Five Things Make a Post

[rolanni]

1.  I grew up in an area where the construction "might could" was allowable -- as was "youse" and "y'all" (but not "all y'all") -- these are the benefits of growing up in a border state.  In any case, I needed clarity on whether "might could" was a Maine eccentricity, and of course, I turned to the internet, where I found this fascinating (if you like that kind of thing) discussion.

2.  Barnes & Noble and Simon & Schuster are having an argument.  So, of course, it seems like a swell idea for B&N to take it out on S&S's writers.  Who can do nothing about any of it; who are not part of the problem; and who will lose money and perhaps readers while existing fans write to them asking if they know that Barnes and Noble refuses to carry their book.  I've lost count, but this?  Is another reason why writers drink.*

2a.  Here's the Wall Street Journal article

2b.  Here's the blog of one author caught in the middle

2c.  Here's another blog of another affected author, who has decided to Do Something

3.  In another news, Harper-Collins is the latest in a series of publishers to adopt the Humpty Dumpty Theory of Language ("When I use a word, it means what I want it to mean").  Here's that link.

4.  I very much doubt that I'm going to list the songs to which I know the lyrics.  It just seems that my time could be more profitably spent doing something else.  You are certainly free to use your imaginations.

5.  I'm working on a short story, so there is no Carousel Seas snippet tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.  Though I sorta hope to finish the short story tomorrow.

Good-night Wesley; sleep well.  I'll most likely kill you in the morning.

Comments

Might could

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

This construction is used here in S. UT by native speakers. I have noticed it is not used where I have lived before: MA, NY, IL, CA, Canada. I have lived in AZ In Phoenix but I didn't know any good ole boys and girls so I didn't hear it. . I bet native speakers use it there. I am sure that there are many other constructions used only in a particular part of the country. I would guess that those that move try to start talking like their neighbors in order to, as you say, not be judged.
However there seems to be one exception to this rule. New Yorkers, especially those of Jewish descent, frequently throw various Yiddish words into their speech. Now a lot of others all over the country are sometimes heard to do the same. But the others often do a very bad job with the Yiddish words using them incorrectly. Rachel Maddow tried to use a Yiddish word tonight on her TV show....I believe she is originally from CA...but I think used it incorrectly although I'm not sure because I am not an expert. I might look it up when I have the time.
Hoping Socks is maintaining,
C.

Re: Might could

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

Sorry, for some reason known only to eljay, my reply got attached to this comment instead of the one it was supposed to go to.