Date:  Wed, 29 Oct 1997 20:42:22 -0600
From:  Samuel Jones <smjones1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Appalacian languages

"hit" is the neuter form og the f=definite article in Anglo_Saxon - which
had three genders: masculine, feminine, neuter - the definite articles
being, respectively "he" - "heo" - "hit"


I grew up in Oklahoma, Eastern Oklahoma, and "Hit don't make no nevermind!"
 was not an uncommon exression. Interesting how a for over a thousand
years old can still be found so widely used.



>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?
>
>Lisa Dawn Burriss
>ldburr01[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]morehead-st.edu
>(606)796-3557


_______________________________
DR. SAMUEL M. JONES
Professor Emertitus
Music & Latin American Studies
University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Pen-y-Bryn" - 122 Shepard Terrace
Madison, WI 53705-3614 USA
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EMAIL: smjones1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]facstaff.wisc.edu
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