Date:  Sun, 22 Jan 1995 11:11:26 -0600

From:  Katherine Catmull <kate[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]BGA.COM>

Subject: Re: 2 pl, "Yankee"



>You-all versus yall was socially marked in Louisville in the 50s. The first

>was perceived by middle class (especially lower middle class) speakers to be

>OK; they avoided the second and associated it with hick and/or working class

>speech.



I've been doing a bit of highly unrigorous listening and asking-around. One

woman of about 40, a native of Southeast Texas with a distinct accent, told

me she uses you-all consciously in situations "when 'y'all' doesn't sound

formal enough." I've lived in the South since I was six and this

distinction would never have occurred to me.



BTW she also uses "you guys."



Kate Catmull          kate[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]bga.com