I might could start speaking that way
Other grammatical features are less widely known but are no less important. SAE [Southern American English] also modifies the English auxiliary system by allowing for the use of more than one modal in a verb phrase. For instance, for most Southerners “I might could leave work early today” is a grammatically acceptable sentence. It translates roughly as “I might be able to leave work early,” but might could conveys a greater sense of tentativeness than might be able does. The use of multiple modals provides Southerners with a politeness strategy not available in other regional dialects.
–Do You Speak American:
This is the major aspect of Southern dialect that I find myself wanting to employ regularly.
July 7th, 2005
