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Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Noemon on February 11, 2008, 02:53:11 PM

Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Noemon on February 11, 2008, 02:53:11 PM
I've been noticing people using the construction "The thing/problem is is" quite a bit lately("The thing is is that I don't want to do that", for example, or "the problem is is that nobody wants to be seen being nice to a jerk).  Often there is a pause after the first "is".  It seems to me that "the thing/problem is" is being treated by the speaker almost as  a compound word that indicates complication or objection, with the "is" in it not functioning as a verb in the sentence.

So for Jon and goofy, do you guys agree that that's what's happening here?  Is there a name for it?  Are there other phrases in English that are going this direction?  And have I brought this up before?  I'm getting a feeling of deja vu.



 
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Jonathon on February 11, 2008, 03:02:34 PM
I'm familiar with the construction, but I don't know what the proper analysis of it is (or if there even is one). I'll try to see what I can dig up.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Primal Curve on February 11, 2008, 03:08:45 PM
It's a nominatizing subversital conjufraternizing case with an intervinative dipthongic wangadangdodal.

Seriously, how do you not know this?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Porter on February 11, 2008, 03:15:03 PM
Here's the deal:
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Jonathon on February 11, 2008, 03:18:40 PM
Quote
It's a nominatizing subversital conjufraternizing case with an intervinative dipthongic wangadangdodal.

Seriously, how do you not know this?
You made that up. There's no such thing as a wangadangdodal.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Porter on February 11, 2008, 03:20:27 PM
There is now!
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: goofy on February 11, 2008, 03:31:25 PM
ISIS (http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/%7Emyl/languagelog/archives/001123.html)

ISIS (http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/004221.html)

more ISIS (http://wishydig.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-isis-is-is-not-clear.html)

sometimes it's nonstandard
"The thing is is that it all depends on the graphic card's drivers"
sometimes it's standard
"What it is, is football"
sometimes it's a disfluency.

 
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Noemon on February 11, 2008, 03:37:51 PM
What does "ISIS" stand for in those three links?  In any case, the site linked to by the first to is fantastic--I'm going to have a great time browsing there.  The site in the third link I can't get to from work, so while it may be even more fantastic, I won't know until I get home from work here in an hour or two.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Jonathon on February 11, 2008, 03:41:21 PM
"Isis" and "extris" are ways of referring to the phenomenon you're asking about. The first one is not an acronym.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: goofy on February 11, 2008, 03:58:39 PM
Language Log: for all your language needs.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Noemon on February 11, 2008, 04:44:59 PM
Quote
"Isis" and "extris" are ways of referring to the phenomenon you're asking about. The first one is not an acronym.
Ah--I didn't realize (in my defense, I'm at work and mostly focusing on a project, so I only skimmed the replies and the links).
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Noemon on February 11, 2008, 04:45:14 PM
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Language Log: for all your language needs.
So it would seem!
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: pooka on February 12, 2008, 10:55:05 AM
Is there a context in which "The thing is that..." is not replaceable by "Well..." or "So..."?

I guess it's an introjective phrase.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Ela on February 29, 2008, 10:16:50 AM
Who's goofy?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Jonathon on February 29, 2008, 10:19:28 AM
Someone who came across my Arrant Pedantry blog a while back and later joined the forum.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Ela on February 29, 2008, 10:23:04 AM
Sucked in, eh? :)
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Tante Shvester on February 29, 2008, 10:32:12 AM
Suckah!
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Ela on February 29, 2008, 10:33:02 AM
:lol:  
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: rivka on February 29, 2008, 11:30:18 AM
Shouldn't that be "suckee"?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: goofy on February 29, 2008, 01:03:18 PM
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Who's goofy?
I am.
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Tante Shvester on February 29, 2008, 01:42:35 PM
Quote
Shouldn't that be "suckee"?
Are you talking dirty to me?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Neutros the Radioactive Dragon on February 29, 2008, 02:13:49 PM
No, but would you be offended if I said I had a hankering for kosher chicken soup?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Tante Shvester on February 29, 2008, 02:19:13 PM
Come on by!  Soup's on the stove!
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: rivka on February 29, 2008, 03:36:31 PM
Quote
Quote
Shouldn't that be "suckee"?
Are you talking dirty to me?
What do you think?
Title: "The thing/problem is"
Post by: Ela on March 01, 2008, 09:42:57 PM
Quote
Quote
Who's goofy?
I am.
Hi, goofy!  :)