Date:  Wed, 12 Nov 1997 17:20:57 +0000
From:  Lynne Murphy <M_Lynne_Murphy[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]BAYLOR.EDU>
Subject: Re: stay and live

Matthew James Gordon wrote:
>
> Since moving to the Chicago area (NW Indiana), I have noticed a usage
> that was previously unfamilar to me. The use of "stay" as opposed to
> "live" as in "Where do you stay?" "I stay in Hammond on 173rd street."
> (It is clear that the meaning of temporary residence (e.g. "stay in a
> hotel") is not intended.) I wonder if anyone has discussed the
> distribution of this form or has observed it elsewhere. The couple of
> times I have noted this it has been from African American speakers, but I
> suppose it might be regional as well or instead. Can anyone provide some
> information? Thanks.

this was something i had to learn when i moved to south africa, so i'd
never noticed it when i lived in illinois, so i'm guessing it's either
chicago-specific, aave-specific, or just odd.

lynne
--

M. Lynne Murphy
Assistant Professor in Linguistics
Department of English
Baylor University
PO Box 97404
Waco, TX 76798