LINGUIST List 13.111

Thu Jan 17 2002

Qs: Double Aspectual Constructions, "They"

Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>



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Directory

  • jlc115, Double Aspectual Constructions
  • carljweber, "They"

    Message 1: Double Aspectual Constructions

     Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 11:04:15 +0000
    From: jlc115 <jlc115york.ac.uk>
    Subject: Double Aspectual Constructions


    I am working on the syntax of Double Aspectual Constructions like (1):

    (1) He could have not have done that.

    These are found in dialects of Scottish English and in dialects from the North East of England. Does anyone know if these constructions are also possible in any dialects of American English? Also, would anyone who uses these constructions be willing to give some judgements?

    Please reply to me directly.

    Thanks, Joanne Close

    Message 2: "They"

     Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 12:51:07 -0600
    From: carljweber <carljwebermsn.com>
    Subject: "They"


    Given all that the OED says about "they" (and other pronouns) -- Your comments are appreciated.

    1. What is the evidence behind the OED's presentation that "they" is Danish? (a) Is it a "probably" type conclusion? (b) Is it based on similarity of forms only? 2. Why was the older nominative all-genders plural pronoun replaced at all? Were there developmental constraints, the result of reorganization during the period of Norman dominance?

    This "they" pronoun seems to have been the only trespasser into "basic" English (with the other th-plurals later following). Has any native source been suggested?

    Carl Jeffrey Weber