Date:  Thu, 4 Jan 1996 21:42:31 -0700

From:  William King <WFKING[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: IT in place of THAT



    I've noticed that in Arizona, IT is often substituted for THAT as a

demonstrative pronoun at the end of sentences where THAT would typically

refer to some clausal entity. I can't think of a real example at the moment

though I have actually done IT. This is not part of any of my native

dialects and rankles the heck out of me, though I'm now doing it.



Predictions: It will replace THAT in other pronominal contexts.

Counter-prediction: This is part of a a back and forth usage similar to

AT as a locative. I once read the testimony of shipboard trial in the 1690's

that included a phrase similar to "He then attested to where the place the

accused was at." I should say, that AT was used as a redundant locative

particle.

Why would usage sway back and forth? I'll leave that one open. The more

interesting question is "Why not?" Or "why so little?"

Bill King

wfking[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ccit.arizona.edu