The US usage of 'got'

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Blue_UK, Mar 29, 2007.

  1. Blue_UK Drifting Mind Valued Senior Member

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    Why don't we just learn mandarin and be done with it?
     
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  3. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    Ding hao!
     
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  5. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: The word "had" is not really necessary. It borders on being grammatically incorrect.
     
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  7. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: In this case, "got" is not necessary. It should read, "We have him in custody now."
     
  8. Blue_UK Drifting Mind Valued Senior Member

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    I was trying to give an example of what not to do! Adding 'now' disambiguates the meaning of 'got' implying it should been 'have'.

    We can let this thread sink to the depths now.
     
  9. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: While it may be "perfectly valid," I think it sounds more appropriate to say, "I have some news for you!"

    If one insists on starting the sentence with "Have I got...," "got" might be colloquially correct, but it probably is more correct to say, "Have I some news for you!" I don't like it that way, because using "Have" at the beginning of a sentence makes puts the sentence on shaky ground. I'd rather hear, "I've got some news for you!"
     
  10. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: Another pet peeve I have is when I hear, "I done...".
     
  11. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: "I have my car with me."
     
  12. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: If we lighten up too much, we'll all be speaking Spanish or maybe in your country Arabic. I understand that language evolves, and I accept that as a positive fact. It depends on who you're talking to, I suppose. When I'm teaching medical students, I use the Queen's English. When I'm talking to my grandkids who are teenagers, I use colloquialisms or current slang like "hood," "crib," "homie," "peace out," "baby daddy," and so on. However, they do know the correct way to speak and write their 'cave' mother tongue--English. I firmly believe in addressing your audience, but that didn't work too well for the Hillster in 'Bama. Politics aside, I would have shot her big white ass on the spot... or maybe I should say, "I's be packin' a piece and be takin' her honky White ass out...". But, then, I'm just me.
     
  13. Blue_UK Drifting Mind Valued Senior Member

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    That's in the present. Perhaps you were trying to agree?!

    This thread should sink now. Play the music from Titanic...
     
  14. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: I think that computerese will be the language of the future. We may eliminate all punctuation and superfluous wording. I'm okay with that. It would be universal. Queen's English could only last for so long.
     
  15. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: Gung hee faht choy!
     
  16. Blue_UK Drifting Mind Valued Senior Member

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    Deo gau le lo mo.
     
  17. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: True. "We have him in custody..." should suffice. (Unless the timing of his detention is in question.).
     
  18. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: Loved the Irish music! Especially when Rose was dancing in steerage! Absolutely loved that scene!
     
  19. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    I address you in Mandarin and you reply in Cantonese? Please, it's "gong xi fa cai."

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    "Ding hao" is Mandarin for Cantonese "ding ho," "indeed good," an old colloquialism similar to "cool" or "awesome," often seen in the names of dishes in Cantonese restaurants. People from Si Chuan say "yao dei," literally "worthy of desire."
     
  20. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    And "I seen". I hate it too.
     
  21. Blue_UK Drifting Mind Valued Senior Member

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    You didn't understand my comment? It was in bastardised Cantonese.
     
  22. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    M*W: This is WAY outta my league. I give...
     
  23. Athelwulf Rest in peace Kurt... Registered Senior Member

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    Ding ho chow mein! Totally awesome stir-fried noodles!

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