"matters" = "depends"

[Patti J. Kurtz]

One more interesting item this morning.  I have a student who
consistently uses "matters" to mean "depends."  E.g.:  if asked whether
she could go out tonight, she'd say 'it matters if I have homework or
not."  where I would say 'depends."

Anyhow have any idea of the origins/region of this switching?  or other
examples?

Patti
--

Dr. Patti J. Kurtz

Assistant Professor, English

Director of the Writing Center

Minot State University

Minot, ND 58707



Foster: What about our evidence? They've got to take notice of that.



Straker: Evidence. What's it going to look like when Henderson claims
that we manufactured it, just to get a space clearance program?



Foster: But we are RIGHT!



Straker: Sometimes, Colonel, that's not quite enough.