Q. Pheevr (q_pheevr) wrote,
Q. Pheevr
q_pheevr

What Mama don't allow, linguistically speaking

Mama don't allow no back-formation round here.
No, Mama don't allow no back-formation round here.
Well, we don't care what Mama don't allow;
Gonna back-formate anyhow.
Mama don't allow no back-formation round here.

Mama don't allow no aphæresis around here.1
No, Mama don't allow no aphæresis around here.
Well, we don't care what Mama don't 'llow;
Gonna do 'phæresis anyhow.
Mama don't allow no aphæresis round here.

Mama don't allow no talkin' in Latin round here.
No, Mama don't allow no fancy-pants Latin round here.
Well, Mama can catch us in flagrante;
Gonna talk Latin non obstante.
Mama don't allow no talkin' in Latin round here.

Mama don't allow no pseudo-cleftin' round here.
No, Mama don't allow no pseudo-cleftin' round here.
Well, we don't care what what Mama don't allow is;
Gonna form pseudo-clefts for hours and hours.2
Mama don't allow no pseudo-cleftin' round here.


1. Aphesis might be a more exact term for the process illustrated in this stanza, but unfortunately it has initial stress, and thus cannot be applied to itself.

2. A non-rhotic accent is presupposed.


Note: Mama would strongly disapprove of posting comments that propose additional verses. (Hint, hint.)

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