I have heard and said "Thanks so much!" as a fervent version of "Thank you
very much" usually in a personal encounter and accompanied by a hug. For
a group, "Thank you-all so much!" I am Deep South and likewise approaching
geezerhood. Today I hear "Thanks so much" spoken in sarcasm by the younger
set; i.e. those under 60.
Question: How was it? Answer: It was SOOO hot (same as you described)
My students ranged from CA to FL to SC: secondary, undergraduate, graduate,
postgraduate.
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ATEG automatic digest system
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ATEG Digest - 20 Jan 2008 to 22 Jan 2008 (#2008-14)
There are 3 messages totalling 1170 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Unresolved comparative "so" (3)
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:38:48 -0500
From: "Spruiell, William C" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Unresolved comparative "so"
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Dear All:
=20
I'm trying to figure out whether my reactions to a particular
construction are based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or my native
dialect (Inland Southern). It involves use of comparative "so" without
an accompanying "that" clause, roughly equivalent to "very":
=20
A: "Thanks so much"
B: "It was so hot."
=20
I hear (A) very frequently, but I don't remember hearing it when I was
younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my students, although not
nearly as frequently as (A), which has become a set expression. I can
almost make (B) work in my own speech, but only with a lot of emphasis
on the "so" and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, but this is
not always how my students use it. Somehow, I can't manage (A) at all -
any attempt and I can tell it's coming out as sarcasm ("Oh, now my leg's
broken. Thanks SO much.").=20
=20
I've checked the American Dialect Society listserv archive, but I either
used the wrong search terms, or there hasn't been much discussion of it.
My attention was particularly drawn to it by a recent political robocall
(I live in Michigan) in which the candidate (who is older than I am) not
only used (A), but managed to sound natural while doing it.=20
=20
Thanks!=20
=20
Bill Spruiell
Dept. of English
Central Michigan University
=20
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Dear All:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I’m trying to figure out whether my reactions =
to a
particular construction are based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or =
my
native dialect (Inland Southern). It involves use of comparative =
“so”
without an accompanying “that” clause, roughly equivalent to =
“very”:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p =
class=3DMsoNormal> &=
nbsp; =
A: =
“Thanks
so much”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p =
class=3DMsoNormal> &=
nbsp; =
B: =
“It
was so hot.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I hear (A) very frequently, but I don’t =
remember hearing
it when I was younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my =
students,
although not nearly as frequently as (A), which has become a set =
expression. I
can almost make (B) work in my own speech, but only with a lot of =
emphasis on
the “so” and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, =
but this
is not always how my students use it. Somehow, I can’t manage (A) =
at all –
any attempt and I can tell it’s coming out as sarcasm (“Oh, =
now my
leg’s broken. Thanks SO much.”). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I’ve checked the American Dialect Society =
listserv
archive, but I either used the wrong search terms, or there hasn’t =
been
much discussion of it. My attention was particularly drawn to it by a =
recent
political robocall (I live in Michigan) in which the candidate (who is =
older
than I am) not only used (A), but managed to sound natural while doing =
it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Thanks! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Bill Spruiell<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Dept. of English<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Central Michigan University<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p>
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------_=_NextPart_001_01C85D36.CD3EAF19--
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:29:21 -0500
From: "Veit, Richard" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Unresolved comparative "so"
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Bill:
=20
I Googled "thanks so much" in parentheses and got 17 million hits. Then
I added 1950 (randomly chosen date) and looked at some newspaper
archives where the phrase appeared. Here is one example from an Iowa
newspaper in 1950
<http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=3Dglp&search=3D%e2=
%80
%9cthanks%20so%20much%e2%80%9d%201950&img=3D1726695> . Clearly, it's not =
a
new expression.
=20
Dick Veit
________________________________
Richard Veit
Department of English
University of North Carolina Wilmington
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Spruiell, William C
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Unresolved comparative "so"
=20
Dear All:
=20
I'm trying to figure out whether my reactions to a particular
construction are based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or my native
dialect (Inland Southern). It involves use of comparative "so" without
an accompanying "that" clause, roughly equivalent to "very":
=20
A: "Thanks so much"
B: "It was so hot."
=20
I hear (A) very frequently, but I don't remember hearing it when I was
younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my students, although not
nearly as frequently as (A), which has become a set expression. I can
almost make (B) work in my own speech, but only with a lot of emphasis
on the "so" and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, but this is
not always how my students use it. Somehow, I can't manage (A) at all -
any attempt and I can tell it's coming out as sarcasm ("Oh, now my leg's
broken. Thanks SO much.").=20
=20
I've checked the American Dialect Society listserv archive, but I either
used the wrong search terms, or there hasn't been much discussion of it.
