Safire/NY Times (request re "grab ahold) (fwd)

[Charles Doyle]

I look forward to Arnold's detailed and interesting response. In the meantime, however, I wonder why the Safire staffer didn't look up "ahold" in the OED?

--Charlie
_____________________________________________________________

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2007 12:02:28 -0400
>From: "Mark A. Mandel" <mamandel at LDC.UPENN.EDU>
>Subject: Re: Safire/NY Times (request re "grab ahold)
>
>See the request below and my reply. I can hardly imagine a more awkward time than the eve and first day of Passover!
>
>-- Mark
>
>

>Subject: Re: Safire/NY Times (request re "grab ahold)
>
>I haven't received any phone message from you; maybe you have an out of date
>phone number for me and left a message there.
>
>While I would like to be able to help you out with this, I'm afraid I don't have time this week, especially since Passover begins tonight and I will not be working tomorrow. I will forward your question to the American Dialect Society list. Perhaps another list member will be able to assist you.
>
>-- Mark A. Mandel
>    Linguistic Data Consortium, University of Pennsylvania
>    [This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]
>
>On Mon, 2 Apr 2007, juliet mohnkern wrote:
>
>#Hi Professor Mandel
>#
>#As I mentioned on the phone my name is Juliet, and I am William Safire's
>#research assistant for On Language.  I am writing because I have an query
>#for Mr. Safire's column with which I was hoping you might be able to help.
>#I am currently looking into the phrase " grab ahold" as in the President
>#Bush's quotation regarding Social Security, the third rail of American
>#politics: "You grab ahold of it, and you get electrified.''  I was wondering
>#if you could look at the below questions and offer your thoughts on this
>#particular topic.  Any insights you could provide would be greatly
>#appreciated.
>#
>#If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 860-997-8028.
>#
>#My deadline is Tuesday by 8pm so if you could respond before then, I would
>#be very appreciative.
>#
>#Thank you again and have a wonderful day.
>#
>#-Juliet
>#
>#Grab Ahold Questions
>#
>#1. Should "grab ahold" be hypenated?  Should there be a space between a and
>#hold? What is the correct usage?
>#
>#2. What is its origin?  Is it a new construction?
>#
>#3. Are there any similar constructions? Is the formation of ahold part of a
>#larger linguistic phenomenon?
>#
>#4. Have you noticed this phrase being used more often recently?
>#
>#5. When do you remember first seeing it used?
>#
>#6.  Has its meaning or usage changed over time?
>#
>#7. Please also include a brief biography of yourself or a sentence about how
>#you would like to be cited in the column.
>#
>#
>#--
>#Juliet Mohnkern
>#MA Candidate
>#Ethics Peace and Global Affairs
>#American University
>#juliet.mohnkern at gmail.com

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