Re: USAGE: double modals (was Re: negativity)

----- Original Message -----
From: caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...>

> I live in the Blue Ridge Mtns. of western VA.  "Might could" is very
> common in this area.  I've been here 14 years.  It's beginning to
> sound "correct"!
It's so common around central NC that not only is it starting to sound correct to
me, I'm actually catching myself producing it quite often. Coupled with the
fact that my accent is starting to drift[*], this is a worrying development.

[*] I have been told on various occasions by Americans that I sound Scottish, and
on others that I sound Australian. I think this is the drift towards /a/ from
/A/, and a few other things.



Paul