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Tue 24 May, 2005 12:52 pm
Doesn't it seem strange that the entire English speaking part of our nation including verses in songs and even books authored by English majors, uses the phrase "and I thought to myself"?
Whom else are you going to think to?
Isn't it really enough just to utter, "and I thought"?
Iteration of an idea has a long and honored history in the English language, and is used for emphasis. Some good examples, which are usually found in formulary speech are: "It is fitting and proper . . ." "A good and wholesome . . ."
Basically, the iteration serves as an intensifier. Your example, does, however, show how little logic actually controls speech, and also, how little need there actually is for logical structure in order to logically communicate meaning.