Date:  Thu, 15 Dec 1994 19:06:00 EDT

From:  "David A. Johns" <DJOHNS[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UFPINE.BITNET>

Subject: He was --> He's



A few weeks ago some folks were talking about a song in which (if I

recall) HE'S [hiz] seemed to stand for HE WAS.



I got this a couple of days ago from one of my students (white, about

19):



    On the other hand, when I think of living in the South, an

    episode of Hee-Haw fits my thoughts perfectly. I see two

    middle aged rednecks lying opposite one another in their front

    yard with a bottle of whiskey and their dog. In the laziest

    voice ever heard, one says to the other, "Jew see dat perdy

    girl just walked by?" And the other hillbilly responds, "Naw,

    bu-di shore du wish I'z layin where you are soz I could!"



Could that "I'z" be anything but "I was"?



David Johns

Waycross College

Waycross, GA