assume. Cultural and labor leaders, if determined, can seize power for themselves, as seen with the rise of the Soviet Union and Islamic Republic of Iran. I personally don't believe in the "babytalk" notion: this depends on individual character, and any common lingo would be based solely on the pressures of position the individual is in.