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Discussion » Questions » Language » Why do we often use the words 'go' and 'goes' to replace 'say' and 'said'?
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Why do we often use the words 'go' and 'goes' to replace 'say' and 'said'?

Do dogs go woof?
Do dogs say woof?

Posted - November 16, 2021
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Responses


  • 53528

     

      “We” don’t all do that. I, for one, consider it beneath me. Unfortunately, having lived in California for over twenty years now, I have come to discover that even its schoolteachers for decades speak that way, as do many other people in various walks of life, so it has become ingrained into at least two or three generations of parents also. 


    I was like
    And then she was all
    So I go
    He went
    etc


      November 16, 2021 11:15 AM MST
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  • 44655
    I guess when it becomes common usage, it becomes a permanent part of the language. I might ask Nevan.
      November 16, 2021 11:21 AM MST
    3

  • 53528

     

      Many people have grappled with me over the concept of language evolving, and specifically the English language evolving. Of course, while I don’t dispute that language evolves, and that the English language evolves, just because something evolves or is evolving does not mean that it is happening in a positive way. For instance, human beings evolved from the first method of killing each other was one person face-to-face or in very close proximity killing one other person. Nowadays, however, it is possible for one person with a push of a button to kill dozens or hundreds or thousands of people. That is an example of how one particular thing in human history has evolved, the question is just because it evolved, does that mean it is good?

      There are positive evolutions that have occurred with the English language, and there are negative evolutions that have occurred with the English language. 

    :(

    This post was edited by Randy D at November 16, 2021 6:44 PM MST
      November 16, 2021 11:43 AM MST
    2

  • 44655
    Another example is the use of ' where're you at?' etc. I tried to avoid it, but I have heard it and said it so many times, it has been part of my normal speech. Why the question mark in your last paragraph?
      November 16, 2021 1:33 PM MST
    2

  • 53528

     

      Oops!

      November 16, 2021 6:44 PM MST
    2

  • 44655
    Ooopsies ar OK.
      November 16, 2021 7:48 PM MST
    1

  • I absolutely speak that way. I like it. Adds more variety. Better than simply saying "said" over and over. :)
      November 17, 2021 11:42 AM MST
    0

  • 6023
    ... now I'm trying to recall if those "Pull and Say" things say "The cow goes mooo" or "The cow says mooo".

    I think it would depend on if the object is inanimate or not.
    EG: A dog says "woof". A car goes "vroom".
      November 16, 2021 11:54 AM MST
    4

  • 44655
    It says "The cow goes moo". My kids had one of those and I have asked that question for 40 years.
      November 16, 2021 1:36 PM MST
    1

  • 6023
    My coworker asked if inanimate objects "go" ... would that include computers?
    And would the level of artificial intelligence matter?

    Ugh.  Now I don't know.  lol
      November 16, 2021 2:02 PM MST
    2

  • 53528

     

      So like i feel that inanimate objects R all like this n then i wuz like that 

      November 16, 2021 6:59 PM MST
    3

  • 13277
    I recently asked basically the same question about "like."
      November 16, 2021 12:44 PM MST
    1

  • 44655
    That triggered my question, like,  you know?
      November 16, 2021 2:40 PM MST
    1

  • 13277
    And I am like, "Yes!"
      November 16, 2021 4:33 PM MST
    2

  • In your example, "say" is sometimes restricted to human speech, so when describing the sound an animal or object makes, "go" is used instead.

    In casual speech, forms of "go" can replace "say". As for why, I don't know. "Go" is a very general verb referring to movement, so it has taken on some meanings it didn't originally have. 
      November 17, 2021 11:45 AM MST
    0