Ask-A-Linguist Message Details
| Subject: | 'Stay' for 'Live' |
|---|---|
| Question: |
I'm curious about the origin and distribution of the use of ''stay'' in AAVE/BEV where SAE uses ''live'', as in ''I stay at aunt's house'' or ''My family stays in Detroit''. This is standard usage among Detroit blacks, but I'm curious about: -- Is it mostly limited to black/POC or urban communities? -- Is it in usage outside of Detroit and if so, where else? -- Are there any opinions about its origin? Googled conversations and Urban Dictionary seem to be of the opinion that it relates to the relative transience of the urban black population, but I'm not convinced. Thanks for any information. |
| Reply: |
The use of “stay” for where other varieties use “live” is standard in Singapore English – by which I mean Standard Singapore English, not what is commonly referred to as Singlish, which is a different language altogether. Madalena |
| Reply From: | Madalena Cruz-Ferreira click here to access email |
| Date: | 01-Mar-2013 |
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