LINGUIST List 11.237

Fri Feb 4 2000

Qs: Double "is" in American Eng,Spanish Word List

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>



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  • Hank Mooney, Double "is" in American English
  • rebecca johnson, Spanish Word Frequency List

    Message 1: Double "is" in American English

     Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:23:14 -0800
    From: Hank Mooney <HMooneymfi.com>
    Subject: Double "is" in American English


    I'm wondering if anyone has published anything on the use of a double "is" in English sentences, for example:

    The problem is is that Bob doesn't know how to drive.

    This usage, which I hear commonly and from very educated people, is distinct from what I will, at the risk of being judgemental, call the "legitimate double 'is' ", as in:

    The question is is Bob a competent driver?

    In the latter sentence, "is" occurs twice in a row because the structure of the sentence requires it, viz.:

    Subj. (The question) + copulative (is) + predicate (Is Bob a competent driver?)

    In the first example, however, there is no structural reason for the doubling of the copulative.

    My analysis of this usage is that the double "is" acts as a focusing mechanism, and serves the same function that a pause might serve, for example:

    The question is: (pause) Do we want four more years of incompetent leadership?

    But in rapid speech, a true pause becomes awkward, so instead the "is" is doubled as a way of signaling to the listener that the following phrase is something s/he should pay particular attention to.

    Has anyone else addressed this matter?

    Hank Mooney hmooneymfi.com

    Message 2: Spanish Word Frequency List

     Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:21:23 PST
    From: rebecca johnson <rebeccasjohnsonhotmail.com>
    Subject: Spanish Word Frequency List


    I am a graduate student working on my thesis on the word associations of Mexican children. I am searching for a standard Spanish word frequency list. If you have information as to where I might acquire such a list, I would appreciate it. Thank you, Rebecca S. Johnson