Posted on 02/20/2005 7:45:38 PM PST by bayourod
In a June appearance on NBC's Today Show, singer Marc Anthony made an unusual but, according to some linguists, not-so-surprising word choice.
When co-host Matt Lauer asked Anthony how he'd spend the upcoming weekend, Anthony said, "Y'all know I don't talk about my personal life."
A New York native of Puerto Rican descent using "y'all," a distinctly Southern term?
Linguists Guy Bailey and Jan Tillery would say Anthony is exhibit A in a national trend that is spreading the uses of "y'all" beyond the South. The two, who teach at the University of Texas at San Antonio, wrote an article in 2000 called The Nationalization of a Southernism, in the Journal of English Linguistics.
After conducting a national poll by telephone, the team concluded that the spread was dramatic and recent, most likely in the past 50 years as younger non-Southerners were significantly more likely to use "y'all" than older non-Southerners. Those regions bordering the South and Texas, like Kansas and New Mexico, were most likely to adopt it, as well as the Rocky Mountain region, which, they argued, had cultural similarities with the South.
As for why non-Southerners might use a markedly Southern term, the authors cite geographic mobility — Northerners moving to the South adopting it and Southerners moving to the North retaining it. But ultimately, the authors argue, it's a matter of addressing a "hole" in the English language.
Ever since English lost the second person singular "thou," it has relied on the pronoun "you" to act as both singular and plural. English speakers have improvised ways to avoid ambiguity in the plural: in the Northeast, "youse" or "youse guys"; around Pittsburgh "yunz" or "yinz," a contraction of "you-ones"; in the South, "y'all," a contraction — or "fusion" as Bailey and Tillery say — of "you-all"; and finally "you guys."
But "you guys" feels awkward to certain segments of the population, says Joan Houston Hall, chief editor of the Dictionary of American Regional English. A term that gained popularity in the 1960s, it still sounds inappropriately familiar to some elderly ears, she says, and some women are uncomfortable with the masculine gender implied by "guys." "Y'all" elegantly resolves all these concerns.
Others argue that "y'all" is spreading for a much simpler reason: Both culturally and numerically, the South is on the rise. But more important, "y'all" is standard in what linguists call African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), the lingua franca of rap and hip-hop.
I'm fixin' to work on fixin' too ;)
My husband, a (I won't say damned) Yankee says "I'm fixing to do X" I have taught him well. If only he would lay off the ketchup on chicken-fried steak. *sigh* I dream.
LOL!
"ketchup on chicken-fried steak"
Now, that is SO wrong...
Well don't call me a coonass, cuz I'm French Creole, beb!
Cool map. I think the phrase "Y'ona coke?" is part of every Southerner's speech pattern.
I don't mess around with southron wimmin at all ;o)
It's a sin. He'll learn. White gravy apparently needs ketchup. TG, I am patient.
At least he doesn't whine about hot bread. I can even feed him buttermilk. He's a-learnin.
Yona coke? Followed by "What kine?"
LOL!
You're right, by cracky! I used to think that "youse" was a Chicago or Joisey term, but at this very time we are hosting four visitors from upper Minnesota....and damned if they don't say "youse" alla time...you betcha, by golly.
I take it you never use contractions?
LOL! Followed by, "I dunno. They have diet Dr. Pepper? I'm fiddin' da find out."
"Youse" is big in SE Pennsylvania (Reading to Philly). I can't count the times I had waitresses ask "Are youse ready to order?"
LOL It was always, "Wuhl, we got coke-cola, or grape or or'nge or diet sumpin or Dr, Pepper."
I'm fiddin' ta go ta bed. Nite, y'all.
"He's a-learnin."
I'd say you are fortunate.
Some men never do...
especially where ketchup is concerned.
Pepper or Mr. Pibb is ALWAYS my favorite. ;-) 'Nite.
He's from Pennsylvania. Ketchup is a "spice" there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.