Date:  Wed, 7 Jun 1995 10:45:03 -0700

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

Subject: Re: "over there" -- where?



Tim, I could respond positively to ALL these (except b. Latin America)

but for differing reasons.

  I grew up with the "mother" dialect of pure English (mainly Northern)

of Montana, so close to the border that Canada is "over there." I Now

live in the Southwest, so Mexico is "over there." I am a Westerner, so

both Asia and Europe are "over there." I don't know what YOU mean by

"Latin America." Every third person around here includes or excludes

Cuba, Dominican Republic, Belize, etc.

 So, "over there" is "not here."

Cheers,

tlc

On Wed, 7 Jun 1995, Timothy C. Frazer wrote:



> Dear Reader:

>

> Please respond to this usage query:

>

> "It's better over there."

>

> Please indicate which of the following may be referents for "over there."

>

> a. Mexico

> b. Latin America

> c. Europe

> d. Asia, or any part of Asia

> e. Canada

>

> Please indicate which is your "mother dialect" of spoken ENglish.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Tim Frazer

>