I have a grammar question that has been bugging me for a while: People who drop the verb “to be” from their conversation and writing. Is there a specific American dialect that does this? Here is an example, from a recent thread in MPSIMS:
I am not picking on this poster; I just ran across the quote and it reminded me to create this thread.
Isn’t the “proper” American English, “Because the kitchen needs to be organized so…” ?
I have heard this particular language tic from quite a few people, and wonder if there is a specific subset of the population (regionally, or culturally) from which it comes.
Any ideas? Or am I way off base about the appropriate use of “to be”?
Seconded. I had never in my life heard this construction until I started working for someone who grew up in Pennsylvania. For some time after I started working for her, I was unsure if maybe she wasn’t a part-time E-primer.
As far as I know, it’s Western Pennsylvania and Southeastern Ohio. Basically anywhere within a few hours of Pittsburgh.
Don’t even get me started on “Yinz.”
I’ve seen it commonly used by a writer friend from Des Moines and a few people from that area I know through him. It appears in both his personal writing and the speech of his characters (also of Iowan origin) in stories. I don’t know if he’s originally from there or not, though.
The regional usage of this question needs researched!
From the wikipedia article on Pittsburgh English. Normally I don’t trust wikipedia, but these references look good.
Pittsburgh is full of interesting regionalisms. I actually like a few of them, such as “slippy” instead of “slippery.” It sounds more like sliding to me.
Yinz should not vaunt to make proud contumely
Of Pittsburgh speech; else some proud Pittsburgh Doper
Might thy quietus make with a bare bodkin.
Who would fardels bear 'gainst that noble dialect?
Is it really a dropped infinitive or a substitute for a gerund? When I’m done cringing after hearing such a construct, I always imagine that “the floor needs washing” rather than “to be washed.” In fact, I’d regard that as a more standard construct, at least in my own little region of the English-speaking world.
Yes. I grew up in NW PA, and catch myself saying things like “That house needs painted.” sometimes. That particular usage made it out into the sticks. A lot of other stuff associated with “Burghese” stayed in the city. I don’t say “warshed” for “washed”, either. That’s something I associate with the coal country in southern PA.
Ya know, I have no connection to the Pittsburgh area, but ever since reading about this construction on the Dope years ago, and then noticing it elsewhere, I find myself using the construction every once in a while. I like it for some reason.
'Burgh doper here. It’s a dropped gerund for sure. When I say “My car needs washed.”, what I mean is “My car needs washing”. I’ve never noticed it before. Thanks for pointing it out.
From Sock of Doom’s link: "from German, falling intonation at the end of questions with a definite yes or no answer “. This is news to me. Doesn’t everyone say"What IS it?” Is this not what they’re talking about?
