Double modal

[James Knight]

Is that the same species as one of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a
redneck..." shibboleths,

         _I used t' could'a'_

?

-jk

At 09:35 AM 12/28/2006, Scot LaFaive wrote:
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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Scot LaFaive <spiderrmonkey at HOTMAIL.COM>
>Subject:      Double modal
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>This weekend, while suffering through "Smoky Mountain Christmas" starring
>Lee Majors and Dolly Parton, I heard Lee Majors' character use a double
>modal ("might could"). This isn't thrilling (esp. considering that at least
>one of writers is from the South as is Lee Majors), but it did stand out a
>little. I was surprised that a cheesy, feel-good, mass market movie would
>use a double modal that might frighten the Northerners.
>Just thought it was worth noting.
>
>Scot
>
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