RE: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)

From: Tom Linden (tom_at_kednos.com)
Date: 06/20/03 

Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 10:03:08 -0700

>-----Original Message-----
>From: norm.raphael@metso.com [mailto:norm.raphael@metso.com]
>Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 9:57 AM
>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>Subject: RE: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)
>
>
>
>It is used reflexively for emphasis as in the dictionary definition "for
>emphasis <I myself will go>"

I suppose thinking about these things is an occupational hazard from
writing compilers.

Maybe some grammarian could offer an expalnation, but the only way I can
make
sense of the above sentence is that "myself" is a parenthetical synonym for
me.
Although, it might be a synonym for "alone".

Note that in some forms of english "meself" is used which presumably derives
from the (not compounded ) german mich selbst. It is interesting that the
genetive and not the accusative form is used in constructing myself, unlike
german or scandinavian. In any event, it is redundant and hardly adds
emphasis.

hippo morte (or something like that)

>As I hope I stated earlier, I myself would not use "me myself" in this
>case, but would just use "me."
>As to diagraming it, my diagraming skills no longer extend to reflexive
>pronouns if ever they did. I can not
>diagram an appositive or a "parenthetical " either. I asked a former
>English instructor and was told that
>diagraming is not used much any more as a pedagogical tool.

That may be because they don't know how.

>
>
>From: "Tom Linden" <tom@kednos.com> on 06/19/2003 12:12 PM
>
>Please respond to "Tom Linden" <tom@kednos.com>
>
>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>cc:
>
>Subject: RE: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)
>
>
>Yes, I understand that it is a reflexive pronoun, but it appears to
>me to be used as a parenthetical, and therefore as a synonym for "me"
>How would you diagram the sentence?
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: norm.raphael@metso.com [mailto:norm.raphael@metso.com]
>>Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 8:56 AM
>>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>>Subject: RE: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)
>>
>>
>>
>>Hi Tom,
>>
>>I guess you missed the part about "no response." :-)
>>
>>Well, since you asked, "How would you syntactically
>>characterize (the parenthetical ?) "myself" in
>>the second form?", let me respond.
>>
>>It is a reflexive pronoun added for emphasis.
>>IIRC "Caesar, himself, said...." ("Ipse dixit....")
>>
>>Another example would be: "You may leave, but I, myself,
>>am staying."
>>
>>So it is not "parantheical ?", but reflexive.
>>
>>I hope that helped.
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>-Norm
>>
>>Confer http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary
>>wherein it allows about his construct: "Critics have frowned
>>on these uses since about the turn of the century, probably unaware that
>>they
>>serve a definite purpose. Users themselves are as unaware as the
>>critics--they
>>simply follow their instincts."
>>
>>I, myself, of course side with the critics. -N.R.
>>
>>Main Entry: my·self
>>Pronunciation: mI-'self, m&-, Southern also -'sef
>>Function: pronoun
>>Date: before 12th century
>>1 : that identical one that is I -- used reflexively <I'm going to get
>>myself a new
>> suit>, for emphasis <I myself will go>, or in absolute constructions <
>>myself a
>>tourist, I nevertheless avoided other tourists>
>>2 : my normal, healthy, or sane condition <didn't feel myself yesterday>
>>usage Myself is often used where I or me might be expected: as subject <to
>>wonder what myself will say -- Emily Dickinson> <others and myself
>>continued
>>to press for the legislation>, after as, than, or like <an aversion to
>>paying such
>>people as myself to tutor> <was enough to make a better man than myself
>>quail>
>><old-timers like myself>, and as object <now here you see myself with the
>>diver>
>><for my wife and myself it was a happy time>. Such uses almost always
>occur
>>when the speaker or writer is referring to himself or herself as an object
>>of discourse
>>rather than as a participant in discourse. The other reflexive personal
>>pronouns are
>>similarly but less frequently used in the same circumstances. Critics have
>>frowned
>>on these uses since about the turn of the century, probably unaware that
>>they serve
>>a definite purpose. Users themselves are as unaware as the critics--they
>>simply
>>follow their instincts. These uses are standard.
>>
>>and
>>
>>Main Entry: ip·se dix·it
>>Pronunciation: 'ip-sE-'***-s&t
>>Function: noun
>>Etymology: Latin, he himself said it
>>Date: 15th century
>>: an assertion made but not proved
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>From: "Tom Linden" <tom@kednos.com> on 06/19/2003 11:13 AM
>>
>>Please respond to "Tom Linden" <tom@kednos.com>
>>
>>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>>cc:
>>
>>Subject: RE: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)
>>
>>
>>Maybe he needs to remind himself how to directly respond to his own self :
>>-)
>>How would you syntactically characterize (the parenthetical ?) "myself" in
>>the
>>second form?
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: norm.raphael@metso.com [mailto:norm.raphael@metso.com]
>>>Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 8:07 AM
>>>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>>>Subject: Why repost this? (was Re: [OT] Humour)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>><peeve on>
>>>Why did you find it necessary to repost the entire message with your (as
>>it
>>>happens, inappropriate) comment?
>>>Note: This is a rhetorical question and, as such, requires no response
>>>from anyone.
>>><peeve off>
>>>
>>><editor hat on>
>>>
>>>"To reply to myself directly, remove zulu from my address"
>>>should read
>>>"To reply to me directly, remove zulu from my address."
>>>or
>>>To reply to me, myself, directly, remove zulu from my address."
>>>
>>>The first is in this case, better, and the period at the end ends the
>>>complete thought.
>>>
>>><editor hat off>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>From: "Syltrem" <syltremzulu@videotron.ca> on 06/19/2003 09:53 AM
>>>
>>>Please respond to "Syltrem" <syltremzulu@videotron.ca>
>>>
>>>To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
>>>cc:
>>>
>>>Subject: Re: [OT] Humour
>>>
>>>
>>>LOL!
>>>
>>>--
>>>
>>>OpenVMS 7.3-1, Oracle 8.1.7.4
>>>
>>>Syltrem
>>>http://pages.infinit.net/syltrem (OpenVMS related web site - en français)
>>>To reply to myself directly, remove zulu from my address
>>>
>>>"HARANGOZO CSABA" <spameater@spam.invalid> a écrit dans le message de
>>>
>>>[remainder of message deleted to avoid additional wasted bandwidth and
>>>storage]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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