The generalizing "your" is gone from formal English, but I still hear it in the Midwest from the older generation of skilled tradesment. As a furnace repairman told me recently, "Your Trane is a better buy." He knew I don't have a Trane, so he meant it generically.
Herb
Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
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From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Edmond Wright [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: April 10, 2009 6:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Adpositions in English
>A nice example of a series of adpositions comes in 'As You Like It' (Act V, sc.
iv, ll. 70-102):
TOUCHSTONE: . . . As thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain
courtier's beard: he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he
was in the mind it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. If I sent him
word again it was not well cut, he would send me word that he cut it to
please himself: this is called the Quip Modest. If again it was not well
cut, he disabled my judgement: this is called the Reply Churlish. If again
it was not well cut, he would answer I spake not true; this is called the
Reproof Valiant. If again it was not well cut, he would say I lie: this is
called the Countercheck Quarrelsome: and so to the Lie Circumstantial and
the Lie Direct.
JAQUES: And how oft did you say his beard was not well cut?
TOUCHSTONE: I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, nor he durst
give me the Lie Direct; and so we measured swords and parted.
JAQUES: Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie?
TOUCHSTONE: O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for
good manners. I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort
Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish;
the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck Quarrelsome;
the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All
these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may avoid that too with an
'if'. I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the
parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an 'if', as, 'If you
said so, then I said so;' and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your
'if' is the only peacemaker; much virtue in 'if.'
(This is a telling example of the Fool's wisdom.)
Incidentally, the use of 'your' in the last sentence as a generalizing word
has disappeared from English, both British and American. See also its use
by the Gravedigger in 'Hamlet' (V, I, 176-7): '. . . Your water is a sore
decayer of your whoreson dead body'.
Edmond
Dr. Edmond Wright
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