LL-L: "Idiomatica" LOWLANDS-L, 02.MAY.2001 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 02.MAY.2001 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Ian James Parsley <parsleyij at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L: "Idiomatica" LOWLANDS-L, 02.MAY.2001 (01) [E]

Ron,

I must say I am quite familiar with this idiomatic
usage, my Northern-Ireland-born-and-bred mother used
it quite regularly (don't I know it!).

Ian.
------------
Ian James Parsley

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From: "Evan James Dembskey" <evan at telemessage.co.za>
Subject: LL-L: "Idiomatica" LOWLANDS-L, 02.MAY.2001 (01) [E]

Hi,

Well, I have heard this device used fairly often in South Africa too, and
not only in English, but Afrikaans as well (though more often in English).

Regards,

Evan

> My mother used this device too, or at least something similar -
> usually the
> object of the made-up verb was "you".  She was born in West Tennessee and
> raised around Russellville, Kentucky, and is of mainly Swedish/Scottish
> descent, with some Cherokee and maybe some Dutch, Creek, and who
> knows what
> else thrown in.  I think her ancestors migrated from northern Georgia to
> West Tennessee after the Civil War.  The only specific example
> that comes to
> mind (although I know she used this device a lot) is:
>
> "Be quiet!  Daddy's taking a nap!"
> "But I'm playing Superman!"
> "I'll Superman you if you don't be quiet!"
>
> Kevin Caldwell
> kdcaldw at interserv.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
> Subject: Idiomatica
>
> Dear Lowlanders,
>
> I wonder if any of you are able to enlighten me about the origin
> and spread
> of a certain idiomatic device.  I assume this device is restricted to
> American English, more specifically to certain southern dialects of the
> United States, and I would not be surprised if it turned up in Appalachian
> as well.  However, I believe there is always a possibility that it is
> derived from European English or from another language.
>
> When her children were young, my mother-in-law would occasionally use this
> special device.  She used it very rarely when her children were
> adults, and
> then she tended to use it at least half jokingly, unless she was really
> angry.  As I understand it, the basic social function of this device is
> that of some sort of power posturing and of sternly reprimanding, warning,
> threatening or challenging, in all cases dismissing a statement, demand or
> explanation/excuse of someone over whom one wields power, real or
> imagined.  The underlying message is the threat "I'd/I'll give you a
> beating."
>
> The basic requirement for this device is a compound noun that
> expresses the
> crucial item in someone else's "offending" statement or question.  The
> basic rule is this: one of the noun components is converted into a verb
> (usually a pseudo-verb, but sometimes it happens to be an existing verb),
> and the other component then serves as an object noun.
>
> Examples (made up):
>
> (1) "I had to stop at Danny's to play with his new tow truck."
>     "I'll tow your truck if you don't come home directly again."
>
> (2) "Can't I have a candy bar, please, please, please?"
>     "I'll candy your bar in a second." or   "I'll bar your candy in a
> second."
>
> (3) "Mom, Cathy won't let me play with the hula hoop!"
>     "I'll hula your hoop if you don't leave her alone."
>
> (4) "Can't I at least finish watching the Disney cartoons first?"
>     "I'll disney your cartoon(s) if you don't do your homework right now"
> or
>     "I'll cartoon your disney if you don't do your homework right now"
>
> (5) "But I said I wanted pork chops!"
>     "I'll chop your pork if you don't eat what's on your plate." or
>     "I'll pork your chops if you don't eat what's on your plate."

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