"See You Later" (1869, 1875); C U L8er (1990)

Fri Jan 28 03:14:28 UTC 2005

These two are not formulaic enough for me. So many Civil War diaries have been published that you'd think that such a simple formula would have appeared inthem many times, if it was current. As a formula.

"So long!" was the formula Whitman favored in 1855. Maybe they didn't need another one till a generation later.

Speaking of which, a TV talking head yesterday said something about "Johnny Carson was a favorite for thirty years. That's three generations of Americans."  "Generations" has been used loosely for a long time, but this must be the briefest specific interpretation yet since *all* Americans are included.

JL

Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: "See You Later" (1869, 1875); C U L8er (1990)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=20
Ben Zimmer writes:
...
Here are a few more early cites, suggesting that "see you later" came to
be recognized as an idiomatic American sendoff in the 1880s:

-----
1881 _Bucks Co. Gazette_ (Pa.) 10 Feb. 1/3 "Tain't six -- that's a fact,"
said one of the young fellows. "Come along, boys; Miss Dustin's right. See
you later." With this and a laugh they walked away.
...
...
...
...
Wright American Fiction has one cite from 1869 and several from 1875. I=20
wouldn't date "see you later" later than 1875.
...
...
(WRIGHT AMERICAN FICTION)
...,
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia), (1810-1886): Ruby Gray's Strategy Stephens 1=
=20
match in 1 of 399 pages
...
_CHAPTER XIV._=20
(http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=3Dsimple;c=3Dwright2;=
cc=3Dwright2;sid=3D584a34c82834398a5ac9f94271501145;rgn=3Ddiv1;q1=3Dsee%20yo=
u
%20later;cite1restrict=3Dtitle;cite2restrict=3Dtitle;cite3restrict=3Dtitle;f=
irstpubl
1=3D1850;firstpubl2=3D1875;submit=3DSubmit%20search;view=3Dtext;idno=3DWrigh=
t2-2372;node
=3DWright2-2372:17) =20
* was able; but he pleaded great haste to be gone, and said I might=20
tell you that he would be sure to see you later in the evening at your own=20
house." / "Did he? Did he promise that?" / "Yes, =20

...

...
Fleming, May Agnes, (1840-1880): A Mad Marriage Flemin 2 matches in 2 of 45=
5=20
pages
...
_PART THIRD._=20
(http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=3Dsimple;c=3Dwright2;=
cc=3Dwright2;sid=3D584a34c82834398a5ac9f94271501145;rgn=3Ddiv1;q1=3Dsee%20yo=
u%
20later;cite1restrict=3Dtitle;cite2restrict=3Dtitle;cite3restrict=3Dtitle;fi=
rstpubl1
=3D1850;firstpubl2=3D1875;submit=3DSubmit%20search;view=3Dtext;idno=3DWright=
2-0913;node=3D
Wright2-0913:4) =20
_CHAPTER XII._=20
(http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=3Dsimple;c=3Dwright2;=
cc=3Dwright2;sid=3D584a34c82834398a5ac9f94271501145;rgn=3Ddiv2;q1=3Dsee%20yo=
u
%20later;cite1restrict=3Dtitle;cite2restrict=3Dtitle;cite3restrict=3Dtitle;f=
irstpubl
1=3D1850;firstpubl2=3D1875;submit=3DSubmit%20search;view=3Dtext;idno=3DWrigh=
t2-0913;node
=3DWright2-0913:4.12) =20
* You have heard of me=E2=80=94I am the Prince Di Venturini. For you,=20=
madame,"=20
with a low bow, "I shall see you later." / Before either could speak he=20
turned, made his way through the throng, and qui=20
_CHAPTER XIV._=20
(http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=3Dsimple;c=3Dwright2;=
cc=3Dwright2;sid=3D584a34c82834398a5ac9f94271501145;rgn=3Ddiv2;q1=3Dsee%20yo=
u
%20later;cite1restrict
=3Dtitle;cite2restrict=3Dtitle;cite3restrict=3Dtitle;firstpubl1=3D1850;first=
publ2=3D1875;submit=3DSubmit%20search;view=3Dtext;idno=3DWright2-0913;node
=3DWright2-0913:4.14) =20
* "Nothing, madame; but that he would see you later at the reception.=
"=20
/ So madame knew he was coming, and was prepared for all chanc =20
* ...

