Feeling Sleepy Feeling Hungry

[anupumh]

I know that this kind of use is common in Indian English, and I wouldn't say it was wrong exactly but I would prefer "You sound tired".

So it would be an Indianism?

[bhaisahab]

So it would be an Indianism?

I would say so, yes.

[anupumh]

I would say so, yes.

I am sounding tired.

This should imply that you dont sound tired always but are sounding only at the moment.

Is this logic correct?

[PROESL]

Is this sentence appropriate?

You are sounding tired.

No, it's not. We typically do not use "sound" as a progressive verb when "sound" is a linking verb.

They're sounding the alarm. - okay

He's sounding tired. - not okay

That band is sounding pretty good. Let me tell you. - Here, one could use sound to intensify the action, which would emphasize the idea that the band sounds good. However, typically "sound" is not progressive as a linking verb.

You're being tired. - Would you say this? I wouldn't. So why would I say "you're sounding tired"? I wouldn't say "you're sounding tired".

[anupumh]

No, it's not. We typically do not use "sound" as a progressive verb when "sound" is a linking verb.

They're sounding the alarm. - okay

He's sounding tired. - not okay

That band is sounding pretty good. Let me tell you. - Here, one could use sound to intensify the action, which would emphasize the idea that the band sounds good. However, typically "sound" is not progressive as a linking verb.

You're being tired. - Would you say this? I wouldn't. So why would I say "you're sounding tired"? I wouldn't say "you're sounding tired".

So, a native speaker would never say, "You are sounding tired"?

[bhaisahab]

So, a native speaker would never say, "You are sounding tired"?

No, they probably wouldn't, but as I said before, this is a common construction in Indian English and as there are probably more speakers of Indian English than there are people in the USA, I am not going to say that it is wrong, simply that it is Indian English.

[PROESL]

So, a native speaker would never say, "You are sounding tired"?

It's possible that a native speaker could say this, but not as a normal and usual expression.

Just as "I'm liking it" is possible among native speakers even though "like" is a stative verb, "sounding tired" is possible even though "sound" is not typically used as a progressive verb.

Anything's possible - sometimes.

The boundary that separates "correct" from "incorrect" in English is, in certain cases , not 100% clear.

My advice to a student is this: don't use "sound" as a progressive verb, though you could hear it used that way when a speaker wants to intensify a state or a condition.

You sound bad. You'd better get some rest.

Man! You're sounding really bad. You just better stay in today and get some rest.

[PROESL]

No, they probably wouldn't, but as I said before, this is a common construction in Indian English and as there are probably more speakers of Indian English than there are people in the USA, I am not going to say that it is wrong, simply that it is Indian English.

I think it's English learned wrong. I don't go for the dialect explanation in such cases as this.

[bhaisahab]

I think it's English learned wrong. I don't go for the dialect explanation in such cases as this.

Oh! Why would that be? You defend a lot of American "dialect" which is ungrammatical in BrE. I repeat what I said before, there are probably more speakers of Indian English than there are people in the USA.

[PROESL]

Oh! Why would that be? You defend a lot of American "dialect" which is ungrammatical in BrE. I repeat what I said before, there are probably more speakers of Indian English than there are people in the USA.

I've never defended American dialect ever that is ungrammatical in British English. I've made note of disputed usage and language items marked as informal. As well, I've given my opinion of such language items.

Please, produce an example of such a time when I've "defended American dialect". You are using the phrase "defended American dialect", while "commented on informal usage" is more appropriate.