My attention was particularly drawn to it by a recent political robocall
(I live in Michigan) in which the candidate (who is older than I am) not
only used (A), but managed to sound natural while doing it.=20
=20
Thanks!=20
=20
Bill Spruiell
Dept. of English
Central Michigan University
=20
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select
"Join or leave the list"=20
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
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at:
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bill:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I Googled “thanks so =
much” in parentheses
and got 17 million hits. Then I added 1950 (randomly chosen date) and =
looked at
some newspaper archives where the phrase appeared. Here is<a
href=3D"http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=3Dglp&s=
earch=3D%e2%80%9cthanks%20so%20much%e2%80%9d%201950&img=3D1726695">
one example from an Iowa newspaper in 1950</a>. Clearly, it’s not =
a new
expression.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dick =
Veit<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dteal face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:teal'>________________________________</sp=
an></font><font
color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dteal face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:teal'>Richard Veit<br>
Department of English<br>
</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><ns0:PlaceType w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW" =
w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"
w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW" =
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on"><font color=3Dteal><span =
style=3D'color:teal'>University</span></font></st1:PlaceType></ns0:PlaceT=
ype><font
color=3Dteal><span style=3D'color:teal'> of </span></font><ns0:PlaceName
w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW" w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" =
w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on"><font =
color=3Dteal><span
style=3D'color:teal'>North =
Carolina</span></font></st1:PlaceName></ns0:PlaceName><font
color=3Dteal><span style=3D'color:teal'> </span></font><ns0:City =
w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><ns0:place w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><font
color=3Dteal><span =
style=3D'color:teal'>Wilmington</span></font></st1:place></st1:City></ns0=
:place></ns0:City></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter tabindex=3D-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font =
size=3D2
face=3DTahoma><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> =
<st1:PersonName
w:st=3D"on">Assembly for the Teaching of English =
Grammar</st1:PersonName>
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] <b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On =
Behalf
Of </span></b>Spruiell, William C<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, January =
22, 2008
3:39 PM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
[log in to unmask]<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Unresolved =
comparative
"so"</span></font><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Dear
All:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>I’m
trying to figure out whether my reactions to a particular construction =
are
based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or my native dialect (Inland
Southern). It involves use of comparative “so” without =
an
accompanying “that” clause, roughly equivalent to
“very”:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> &nbs=
p;
A:
“Thanks so much”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> &nbs=
p;
B: =
“It
was so hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>I
hear (A) very frequently, but I don’t remember hearing it when I =
was
younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my students, although not =
nearly
as frequently as (A), which has become a set expression. I can almost =
make (B)
work in my own speech, but only with a lot of emphasis on the =
“so”
and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, but this is not always =
how my
students use it. Somehow, I can’t manage (A) at all – any =
attempt
and I can tell it’s coming out as sarcasm (“Oh, now my =
leg’s
broken. Thanks SO much.”). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>I’ve
checked the American Dialect Society listserv archive, but I either used =
the
wrong search terms, or there hasn’t been much discussion of it. My
attention was particularly drawn to it by a recent political robocall (I =
live
in <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Michigan</st1:place></st1:State>)
in which the candidate (who is older than I am) not only used (A), but =
managed
to sound natural while doing it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Thanks!
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Bill
Spruiell<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Dept.
of English<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2
face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>Central</span></font></st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Michigan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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------_=_NextPart_001_01C85D3D.DA1FE7AD--
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:58:37 -0500
From: "Spruiell, William C" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Unresolved comparative "so"
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Dick,
=20
This is by no means the first time that what I thought was an odd usage
turned out to be the norm, or vice versa ("What do you mean 'might
should' sounds funny?"). I wonder whether I can blame this one on
dialect, or whether (instead) I've fallen into the old grammar pedant's
trap of trying to foist my idiolect on the universe.
=20
Thanks, er, muchly,
=20
Bill Spruiell
=20
=20
=20
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Veit, Richard
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 4:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Unresolved comparative "so"
=20
Bill:
=20
I Googled "thanks so much" in parentheses and got 17 million hits. Then
I added 1950 (randomly chosen date) and looked at some newspaper
archives where the phrase appeared. Here is one example from an Iowa
newspaper in 1950
<http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=3Dglp&search=3D%e2=
%80
%9cthanks%20so%20much%e2%80%9d%201950&img=3D1726695> . Clearly, it's not =
a
new expression.
=20
Dick Veit
________________________________
Richard Veit
Department of English
University of North Carolina Wilmington
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Spruiell, William C
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Unresolved comparative "so"
=20
Dear All:
=20
I'm trying to figure out whether my reactions to a particular
construction are based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or my native
dialect (Inland Southern). It involves use of comparative "so" without
an accompanying "that" clause, roughly equivalent to "very":
=20
A: "Thanks so much"
B: "It was so hot."
