Date:  Thu, 20 Jan 1994 22:16:59 CST

From:  "Donald M. Lance" <ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET>

Subject: y'all



I've noticed that in Columbia, Missouri, servers in bars and restaurants

freely use Y'ALL when asking if "y'all need anything else" etc. And these

are not Southerners speaking! The friendlier the banter with customers the

more likely the servers will use "y'all." Not "you all" but "y'all"!



Today when I asked one of my classes about the phenomenon, there was unanimous

agreement that I wasn't making it up. Several students commented that they

normally didn't use that pronoun but felt obliged to use it on the job. One

worked in Colorado last summer and felt pressure to use the pronoun even though

she doesn't use it in other social contexts. Several commented that "it's

friendlier" than other ways of addressing customers. Where else has this item

spread to?



Also, how common is "server" where you are? All restaurants in Columbia

use that term now.

       DMLance, Univ of Missouri