tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post5448646733030833188..comments2024-02-28T05:25:12.859-05:00Comments on English, Jack: The subjunctive from the mouthes of babes?Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-79891298684347701102010-12-14T19:04:30.073-05:002010-12-14T19:04:30.073-05:00Sorry, I'm in the thick of marking papers. Hap...Sorry, I'm in the thick of marking papers. Happy holidays!Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-81736478534525924712010-12-14T18:58:12.337-05:002010-12-14T18:58:12.337-05:00No, "Hello, Nick. It's good to hear from...No, "Hello, Nick. It's good to hear from you after nearly 2 years?" I've missed you, Jack, old boy. How have you been? I think last we spoke was March 14, 2009. It doesn't seem that long ago, eh?Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-28643518390594259692010-12-14T16:41:51.270-05:002010-12-14T16:41:51.270-05:00How is it wonderful? She corrected something she ...How is it wonderful? She corrected something she had said correctly in the first place. I still say "if you be a good boy..." or "if you be nice to them...". It's very very correct English, Jack, my dear boy.<br /><br />If it be possible, perhaps she can be a posterchild for the subjunctive's return to glory lol. Ah what fools these mortals be, right?Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-53398334148343308402010-12-14T16:22:47.030-05:002010-12-14T16:22:47.030-05:00Oh Jack, it is I, Nick again. It's beautiful ...Oh Jack, it is I, Nick again. It's beautiful and, just to let you know, I say, "if we be good", too. It is the subjunctive after all.<br /><br />It's not AAVE; it's the archaic English subjunctive and it's back!<br /><br />P.S. I also say, "if I be given...".Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-12251878142566440722010-11-29T11:51:39.888-05:002010-11-29T11:51:39.888-05:00Yes, I think it's very likely the teacher said...Yes, I think it's very likely the teacher said that. One of my wife's suggestions was that the expression was quotative, though it didn't have the intonation of a quotative expression. The AAVE explanation seems unlikely in our area.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-90954375384437791632010-11-29T11:43:53.688-05:002010-11-29T11:43:53.688-05:00A couple of alternate explanations.
Her teacher h...A couple of alternate explanations.<br /><br />Her teacher had said something like, "Be good and you can have certain privileges," and your daughter expanded that.<br /><br />or<br /><br />Your daughter has had some exposure to AAVE.Faldonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-39930251704392912802010-11-26T13:57:52.142-05:002010-11-26T13:57:52.142-05:00Neal Whitman discussed something quite similar on ...Neal Whitman discussed something quite similar on his blog a few years back: http://literalminded.wordpress.com/2006/11/13/ill-be-nice-if-you-be-nice/Ranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01369980917358096502noreply@blogger.com