Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 15:50:01 CST

From: "Donald M. Lance" ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET

Subject: Re: some U.S. "Midland" regionalisms



I'm thinking that, rather than Sali's suggestion of 'transient duration',

the feature that gives us seemingly unexpected progressives of stative

verbs is a feature that might -- and I'm hoping you'll agree, as I'm trusting

my intuitions and judgments and believing, at least for now, that what I'm

liking about my decision and feeling about it is perhaps sorta on a right

track -- be called 'tentativity'. I'm always hating myself after I breach

my coccoon of personal tentativity and propose an idea that others seem to

be loving to shoot down.

Many of the progressive statives are of 'transient duration' as Sali

suggests, such as 'Carla is feeling wonderful'.

The tentativity feature suggested here may play a part in what I suggested

earlier as a politness feature in 'Are you wanting to make an appointment?'

Any reactions?

DMLance