Already
By DAN LANGFORD
What a funny word this is! It lends itself to so many misuses. Yankees say things like “Enough, already!” – a usage which grates unbelievably on Southern ears and sensibilities. In fairness, though, Southerners have their own misuse of the word — or actually a substitute for it — the word “done.” One wouldn’t normally hear this misuse in higher circles of the South (except perhaps as emphasis of a matter), but it’s altogether common throughout our land.
My late grandmother came home from the schoolhouse one day in the fifties and asked her cook, Mamie, where my grandaddy was. Mamie’s brow creased with worry as she answered, “Oh, Miss Kathryn, he’s done been t’da bank an’ done borrowed th’money t’buy s’mo land.” We still call the portion of the farm he purchased that day “Dunborrow.”
More recently, my children’s school principal moved to another state to become a headmaster. On his last work day in Georgia, I heard one of his fellow staff members tell him he just couldn’t leave — that they couldn’t do without him. He looked a little hangdog and said he had to, because “they’ve done found my replacement.” He obviously knew better, but as I’ve said before, it’s perfectly permissable to misuse English for emphasis so long as it’s apparent to everyone that one knows better.
I believe I’ve done said enough on this topic, so until next time…
Tags: Already