Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 16:17:07 -0600

From: mftcf[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UXA.ECN.BGU.EDU

Subject: Re: some U.S. "Midland" regionalisms?



The strangeness of this form in Arizona does suggest some regional

variation (2 responses; Don & Dan) ditto for NY. That's interesting since a

couple of

hundred student surveys I have done doesn't suggest any Northern-Midland

contrast, unlike the results for NEEDS WASHED. But those of you who report

some familiarity would suggest a Midland or a South-and-Midland distribution

(Rudy, Dennis P, Don Lance). Maybe it IS Irish.



On NEEDS WASHED: I agree with Rudy it could be German. The settlement

history of this (ILL) area was heavily Pa & European German as well as

Ohio. Tom Murray's Ohio maps in KQ (199o.4)

suggest the form is spreading from Appalachia. My daughter (age 27) has

lived in c. Ill. all o

f her life and uses this form regularly -- she has done so at least since

leaving high school & home & begun dating a local farmer. And then in

this morning's (Dec 5) MACOMB JOURNAL, I read this headline: "Zoning

changes need stopped." That's the second time this year the JOURNAL has

printed this construction as part of a headline.