I just realized, while I’m fairly well-spoken, I say “What’s a matter?” rather than “What’s the matter?” and also say “a whole 'nother” rather than “another whole.” So I started wondering who else uses these phrases and if they’re colloquial - I was born and raised in NW Indiana.
And you?
I say “A whole other…” and “What’s the matter?”
StG
Not being Italian, I never say “What’s a matter?”
My preference for “Whole other” is not included in the poll.
“What’s the matter” and “whole 'nother”. SW Ohio born and raised.
Also, I believe the Italian pronunciation is “Whattsamattayou?”
There’s a distinction between “a whole other . . .” (or “a whole 'nother”) and “an other whole . . .” because of which word the adjective “whole” modifies. If you mean it to modify “other” or “another”, then you have to put “whole” first.
“A whole 'nother” comes from the fact that “another” is a sort of contraction of “an other”. So people find it awkward to say “a whole another” and contract that to “a whole 'nother” instead of “an other whole . . .”
An earlier thread on “a-whole-nother”. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9333116&highlight=nother#post9333116
“What’s-a matta you? Hey! Gotta no respect!.. Ah, shaddup-a you face!”