on behalf of a researcher

[Baker, John]

        I think this 1843 use is most likely derived from Exodus ("I am
that I am") and is unrelated to "It is what it is," unless the latter is
also influenced by Exodus.

        Incidentally, I do sometimes say "It is what it is."  Contrary
to others' suggestions, it is not, at least in my usage, a device for
shutting off discussion.  Rather, it is a way of moving from Issue A, as
to which there is a known or unknown but determinable answer beyond our
control, to closely related Issue B, where we can have some influence.
"Well, we don't know yet whether it's a 1934 Act registered company, but
it is what it is.  In any case, were its disclosure obligations met
here?"

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of George Thompson
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 5:24 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: on behalf of a researcher

If I may obfuscate this issue.

I was reading a low newspaper from NYC, 1843 this afternoon when I came
upon this headline:
"The New York Sporting Whip versus The New York Sporting Herald -- The
Editor of the Whip supoosed to be somebody else -- We prove that "he am
just what he am," and not James Gordon Bennett."  The New York Sporting
Whip, February 25, 1843, p. 2, col. 4.

    The NY Sporting Whip was a weekly devoted to lowlife, scandal, and
laddish sports: horseracing, prizefighting, ratting, even
badger-baiting.  James Gordon Bennett was the publisher and editor of
The Herald, a daily genreally scorned by the right thinking.  Evidently
he had begun a second newspaper devoted to sports, which I haven't
otherwise encountered.  It appears that there was speculation that the
editor of the Sporting Whip also wrote for the Sporting Herald, but he
here denies it.

GAT

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern
Univ. Pr., 1998, but nothing much lately.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arnold M. Zwicky" <zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2006 5:37 pm
Subject: on behalf of a researcher

> this is posted on behalf of Aaron Britt, who is now doing the
> research and reporting for William Safire.  i've given him a
> moderately lame response.  maybe some of you can do better.  please
> copy your response to him at: aarondbritt at gmail.com.
>
> -----
> There is a phrase that has been in the news lately- Scott McClellan
> and Britney Spears have both used it in the last couple weeks and I
> wonder if you can tell me more about it.  The phrase is: It is what
> it is.
>
> What precisely does this mean?  How does this phrase function in
> conversation?  It seems to suggest that there's no more to say, or is
> this a ruse to try to shut down conversation?  When someone utters
> this phrase what are they trying to convey?  Can you think of other
> phrases that convey the same thing, or nearly the same thing?  Some
> that come to mind are 'What's done is done' or 'It speaks for itself.'
> -----
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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