Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 22:45:00 -0500 From: Anita Puckett Subject: Re: Appalacian languages >I am currently in an Appalachian Literature course at my university. We >have read a lot of works lately where instead of saying "it", the person >says "hit". I was just wondering if this was still used today and also >where did it originate? It is very much in use today, especially by rural speakers in the coalfields. I have heard it in many Eastern Kentucky, Southwestern Virginia, and Southern West Virginia counties among speakers of all ages particularly in formulaic phrases or idioms such as "hit don't matter." It is my understanding that heavy initial aspiration of "it" is found in Old English. Am I correct in this? > Anita Puckett Appalchian Studies Program Center for Interdisciplinary Studies 343 Lane Hall Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0227 Office: 540/231-9526 Fax: 540/231-7013 apuckett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]vt.edu