Language change

[JIBZ at aol.com]

An example of language change, not necessarily adolescent, in the general
population and akin to the example of 'between you and me' replacing 'between
you and I' is the following:

      "Would the person who left the back door open please close it?"  has
become
    "Would the person that left the back door open please close it?"

A logical reason is the who/whom problem found in other contexts.  'That'
solves any such problems nicely.

On the topic of 'wicked' as a positive intensifier, the folks of Maine have
been using that word for a very long time.  We were there in the early-mid
'70's and heard it.  A colleague from Maine tells me that she has always used
it and heard it used by her parents and grandparents when she was a child.
Maybe a native Mainer can give more info on this.

My interest is slips of the tongue so I cannot be much help here.  I'll ask
some young friends for their help!!

Jacquie Betz
formerly of SIU-C
Carbondale, Illinois