...
...
...
We should not forget "C U L8er" in internet jargon. It's an early one.
...
...
(GOOGLE GROUPS)
...
_The Jargon File v2.3.1 03 JAN 1991, part 9 of 11_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.folklore.computers/browse_frm/threa=
d/d2c0424c82b24703/9c7fe7b32
c5c5591?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?as_q=3Dl8er&num=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&i=
e=3DUTF-8&as_epq
=3D&as_oq=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugroup=3D&as_usubject=3D&as_uauthors=3D&lr=3D&as_qd=
r=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_
mind=3D1&as_minm=3D1&as_miny=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27&as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1992&=
safe=3Doff&&_don
eTitle=3DBack+to+Search&&d#9c7fe7b32c5c5591) =20
... Are you OK? X THX Thanks (mutant of TNX) X CU l8er See you later =20
(mutant of CU l8tr)
XX See also , , . X X adj. ... =20
_alt.folklore.computers_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.folklore.computers) - Jan 3 1991,=20=
8:44 pm by Eric S. Raymond - 1 message - 1 author=20
...
_Bif ?_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/news.misc/browse_frm/thread/15bcede7b17=
39488/2d2b476d34118eb3?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?as_q=3Dl8er&num=3D100&scorin=
g=3Dd
&hl=3Den&ie=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugroup=3D&as_usubject=3D&=
as_uauthors=3D&lr=3D
&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_mind=3D1&as_minm=3D1&as_miny=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27&a=
s_maxm=3D1&as_ma
xy=3D1992&safe=3Doff&&_doneTitle=3DBack+to+Search&&d#2d2b476d34118eb3) =20
... JEE I TINK I HEER HIM CUMMIN` HOME SO I MUST FINIS DIS LETTER!!! BY!!!=20
SEE U L8ER
ALLIG8ER!!! DID U GET IT?? SEE U LATER ALIGEITER!!! K00L HA!!! K0WABUNGA!!!=
!=20
... =20
_news.misc_ (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/news.misc) - Oct 22 1990,=
=20
5:02 pm by BIFF JOHNSON - 7 messages - 5 authors ...=20
_Testing chumly_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/hacknet.test/browse_frm/thread/7500668f=
75f26bd8/da34fcceeebee21c?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?as_q=3Dl8er&n
um=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&ie=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugrou=
p=3D&as_usubject=3D&
as_uauthors=3D&lr=3D&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_mind=3D1&as_minm=3D1&as_miny=
=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27
&as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1992&safe=3Doff&&_doneTitle=3DBack+to+Search&&d#da34f=
cceeebee21
c) =20
Does is a toest, wat'n sonst ? No Reply, please c ya l8er, bye =20
_sub.test_ (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/hacknet.test) - Aug 11=20
1990, 8:45 am by Walter Mildenberger - 1 message - 1 author ...
_XmFileSelectionBox is buggy_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.windows.x.motif/browse_frm/thread/=
7c37ddb3459b7f16/796ce252e097ce27?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/g
roups?as_q=3Dl8er&num=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&ie=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=
=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugro
up=3D&as_usubject=3D&as_uauthors=3D&lr=3D&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_mind=3D1&=
as_minm=3D1&as_min
y=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27&as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1992&safe=3Doff&&_doneTitle=3DBa=
ck+to+Search&&
d#796ce252e097ce27) =20
... experience with this widget (I never used it before), but it is clear t=
o=20
me that
this part of the Motif code has *never* been tested by the dev team :-( l8e=
r=20
... =20
_comp.windows.x.motif_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.windows.x.motif) - Aug 2 1990, 8:=
48 am by Riccardo Pizzi - 3 messages - 3 authors ...
_Anyone heard Of MORIA_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.sys.amiga.games/browse_frm/thread/=
eb08ca234d4ec767/c516f735de6825e9?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?
as_q=3Dl8er&num=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&ie=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=3D&as_e=
q=3D&as_ugroup=3D&as
_usubject=3D&as_uauthors=3D&lr=3D&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_mind=3D1&as_minm=
=3D1&as_miny=3D1981
&as_maxd=3D27&as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1992&safe=3Doff&&_doneTitle=3DBack+to+Se=
arch&&d#c516
f735de6825e9) =20
... extraordinarily well-ported game which DOES support the Amiga features=20
instead
of trying to emulate Unix's weak text version. L8er Paul =20
_comp.sys.amiga.games_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.sys.amiga.games) - Jun 10 1990, 1=
:45 pm by Paul Douglas Stafford - 6 messages - 5=20
authors ...
_Uruguay a cynic team? (was Re: Marlboro Cup results wanted)_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.sport.soccer/browse_frm/thread/1723=
2d0d25eb37c/b5b73
c3943
e054fe?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?as_q=3Dl8er&num=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&ie=
=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugroup=3D&as_usubject=3D&as_uauthors=
=3D&lr=3D&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db
&as_mind=3D1&as_minm=3D1&as_miny=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27&as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1=
992&safe=3Doff&&
_doneTitle=3DBack+to+Search&&d#b5b73c3943e054fe) =20
... PS Walter, what happened to Morena (ex-Penarol)? Are you a
Nacional or a Penarol fan? Talk to you l8er... =20
_rec.sport.soccer_ (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.sport.soccer) -=
=20
Feb 13 1990, 11:00 pm by Ronald F Gruia - 15 messages - 9 authors ...
_][e enhancement_=20
(http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.sys.apple/browse_frm/thread/6a013b=
668aa1d84c/1468459ff0a913f4?q=3Dl8er&_done=3D/groups?as_q=3Dl8er&nu
m=3D100&scoring=3Dd&hl=3Den&ie=3DUTF-8&as_epq=3D&as_oq=3D&as_eq=3D&as_ugroup=
=3D&as_usubject=3D&a
s_uauthors=3D&lr=3D&as_qdr=3D&as_drrb=3Db&as_mind=3D1&as_minm=3D1&as_miny=
=3D1981&as_maxd=3D27&
as_maxm=3D1&as_maxy=3D1992&safe=3Doff&&_doneTitle=3DBack+to+Search&&d#146845=
9ff0a913f4
) =20
... buffer, but of course you can send the next cmd to the modem while the=20
prgm is still
putting out to screen, which causes the buffer to overflow sooner or l8er =20
... =20
_comp.sys.apple_ (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.sys.apple) - Ju=
n=20
25 1988, 6:23 am by Paul Nakada - 8 messages - 7 authors =20

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