LINGUIST List 2.866

Sun 15 Dec 1991

Disc: Language & Culture, Washed, No way

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Directory

1. "CHARLOTTE S BASHAM", textbook for language and culture
2. Dale Russell, Query: Needs Washed
3. "E_Dean.Detrich", 2.581 Queries: Washed, Reduplica
4. , Re: 2.846 Queries: Ling. Dictionary, Texas Ling. Forum, Reduplication

Charles Laughlin asks for recommendations for texts in an anthropology course
dealing with language and culture. I hope others answer on the net rather than
to Charles directly, because I'm always looking for suggestions. I've tried
Eastman (students weren't thrilled). This coming semester I plan to use
Saville-Troike's book on the ethnography of communication (I think I have that
right). As a supplementary text I use Lakoff and Johnson's *Metaphors We Live
By*, which has proven to be popular. Charley Basham FFCSBALASKA

I'm of Scottish descent, grew up in Western Pennsylvania, and the
"needs washed" construction is part of my dialect. It's my impression
that for the most part, people who say "needs washed" can also say
"redd up," meaning to tidy up and put things in their proper place, as
in "Company's coming over, so we'd better redd up the livingroom."
This expression is definitely of Scottish origin, as I've seen it in
some old George MacDonald novels.
Dale Russell

I can add only thatK"the car needs washed" is perfectly normal speech in
central Pennsylvania. There is not a particularly large community of people
ofScotish origin in that region.
 E. Dean Detrich
 Michigan State University

Message 4: Re: 2.846 Queries: Ling. Dictionary, Texas Ling. Forum, Reduplication

In reply to the query about usage of "yes way", as a reply to "no way!",
a student of mine recorded teenage boys (16-17 yrs. of age) in Eastern
Minnesota as follows:
A: (makes an assertion)
B: No way!
A: Way!
B: No way!
A: Way!
Amy Sheldon