Meaning of this sentence

Does it mean "I would be thankful/grateful." ?

Does it mean "I would be thankful/grateful." ?

That is my understanding, though I hear it so infrequently that I would have to think about it if I heard it again.

When I hear this phrase, I always think of the movies that are set in the southern US. I think it might be or might have been more commonly used there. But I am not sure on this last point.

Hi MountainHiker,
Glad you are on line. Can I understand it this way, the phrase is not used in daily life? I thought it was some kinda formal expression, cuz I once found "we should be obliged to the linguisticians for their findings on the lost language". Maybe I was reading some "antique" articles

Ahava yin,

All I know is that you could carry on your normal every day life some place in North America and not hear that phrase used once during the year. So it isn't that popular. That said, I have heard it.

Hope it helps.

MountainHiker

Or in Westerns: "I'd be mighty obliged, ma'am!", "I'd be much obliged if you could spare a po' starvin' cowboy a crust o' bread."

Strange how the expression is used in the lowest social register and regionally by those who want to be as polite as possible, and used in formal writing, but practically nowhere in between! It seems to have dropped out the middle class vocabulary entirely.

CalifJim,

I do enjoy reading your answers! Not only do I learn a lot from your wealth of knowledge, but I also enjoy and laugh at your very entertaining posts. It certainly is a pleasure having you answer questions!

MountainHiker

Nice Post. Interesting, really.
Obrigado!

Although all the previous answers are worthy, the use of the word 'obliged' adds emphasis to the level of gratitude, in this instance it adds what is known as a 'debt of gratitude'.

In the example of the linguists who have saved the language from being lost, the speaker is suggesting the linguists should be thanked for their hard work and dilligence to such an extent that should they e