216 Forms of Say
(d) conjoined structure: I’m not Ving, I’m just saying (V = complain, argue,
assert, etc.)
(e) simple present- tense clause: I just/ only say ...^24
In its earliest uses, I’m just saying is a main clause followed by a fi nite com-
plement clause, either a declarative clause (with or, frequently, without that ) or
a nominal relative clause :
(29) a. Well, Djasi, I’m just saying that you are not only the dirtiest but the ugli-
est person (1858 The Saint James’s medley, Vol. II [ https:// books.google.ca/
books?id=amUEAAAAQAAJ] )
b. I’m just saying Ø they caa it a dia- grim (1826 Greenwich Hospital, a series
of naval sketches [ https:// books.google.com/ books?id=1DlHAQAAMAAJ ])
c. I’m just saying what’s right (1854 Onesimus, Leon; or, Old Paul’s treature
[ https:// books.google.com/ books?id=K7QBAAAAQAAJ ])^25
This would suggest that I’m just saying conforms to the matrix clause hypoth-
esis (see 1.4.1.2 ); i.e., it rises out of a main- clause structure with clausal com-
plement “I verb that S.” However, it should be pointed out that I’m just saying
that/ Ø S is not common at all before the period that sees the rise of the com-
ment clause. For example, COHA provides only thirteen examples prior to
1950, CEN no examples at all.
The second possible source, an adverbial adjunct clause in the past progres-
sive as I was saying , dates from the seventeenth century:
(30) a. As I was saying the stage hung all with black veluet, (1607 Dekkar and
Webster, North- vvard hoe sundry times [EEBO])
b. The blessed spirits as I was saying , are divided by Dionysius in these Quyres
(1635 Person, Varieties: or, A surveigh of rare and excellent matters [EEBO])
c. As I was saying, Madam, she speaks as well of him behinde his back, as
your owne heart can wish. (1659 Brome, The New Academy [ED])
d. And then as I was saying , Sir, She leapt into the River, and swam up the
Stream (1671 Aphra Behn, The Amorous Prince [ED])
The present progressive is quite rare (31a). Forms with just are late, and equally
uncommon (31b):
(31) a. My Scope, and UUorke, as I am saying , is only to maintaine the authority
of Holy Scripture, (1638 Knott, Christianity maintained [EEBO])
24 Daniela Kolbe- Hanna (pc) has suggested an additional source with “is all,” as in:
(i) Look, I’m just saying I’m undecided, is all. (2015 NPR [COCA])
I suspect that “is all” is a separate construction, because it needn’t co- occur with “I’m just
saying,” e.g.:
(ii) I’m tryin’ to be professional, is all. (2015 New York Times [COCA])
25 I’m just saying does not often occur with “empty” expressions such I’m just say-
ing what I think about it (1890 The Educational Journal of Virginia , Vol. XXI