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"Might Could" in English

  Tags: Dialect | Grammar | English
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24 messages over 3 pages: 1 2
Johntm
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 Message 17 of 24
26 March 2010 at 4:08am | IP Logged 
peregrina wrote:
If I mentioned the pudding known as 'spotted dick', would anyone from beyond these shores know what I am talking about? Is it restricted to English English, as I suspect, or is it more widely known?
I've heard of it in movies, but not from any American. "Spotted dick" (if it was used here) would probably means that you have VD or something.


This thread is interesting, I never had thought about this before. I guess it means something along the lines of "might be able to." If anyone has questions on Southern slang, I guess I could answer them...
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Iversen
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 Message 18 of 24
26 March 2010 at 11:04am | IP Logged 
Double modals are allegedly also found in Scots: "Scots employs dooble modal maks He'll no can come the day, A micht coud come the morn, A uised tae coud dae it, but no nou." (He will not can come the day / I might could come the morn / I used to could do it, but not now)


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peregrina
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 Message 19 of 24
26 March 2010 at 2:46pm | IP Logged 
In case anyone is worried, "spotted dick" is a steamed suet pudding with raisins and/or sultanas. Unlike Christmas pudding, it contains no alcohol, and is a pale colour, except for the dried fruits, which constitute the spots
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Teango
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 Message 20 of 24
26 March 2010 at 3:09pm | IP Logged 
peregrina wrote:
In case anyone is worried, "spotted dick" is a steamed suet pudding with raisins and/or sultanas. Unlike Christmas pudding, it contains no alcohol, and is a pale colour, except for the dried fruits, which constitute the spots

Dare we also mention Hob Nobs and Hedgehog flavoured crisps?

Here's a list of Top 10 Foods With Funny Names for a little more fun on this topic, and culminating in our newly-acquainted friend "Spotted Dick" (warning: may be offensive to some viewers and purveyors of fine cuisine) ;)

Edited by Teango on 26 March 2010 at 3:11pm

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Hencke
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 Message 21 of 24
26 March 2010 at 10:10pm | IP Logged 
meramarina wrote:
Here's some fun stuff regarding American vs. British English

Cross-Atlantic English Quiz

I only got half of these words correct, although I did recognize them when I saw the answers


9/15 here, which seems to be the average score.

I was careless though and missed one by dropping the final s in "sidewalks".

I also felt slightly cheated by the question about "estate car" and "estate wagon", as I felt pretty sure I had heard both of these used in the UK, though in my experience the shorter form "estate" is used just as often or even more than either of those. But they wanted two words there and I picked the wrong combination.
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Warp3
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 Message 22 of 24
27 March 2010 at 12:25am | IP Logged 
I've heard the phrase "might could" numerous times, but I live in the Southeastern US, so that isn't all that surprising.
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Silvance5
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 Message 23 of 24
27 March 2010 at 1:17am | IP Logged 
I live in the American South, and "might could" is a very common expression here. I use it quite often in colloquial speech. For example, "I might could work that shift for ya." You can't be in the south for more than an hour without hearing it.
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peregrina
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 Message 24 of 24
27 March 2010 at 5:59pm | IP Logged 
Hencke wrote:
meramarina wrote:
Here's some fun stuff regarding American vs. British English

Cross-Atlantic English Quiz

I only got half of these words correct, although I did recognize them when I saw the answers


9/15 here, which seems to be the average score.

I was careless though and missed one by dropping the final s in "sidewalks".

I also felt slightly cheated by the question about "estate car" and "estate wagon", as I felt pretty sure I had heard both of these used in the UK, though in my experience the shorter form "estate" is used just as often or even more than either of those. But they wanted two words there and I picked the wrong combination.


14/15 here (it's easier if you are starting from knowing British English, I think!).

If it makes you feel any better, Hencke, I'd agree that "estate" is usual, in my experience, more common than "estate car". However, I've never heard "estate wagon" here. We do sometimes use "station wagon" though; I hadn't realised before I tried that quiz that it was specifically an American import.


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