who-done-it

[Nuh Yamin]

Hi,
"Goody points out that the written form of language releases us from the linear experiential mode: 'the fact that it takes a visual form means that one can escape from the problem of the succession of events in time, by backtracking, skipping, looking to see who-done-it before we know what it is they did."
I don't understand what he means by 'who-done-it' in that quote. I expect it to be 'who-did/does-it'.
Any help will be appreciated.

[Rover_KE]

This question has been answered here:

Who-done-it - WordReference Forums

Rover

[Frank Antonson]

Hi,
"Goody points out that the written form of language releases us from the linear experiential mode: 'the fact that it takes a visual form means that one can escape from the problem of the succession of events in time, by backtracking, skipping, looking to see who-done-it before we know what it is they did."
I don't understand what he means by 'who-done-it' in that quote. I expect it to be 'who-did/does-it'.
Any help will be appreciated.

Goody is being cute. "Who-done-it" is a case of intellectuals "slumming it" by purposefully using non-standard English. (Unlike "The Folk", who Edwin Sapir once famously said make no apology). Sometimes it works, depending on the situation. Speaking syntactically, I think he means you can see the subject before the predicate.