Date:  Fri, 21 Nov 1997 23:23:42 -0500
From:  Gregory {Greg} Downing <downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU>
Subject: well and why

At 10:55 PM 11/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I had a lot of trouble getting my students to focus on the meaning
>differences between WELL and WHY in these environments. Though they
>understood the differences, they kept saying, "But nobody under age 50 would
>ever use WHY in that way--only old people talk that way!" This was not the
>answer I expected. Has anybody else had this reaction from students about WHY
>in this usage? What are the reactions of y'all? Is there a change in progress
>here?
>

Well, I am near 40, grew up in southern Michigan, have lived in New York
City for 15+ years, have a certain amt. of education, and would consider
"well" in the usages you cited almost like breathing. But "why" in that slot
sounds to me like "Driving Miss Daisy," and I would never say it in a
million years without trying to sound like an old codger or a character from
a western or something like that. My 90-y.o. grandmothers would maybe say
it. My mother (age 60) hasn't ever used it, if memory serves.... So if you
want a collection of subjective usage-senses, there's one for you to add???

All best,

Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu