Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 13:17:57 MST

From: Tom Uharriet UTOM[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ADMN.712.NEBO.EDU

Subject: Re: y'all are crazy



in lotsa languages (and so many unrelated ones that this seems not

to be an entirely arbitrary association), the plural form implies

politeness--couldn't this be what is going on? seems to go with what

was said about salesmen and friendly people using it, but not the

police officer who's caught you doing something naughty.



lynne



I don't know about Lynne's South African usages. From what I have

heard around here, polite plural forms are in the first person. The

element of politeness is in the inclusion of self--which makes it

plural. Hence, "we" cannot say that y'all fits this pattern.



Tom