Date:  Sun, 12 Dec 1993 13:57:50 -0800

From:  "Thomas L. Clark" <tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEVADA.EDU>

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



Dennis,

    "Tentativity" intrigues me. What would you do with:



1)  I am trying to get a grant.

2)  I want to get a grant.

3)  I am wanting to get a grant.

4)  I try to get a grant.



Suddenly, # 4 seems more "tentative." The subtext is "No matter how

often I apply, I seem not to succeed."

  #3 seems less "tentative," subtext being, "I am not applying to enough

places."



tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nevada.edu



Your message dated: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 20:18:00 EST

--------

> I believe what Don Lance calls 'tentativity' as a feature of some progressive

    ***s

> (e.g., 'Are you wanting to make an appointment') is essentially the same thin

    ***g

> I expressed in an earlier reaction to this query. I still believe, however,

> that negative expectation has greater generalization for the feature we are

> trying (or should I say wanting) to tease out.

> Dennis Preston

> <22709mgr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]msu.bitnet>

-------------------------------------------------------

Thomas L. Clark English Department UNLV 89154

tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nevada.edu