Query Details
| Query Subject: |
Use of 'what it is is'
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| Author: | Emma Pavey | |
| Submitter Email: | click here to access email | |
| Linguistic LingField(s): |
Discourse Analysis
Syntax |
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| Subject Language(s): |
English
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| Query: |
I?m interested in the use of ?what it is is? (and variations) as a fixed
expression used as a discourse marker/floor-holding device, as in the
following examples.
(1) Q: Tell me about the women's group that you've started.
A: I just started a group on campus when I got back from Italy. Right
now it's called the Women's Group. Basically what it is, is I was tired of
the things that happen to women being shushed.
(http://flathat.wm.edu/November222002/thatperson.shtml)
(2) S: ... isn't the Bush policy a continuation of the Clinton
administration's policy vis- a-vis Iraq?
B: No, what it is is it's jacking it up on steroids and taking us into
a war that I think we can win without putting our troops in harm's way.
(http://cgi.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/14/cf.00.html)
I?m also hearing single ?is? versions (in the south-east of England) such
as (3)
(3) What it is, I changed my migraine medication.
It seems to me there must be some type of mutual influence/sanctioning
between these (1-3) and ?double copula? constructions (and possibly their
single ?is? counterparts) ?The thing/problem is (is)? etc. which have been
discussed before on this list.
I?m particularly interested to know if the use in examples such as in (1-3)
occur in other varieties of English, particular new Englishes, and to know
of any studies on this particular use.
Thanks; I will post a summary
Emma Pavey
Dr Emma Pavey
elpavey1@hotmail.com |
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| LL Issue: | 16.80 | |
| Date posted: | 13-Jan-2005 | |
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