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From: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Is there over there?
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References: <5gr0ra$ii@reader.seed.net.tw> <3336E006.35CA@nojunk.chi.edu>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 20:52:47 GMT
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In article <3336E006.35CA@nojunk.chi.edu>,
Kate Baldwin  <akb1x@xccp.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>dski@cameonet.cameo.com.tw wrote:
>> 
>> Desmond Sin (dcmsin@hk.super.net) wrote --
>> 
>> > Surely when I say something is there, I mean it's not here, and that it is,
>> > well, there. Why do we have to say "over there"?
>> 
>> "It's there" can be a bit curt. "It's over there" is somehow softer.
>> 
>This brings up a further question: How is "It's right there" different
>from "It's over there?"  "Right there" is not necessarily closer to
>either speaker or hearer than "over there".  Maybe it implies greater
>specificity or is a stronger assertion on the speaker's part, so that S
>is more accountable for knowing exactly where "it" is than if S had said
>"over there".

That's my interpretation.  If someone came to my workplace and asked me
where the Catalog Maintainance section was, I'd indicate the direction (by
nodding, gazing, maybe by pointing) and say "It'd over there."  If someone
asked me for the head of Catalog Maintainance, and I knew she was at her
desk (which can't be seen from mine), I'd also give the general direction
and say, "She'd over there" or "She's at her desk.  It's over there."  But
if she were in view, I'd be more likely to say, "She's right there, at the
third terminal" or, pointing, "She's right there."

Or say I was at home and my gentleman friend yells from the living room
because he can't find the remote.  "It's right there, on top of the
stereo" I might say, or "It's over by the stereo".  I wouldn't say "It's
over there" unless I was in the room and could point to where "there" was.



-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