=20
I hear (A) very frequently, but I don't remember hearing it when I was
younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my students, although not
nearly as frequently as (A), which has become a set expression. I can
almost make (B) work in my own speech, but only with a lot of emphasis
on the "so" and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, but this is
not always how my students use it. Somehow, I can't manage (A) at all -
any attempt and I can tell it's coming out as sarcasm ("Oh, now my leg's
broken. Thanks SO much.").=20
=20
I've checked the American Dialect Society listserv archive, but I either
used the wrong search terms, or there hasn't been much discussion of it.
My attention was particularly drawn to it by a recent political robocall
(I live in Michigan) in which the candidate (who is older than I am) not
only used (A), but managed to sound natural while doing it.=20
=20
Thanks!=20
=20
Bill Spruiell
Dept. of English
Central Michigan University
=20
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
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"Join or leave the list"=20
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV
list, please visit the list's web interface at:
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the list"=20
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Dick,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>This is by no means =
the first
time that what I thought was an odd usage turned out to be the norm, or =
vice
versa (“What do you mean ‘might should’ sounds =
funny?”). I wonder whether I
can blame this one on dialect, or whether (instead) I’ve fallen =
into the old grammar
pedant’s trap of trying to foist my idiolect on the =
universe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Thanks, er, =
muchly,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Bill =
Spruiell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt =
0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span>=
</b><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Assembly =
for the
Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] <b>On =
Behalf Of </b>Veit,
Richard<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 22, 2008 4:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> [log in to unmask]<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Unresolved comparative =
"so"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>Bill:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>I Googled “thanks so much” in parentheses and =
got 17 million hits.
Then I added 1950 (randomly chosen date) and looked at some newspaper =
archives
where the phrase appeared. Here is<a
href=3D"http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=3Dglp&s=
earch=3D%e2%80%9cthanks%20so%20much%e2%80%9d%201950&img=3D1726695">
one example from an Iowa newspaper in 1950</a>. Clearly, it’s not =
a new
expression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>Dick Veit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:teal'>________________________________</span><span =
style=3D'color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:teal'>Ri=
chard
Veit<br>
Department of English<br>
</span><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman","serif"'><ns0:PlaceType
w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW" w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" =
w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:teal'>University</span><span class=3DmsoIns><ins =
cite=3D"mailto:UNCW"
datetime=3D"2008-01-22T16:26"></ns0:PlaceType></ins></span></span><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:teal'> =
of </span><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman","serif"'><ns0:PlaceName
w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW" w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" =
w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:teal'>North Carolina</span><span class=3DmsoIns><ins =
cite=3D"mailto:UNCW"
datetime=3D"2008-01-22T16:26"></ns0:PlaceName></ins></span></span><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:teal'> =
</span><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman","serif"'><ns0:City
w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW" w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" =
w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><ns0:place w:insAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:insDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=3D"UNCW"
w:endInsDate=3D"2008-01-22T16:26:00Z"><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:teal'>Wilmington</span><span class=3DmsoIns><ins =
cite=3D"mailto:UNCW"
=
datetime=3D"2008-01-22T16:26"></ns0:place></ins></span></ns0:City></span>=
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter>
</span></div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span>=
</b><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Assembly =
for the
Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] <b>On =
Behalf Of </b>Spruiell,
William C<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:39 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> [log in to unmask]<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Unresolved comparative "so"</span><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Dear All:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I’m trying to figure out whether my reactions =
to a particular
construction are based on my age (incipient geezerhood), or my native =
dialect
(Inland Southern). It involves use of comparative “so” =
without an
accompanying “that” clause, roughly equivalent to =
“very”:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p =
class=3DMsoNormal> &=
nbsp;
A: =
“Thanks so
much”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p =
class=3DMsoNormal> &=
nbsp;
B: =
“It was so
hot.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I hear (A) very frequently, but I don’t =
remember hearing it
when I was younger. I also hear expressions like (B) from my students, =
although
not nearly as frequently as (A), which has become a set expression. I =
can
almost make (B) work in my own speech, but only with a lot of emphasis =
on the
“so” and an emphatic drop at the end of the sentence, but =
this is not always
how my students use it. Somehow, I can’t manage (A) at all – =
any attempt and I
can tell it’s coming out as sarcasm (“Oh, now my leg’s =
broken. Thanks SO
much.”). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>I’ve checked the American Dialect Society =
listserv archive,
but I either used the wrong search terms, or there hasn’t been =
much discussion
of it. My attention was particularly drawn to it by a recent political =
robocall
(I live in Michigan) in which the candidate (who is older than I am) not =
only
used (A), but managed to sound natural while doing it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Thanks! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Bill Spruiell<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Dept. of English<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal>Central Michigan University<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times =
New Roman","serif"'>To
join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface =
at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or =
leave
the list" <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this =
LISTSERV
list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or =
leave
the list" <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/<o:p></o:p></p>
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------------------------------
End of ATEG Digest - 20 Jan 2008 to 22 Jan 2008 (#2008-14)
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