Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 22:45:00 -0500

From: Anita Puckett apuckett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]VT.EDU

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