18.2287, Qs: Me and John Can Do It

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LINGUIST List: Vol-18-2287. Tue Jul 31 2007. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 18.2287, Qs: Me and John Can Do It

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1)
Date: 31-Jul-2007
From: Lee Hartman < lhartman at siu.edu >
Subject: Me and John Can Do It

 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:24:19
From: Lee Hartman [lhartman at siu.edu]
Subject: Me and John Can Do It
E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=18-2287.html&submissionid=152643&topicid=8&msgnumber=1  


In some ''nonstandard'' varieties of spoken English -- in both the U.S. and
the U.K. -- sentences like (1) are normal, while (2) is not used.

(1)  Me and John can do it.
(2)  *John and I can do it.

Meanwhile, for a singular subject, the same speakers of (1) would never	say
(3), but rather, like ''standard'' speakers, would say (4).

(3)  *Me can do it.
(4)  I can do it.

I saw a journal article on this phenomenon, probably in the 1970s or	early
'80s.  I wonder if anyone on the List can help me find the article. 

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax





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