Double modal

[Beverly Flanigan]

I'm not sure it's that noticeable, or off-putting, to Northerners.  A
similar "double" is the Southern double complementizer "like that," as in
"It seems like that we're in a mess in Iraq."  I made that up, but Southern
Congressmen are heard using the form often--as would any normal Southerner,
of course.

At 01:19 PM 12/28/2006, you wrote:
>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:
>>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>-----------------------
>>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
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
>>The MSN Entertainment Guide to Golden Globes is here.  Get all the scoop.
>>http://tv.msn.com/tv/globes2007/
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org