11.237, Qs: Double "is" in American Eng,Spanish Word List

[The LINGUIST Network]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-11-237. Fri Feb 4 2000. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 11.237, Qs: Double "is" in American Eng,Spanish Word List

Moderators: Anthony Rodrigues Aristar: Wayne State U.<aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Dry: Eastern Michigan U. <hdry at linguistlist.org>
            Andrew Carnie: U. of Arizona <carnie at linguistlist.org>

Reviews: Andrew Carnie: U. of Arizona <carnie at linguistlist.org>

Associate Editors:  Martin Jacobsen <marty at linguistlist.org>
                    Ljuba Veselinova <ljuba at linguistlist.org>
		    Scott Fults <scott at linguistlist.org>
		    Jody Huellmantel <jody at linguistlist.org>
		    Karen Milligan <karen at linguistlist.org>

Assistant Editors:  Lydia Grebenyova <lydia at linguistlist.org>
		    Naomi Ogasawara <naomi at linguistlist.org>
		    James Yuells <james at linguistlist.org>

Software development: John H. Remmers <remmers at emunix.emich.edu>
                      Sudheendra Adiga <sudhi at linguistlist.org>
                      Qian Liao <qian at linguistlist.org>

Home Page:  http://linguistlist.org/


Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomi at linguistlist.org>
 ==========================================================================

We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then  strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list.   This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

=================================Directory=================================

1)
Date:  Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:23:14 -0800
From:  "Hank Mooney" <HMooney at mfi.com>
Subject:  Double "is" in American English

2)
Date:  Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:21:23 PST
From:  "rebecca johnson" <rebeccasjohnson at hotmail.com>
Subject:  Spanish Word Frequency List

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:23:14 -0800
From:  "Hank Mooney" <HMooney at mfi.com>
Subject:  Double "is" in American English

I'm wondering if anyone has published anything on the use of a double
"is" in English sentences, for example:


The problem is is that Bob doesn't know how to drive.


This usage, which I hear commonly and from very educated people, is
distinct from what I will, at the risk of being judgemental, call the
"legitimate double 'is' ", as in:


The question is is Bob a competent driver?


In the latter sentence, "is" occurs twice in a row because the structure
of the sentence requires it, viz.:

Subj. (The question) + copulative (is) + predicate (Is Bob a competent driver?)

In the first example, however, there is no structural reason for the
doubling of the copulative.

My analysis of this usage is that the double "is" acts as a focusing
mechanism, and serves the same function that a pause might serve, for example:


The question is: (pause) Do we want four more years of incompetent leadership?


But in rapid speech, a true pause becomes awkward, so instead the "is"
is doubled as a way of signaling to the listener that the following
phrase is something s/he should pay particular attention to.

Has anyone else addressed this matter?

Hank Mooney
hmooney at mfi.com


-------------------------------- Message 2 -------------------------------

Date:  Wed, 02 Feb 2000 15:21:23 PST
From:  "rebecca johnson" <rebeccasjohnson at hotmail.com>
Subject:  Spanish Word Frequency List

I am a graduate student working on my thesis on the word associations of
Mexican children. I am searching for a standard Spanish word frequency list.
  If you have information as to where I might acquire such a list, I would
appreciate it. Thank you, Rebecca S. Johnson


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-11-237