Monkey see(s), monkey do(es), 1901, 1893

[Amy West]

On 11/20/13 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> Date:    Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:29:28 -0500
> From:    Ben Zimmer<bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Monkey see(s), monkey do(es), 1901, 1893
>
> On Tue, Nov 19, 2013 at 4:20 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>> >
>> >As for "see/do" vs. "sees/does", is it an outmoded subjunctive - "if
>> >monkey see, monkey [will] do"?
> I had assumed "monkey see, monkey do" was supposed to be an imitation
> of Chinese Pidgin English, like "long time no see" or "look-see." But
> none of the early cites given so far have borne that out.
>
> --bgz
In the past, it has struck me as an imperative form that has lost its
imperativeness, if you will.

---Amy West

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