Re: GG: So you want to write a fugue?

[Bradley P Lehman <bpl@umich.edu>]

On Thu, 6 Feb 1997 hshapar@ix.netcom.com wrote:

> Junichi Miyazawa wrote:
> > 
> > However, now I suppose this is not an ordinary question
> > to ask whether "you" want to write a fugue or not,
> > but a rethorical question for uring "you" to write a fugue,
> > like:  "Why don't you write a fugue?"
> 
> I think it means something like "You want to write a fugue. Here is what 
> is involved with that." The "So" indicates the beginning of a process, in 
> this case an explanation or example of what writing a fugue entails.

According to the book _How to Talk Minnesotan_ by Howard Mohr (a writer
for the popular humorous US radio program, "A Prairie Home Companion"),
there's a whole linguistic construction that begins with "So..." but it
must end with "...then."  Questions, instead of being pronounced with the
inflection of questions (rising pitch at the end of the sentence), are
simply pronounced as statements, with "So" tacked to the front and "then" 
tacked to the end.  This is in line with Minnesotan cultural indirectness: 
never look directly at anyone when talking, or ask a direct question,
because it invades the other person's space too much.  Stand at
perpendicular sight lines or wider, if possible. 

"So you want to write a fugue, then." (question asked by a Minnesotan)

"Do you want to write a fugue?" (embarrassingly direct question asked by
someone obviously not from Minnesota)

"So you want to write a fugue." (uncomfortable hybrid, ambiguous)

"So there's probably some place around where a guy could get a burger or
something, then." (a Minnesotan requesting, "Please tell me where I can
find a restaurant near here.")

"So that Gould guy wrote some sort of fugue, then."  "It was different,
pretty sure."  ("Did you hear Gould's fugue?" "Yes, and I hated it.")

"So that Gould fugue was some piece of work, then."  "Can't complain,
sorta reminds a guy of a hotdish."  ("I thought Gould's fugue was
wonderful, how about you?" "Loved it, like a delicious casserole.")

Etc.

The book also describes how to refuse food the proper number of times
before accepting, how far apart to stand, acceptable conversation topics,
appropriate jello salads, and other such cultural advice. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bradley Lehman, bpl@umich.edu       http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/  
"It doesn't really matter if the color's exactly right 
   if the picture feels right when you finish the print." - G. O'K.