Date:  Tue, 31 Jan 1995 11:32:54 -0800

From:  THOMAS CLARK <tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEVADA.EDU>

Subject: Possessive Marker



The various items of second person and possessives an ting prompts a query.



I have been encountering a phenomenon from some shirttail relatives who

grew up in Colorado. When speaking of their children's families or

brother's families, they will use a Proper Noun + Possessive and delete

the common noun:



  Merle's were down for Christmas (vs Merle's _family_ came for Christmas)



  John's came over to play bridge (vs John and his wife Susie cam over)





Is this feature more widely spread, or is it a family habit?

Thanks,

Tom Clark