As a linguist I can explain the "I, myself" phrase. We call it the utterer-centered approach. In all languages there is a need for speakers to be the focus of attention, hence the repetition of personal pronouns. The utterer speaks mostly about himself / herself and his / her emotions. This stems from a desire to become the centre of attention and explains why "She herself" is never used - why would a speaker focus on someone else than themselves?
Someone mentioned that it exists in French as well with "Moi, je..." Sometimes, we also say "Moi, je..." and end the sentence with another "Moi" just in case it wasn't quite clear enough that we are speaking about ourselves as in "Moi, j'aime pas ça, moi". This is only used in spoken French though. I know some of you find it irritating and incorrect but fom a linguist's point of view, the use of such phrases is so widespread (this also an unconscious process) that it cannot be considered as incorrect and has to be studied as part of the language. I only know French and English (and a bit of German) but I'm pretty sure that the same phenomenon is to be found in other languages.
I realise I've just had a very geeky moment here, but I don't care! hehe. I never thought I'd write a post about linguistics on this board though!!
Excellent, I was hoping a linguist would come along and make things clear! Thank you, I feel a teensy bit smarter now :)
"She herself" is never used in Standard English, but it is very common in Indian English, like "She herself did it." Sounds funny, but that's IE. And in Indian languages(Indo-Aryan to be precise, I speak only two but I'm generalising), this utterer-centered approach through repetition of personal pronouns doesn't exist, though emphasis can be laid on the subject through a particle.
Just curious, how would you say something like "I myself..." in German?
Excellent, I was hoping a linguist would come along and make things clear! Thank you, I feel a teensy bit smarter now :)
"She herself" is never used in Standard English, but it is very common in Indian English, like "She herself did it." Sounds funny, but that's IE. And in Indian languages(Indo-Aryan to be precise, I speak only two but I'm generalising), this utterer-centered approach through repetition of personal pronouns doesn't exist, though emphasis can be laid on the subject through a particle.
Just curious, how would you say something like "I myself..." in German?
That's really interesting, thanks. It shows that the utterer-centered approach is common in other languages as well even if it involves particles instead of pronouns. It still results in drawing everyone's attention to the speaker.
As for the Indian English "She herself did it"... Wouldn't there be a slight difference in meaning? I mean, the surface structure of the sentence is the same as "I myself" but the deep structure may be different. "I myself" would then be a way to draw attention to the speaker whereas "She herself" would imply emphasis and only insist on the fact that it was her who did it and not anyone else.
Are there any German people around who could tell us if there's an equivalent of "I myself"? I forgot most of the German I learnt so I'm afraid I can't help with that...
I suppose to me it sounds as wrong as a double negative, plus I'd never write "I myself ..." so why would I say it aloud?
Well, there's a big difference between written and spoken language. The latter being way more prone to be colloquial. Plus, it's because a language is spoken that new speech creations can arise and spread in use because of the combined effects of what we call the Maxim of Renewal (desire to renew the language to draw attention), the Maxim of Clarity (speak in such a way that you are understood), the Maxim of Economy (use the minimum of linguistic material) and the Maxim of Extravagance which also betrays a desire to be the centre of attention. It is only when the changes have occurred in the spoken language and that they have been accepted by the majority after being used at a high frequency that these changes can be validated in the written language. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable to use contractions such as 'isn't', 'aren't', or "wouldn't", etc., in the written language but it has now become a very common thing to do even if it still sounds more colloquial than the non contracted form.
Blue Sky Thinking, Thinking Outside the Box, Pro-active, Mission Statement, Ballpark Figure.
It's not a "ballpark figure" it's a fucking estimate, ifyou mean estimate then fucking say estimate or even "best guess" Fucking Ball-shaggin'-park Figure makes you sound like an Arsehole.
I suppose to me it sounds as wrong as a double negative, plus I'd never write "I myself ..." so why would I say it aloud?
Well, there's a big difference between written and spoken language. The latter being way more prone to be colloquial. Plus, it's because a language is spoken that new speech creations can arise and spread in use because of the combined effects of what we call the Maxim of Renewal (desire to renew the language to draw attention), the Maxim of Clarity (speak in such a way that you are understood), the Maxim of Economy (use the minimum of linguistic material) and the Maxim of Extravagance which also betrays a desire to be the centre of attention. It is only when the changes have occurred in the spoken language and that they have been accepted by the majority after being used at a high frequency that these changes can be validated in the written language. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable to use contractions such as 'isn't', 'aren't', or "wouldn't", etc., in the written language but it has now become a very common thing to do even if it still sounds more colloquial than the non contracted form.
Maybe I should read that again when I've had more than three hours sleep :s
;)
Blue Sky Thinking, Thinking Outside the Box, Pro-active, Mission Statement, Ballpark Figure.
It's not a "ballpark figure" it's a fucking estimate, ifyou mean estimate then fucking say estimate or even "best guess" Fucking Ball-shaggin'-park Figure makes you sound like an Arsehole.
Dubz
Nemo me Impune Lacessit
i give estimates daily , ball park price is in the vocabulary , sorry maZn
