Re: USAGE : English past tense and participle in -et

Costentin Cornomorus scripsit:

> I wouldn't count that as evidence! I have "whole
> lot" in for example a song lyric, but wouldn't
> normally say that phrase;
Well, I certainly do, and "a fat lot", and "a big fat lot"
as well.  "Fat lot of good that'll do you!"

> I can also stick a four letter word any
> lodamnedcation I please. I wouldn't call
> "location" two words on that count, just because
> I can put a four letter word there.
Actually, infix fucatives have to come just before the primary stress.
("Imma-bloody-material", recorded from Australia, is an exception.)
I agree that by themselves they don't break up a word, but you don't
find "inde-big-fat-pendent", either.

--
One art / There is                      John Cowan <jcowan@...>
No less / No more                       http://www.reutershealth.com
All things / To do                      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
With sparks / Galore                     -- Douglas Hofstadter

Replies