232 Two Politeness Parentheticals
(6) a. Well for what it’s worth , Craig, your apology – it’s a little too late
(2009 ATWT)
b. Y o u k n o w , for what it’s worth , I’m just sorry that she got involved (2006 GH)
c. I mean, for what it’s worth , I think your father has treated you both horribly
(2006 YR)
d. For what it’s worth , you didn’t deserve what Damian did to you.
(2010 ATWT)
e. I know it was hard for you, and for what it’s worth , I do believe you.
(2001 ATWT)
f. Listen, for what it’s worth , I did what you asked (2005 AMC)
These sentences can therefore be said to have a ‘below expectation’ reading,
representing “a lower point in a presupposed scalar model ... than some con-
textually given alternative” (Kay 2013 : 36). What has been said in (6a) falls
short of being an “apology,” being “sorry” in (6b) falls short of what is needed
and expected in this situation, and so on.
This remainder of this chapter examines the development of these com-
ment clauses in English, beginning in each case with a discussion of their
status as parentheticals and their frequency in Present- day English. If I may
say so is seen as an “indirect condition” dependent on an implied speech
act; while not a conditional, for what it’s worth is similar in its relation to
an implied speech act. Both bear similarities to insubordinated clauses. The
diachronic developments of the constructions are then examined in order to
trace their evolution as parentheticals. The presumed synchronic sources of
if I may say so and for what it’s worth , as well as the postulated diachronic
development of insubordinated clauses from full biclausal structures, are
tested against the historical facts. Finally, the semantic changes in both con-
structions are traced – from content to procedural meaning and objective to
(inter)subjective.
8.2 If I May/ Might Say So
8.2.1 If I May/ Might Say So in Present- Day English
In Present- day English if I may say so has two variants, if I may say so and if
I might say so :
(7) a. The monkeyfl ower is, if I may say so , a lovely specimen. (2000 Smith,
Letters from Yellowstone [COCA])
b. Oh, yeah. That’s a very fetching outfi t, if I might say so. (1993 CBS_ Morning
[COCA])