done vs. through + gerund

Amy West medievalist at W-STS.COM
Thu May 11 13:14:07 UTC 2006


>My basic claim is that a black speaker is more likely to use, "I'm through,=
>"
>etc., whereas a white speaker is more likely to use, "I'm done," etc.

I remain unconvinced: I think it's a general colloquial usage. I have
used it myself, esp. in contexts like "I'm through talking to/with
you about this." I think that you're spot on about the note of
finality, frustration, exasperation in the usage.

---Amy West
(White Urban Northerner)

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