At 06:53 PM 9/16/2007, Scott wrote: >. . .As a DEEP SOUTH native, >I often crack up when I read pseudo-southern dialect written by a non-native >of the South. I deliberately would make the precise distinction to which >you referred in your "was married" vs. "have been married." One British >professor was astounded when I explained difference between "I've got to go" >= I must go; "I' = I have taken advantage of an opportunity. . . . DD: As a bona fide decayed Southron gentry, I use or interpret the expression, "I've go to go." pronounced "I gotta go." as meaning a necessity to visit the necessary. Er, go to the little house behind the big house. I agree with your interpretation of "I've gotten to go" = I have taken advantage of an opportunity. 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" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/