19th c. language phrase

[Beverly Flanigan]

Not possible?  Of course it is, and it is extremely common in both
Appalachian and African American English.  To quote Wolfram and
Schilling-Estes, _American English_ (Blackwell, 1998):  "The form 'done'
may mark a completed action or event, ... as in ... 'I done forgot what you
wanted.' ... The 'done' form may also add intensification ... as in 'I done
told you not to mess up.'  This form is typically found in Southern Anglo
[read South, South Midland, and Appalachian] and African American
vernaculars" (p. 333).

I cite the book because the writer of the Kentucky-based novel may want to
check it for other regional usages.

(Maybe David meant he would NOT be surprised?  The only thing that
surprises me is the late date of the OED cite; but since the usage is
primarily oral, it might not have shown up in print earlier.)

At 01:04 PM 7/23/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Without knowing of a special meaning for this usage, I haven't found an
>example of _done set me up_ in Making of America.  There are several
>examples of _set me up_.  I would be surprised if _done set me up_ was
>possible.   OEDs shows done (at the entry for _do_), in the function of
>"a perfective auxiliary...", with an e.q. [earliest quote] for 1827.
>
>Regards,
>David
>
>barnhart at highlands.com