It's obvious!---(a blend)

[Laurence Horn]

>Charles Doyle <cdoyle at UGA.EDU> comments
>
>     >>>>>
>
>And what, I wonder, causes some such "redundant" verb
>constructions to be stigmatized and others not (so much)?
>
>Does anyone object to "rise up" or "go away" or "lie down"?
>
>  <<<<<
>
>"Lie" by itself can also mean 'prevaricate', so the particle disambiguates
>it. ("Disambiguate" is one of the ugliest words in my vocabulary, but it's
>undeniably useful.)
>
>Less distinctly, "go" by itself can take an implied destination depending on
>context.
>         "Should I go to Macy's, or Saks, or Lord and Taylor? Or maybe I
>should just go down to Houston Street. Or I could go over to that new place.
>What do you think? Do you think Macy's is the best idea?"
>         "Just go AWAY!"
>
>No comment on "rise up".
>
However it originated, it's now more likely than plain "rise" to be
used in metaphorical contexts; the sun rises (rather than rises up)
in the east, and the insurgents rise up (rather than just rise)
against the central government.

LH

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