LINGUIST List 15.1080

Thu Apr 1 2004

Qs: L1 Utterance Source; English Auxiliary Omission

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Directory

  • Martha McGinnis, "I was me" for "it was me"?
  • Sebastian Rasinger, London English auxiliary omission

    Message 1: "I was me" for "it was me"?

     Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 18:59:43 -0500 (EST)
    From: Martha McGinnis <mcginnisucalgary.ca>
    Subject: "I was me" for "it was me"?


    Dear linguists,

    I'm trying to narrow down possible L1 sources for a second-language utterance in English. The speaker says ''I was me,'' meaning ''It was me.'' This might just have been a speech error, but I'm wondering if it might have been a loan translation. Are there any languages that use ''I was me'' for ''It was me''? -- for example, in something like ''I suppose you've been wondering who raked the yard. Well, it was me!''

    Please send any responses to mcginnisucalgary.ca. Many thanks for your help!

    -Martha

    Message 2: London English auxiliary omission

     Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 06:32:44 -0500 (EST)
    From: Sebastian Rasinger <S.Rasingersussex.ac.uk>
    Subject: London English auxiliary omission


    Is anyone aware of work done on the omission of auxiliary verbs in London/Southeast England English, particularly in present progressive constructions such as ''They helping us'' or ''We running''? It can be frequently heard, but literature seems non-existent. Any advice most gratefully received. Will post summary. Many thanks in advance.

    Subject-Language: English; Code: ENG