Research over "over"

[Mai Kuha]

Is anyone aware of research on the use of "over" in contexts such as the following?
"The exam is over chapters 3 and 4."
"My presentation is over gender differences."
"What are you doing your paper over?"

The usage seems to be the norm among undergraduates here in Muncie. A bit of anecdotal evidence: a student began a class presentation by announcing his topic: "Julie and me's gonna do it over language use in three different newspapers." A few people in the class laughed a little, and he said: "OK, you caught it too." Afterwards I asked him what he thought they were chuckling about, and he explained that he'd said "Julie and me", despite having planned not to.

-Mai

Mai Kuha
Department of English
Ball State University
mkuha at altavista.com OR mkuha at bsuvc.bsu.edu

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