Slowin' on down

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Marius Hancu - 28 Sep 2008 15:52 GMT

Hello:

Are the "on"'s necessary and if so, what extra meaning do they bring in?
(I'm aware of the "continuation" meaning)

-------
[He's driving on the highway]

... but he's slowin' on down and movin' on over into the right travel
lane, just like a safe driver should.

Bomber's Law, by George V. Higgins, p. 122
-------

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Pat Durkin - 28 Sep 2008 18:07 GMT

> Hello:
>
> Are the "on"'s necessary and if so, what extra meaning do they bring
> in? (I'm aware of the "continuation" meaning)

It adds a folksy tone, and perhaps a "driving, forceful" note to the
continuation. I don't think it is primarily American Black English, but
it might be, or might be of Southern dialectal usage. The only usage
that comes to mind right now is the theme song for the American TV show
"The Jeffersons", (spin-off from All in the Family) "Moving on up, to
the East side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky".

Oh, here was another song, this one from "The Wiz"
The most popular song from the production was "Ease on Down the Road",
"Ease on Down the Road" is performed four times in The Wiz: once by
Dorothy and the Scarecrow, once by the two of them and the Tin Man
(played in the movie by Nipsey Russell), by the three of them and the
Cowardly Lion (played by Ted Ross), and finally during the end credits.

And, of course, there is the political website, moveon.org, but not
particularly Black or Southern in its views.

> -------
> [He's driving on the highway]
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Bomber's Law, by George V. Higgins, p. 122

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Marius Hancu - 28 Sep 2008 18:51 GMT

> > Are the "on"'s necessary and if so, what extra meaning do they bring
> > in? (I'm aware of the "continuation" meaning)

> It adds a folksy tone, and perhaps a "driving, forceful" note to

the

> continuation. I don't think it is primarily American Black English, but
> it might be, or might be of Southern dialectal usage.

Very interesting.

The author seems to have been born in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Thank you.
Marius Hancu

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Glenn Knickerbocker - 29 Sep 2008 23:02 GMT

> Are the "on"'s necessary and if so, what extra meaning do they bring in?

I'd say it's pretty much like the "go" in "don't go giving me":
proceeding to slow down, proceeding to move over.

¬R

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Marius Hancu - 29 Sep 2008 23:44 GMT

> > Are the "on"'s necessary and if so, what extra meaning do they bring in?
>
> I'd say it's pretty much like the "go" in "don't go giving me":
> proceeding to slow down, proceeding to move over.

Rimes with the content:-)

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / September 2008

Slowin' on down