the question on today's show (2/4/2012) about "si" reminded me of a question about something that people in northern New England say....they us the term "So don't I" to mean "me too" Here's an example: I say "I like your radio program" and then the New Englander would say "So don't I" to agree with me, tho it sounds like quite the opposite. Any ideas about the origins of this usage?
I've never heard that one. Â I'd have thought that "so don't I" meant not "me too" but "me neither". Â Are you saying they use it not negatively but positively? Â Like this:
1) "I think we need more snow this year." Â "So don't I." Â ["me, too"]
2) "I don't think we need more snow this year." Â "So don't I." Â ["me, neither"]
Which way do they use it?
So don't I = So do I. Some discussion of this phrase:
http://www.wickedgood.info/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=23493
I moved from New York City to New Hampshire years ago and this phrase still causes a brain spasm when I hear it. It seems to be fairly local to the Merrimack Valley - Southern NH and Northeastern Mass. The natives don't bat an eye either hearing it or using it. Â