Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
Does anyone here say "Don't lets..."?
Guest
1
2009/02/04 - 3:27pm
Print

Does anyone here ever say "Don't lets" do something or hear anyone use similar constructions?  The only two places that I've ever heard phrases like this are the They Might Be Giants Song "Don't Lets Start" and in the satirical WWII-era Noel Coward song "Don't Lets Be Beastly to the Germans."  Are there any regions in which one would be more likely to hear these constructions.

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
2
2009/02/05 - 7:54pm
Print

Good question, EF. I don't know offhand, but wonder if it's so much geography as generational. (I mean, I realize TMBG members aren't yet collecting Social Security, but I wonder if they're using that construction self-consciously. Just a guess, though.)

Naturalized Texan
3
2009/02/08 - 12:37pm
Print

I seem to hear it in often Texas, among country folk.

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 77
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts