whenever

[Debra.Ziegeler]

Interesting that these examples are popping up in US English -
Trudgill and Hannah (1985-2002) list this usage as a feature of
N.Ireland English, giving the example: 'Whenever my baby was
born, I became depressed' (1985: 89).

Also on the subject of 'whenever' and 'when', I have observed 'when'
used in place of a generic 'if' in Hong Kong and Singaporean
English. Not that that is anything striking, but sometimes there are
rather alarming consequences e.g. in public notices: 'When there
is a fire, do not use the lift', which I have carefully considered while
waiting for many a lift to arrive.

Debra Ziegeler

Dr. Debra Ziegeler
School of English and Linguistics
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
UK
Tel.: (0161) 275 3142
Fax: (0161) 275 3256