Date:  Fri, 20 Oct 1995 10:34:59 -0400

From:  "M. Lynne Murphy" <104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA>

Subject: Re: y'all are crazy



It may appear at times

> that "y'all" is being used in the singular, but I assure you that is not

> the case. I liked Tom Wharriet's explanation of the implied plural

> meaning "you and yours." I think that thorough research would conclude

> that there is always some implied or connoted plural meaning even when it

> might seem otherwise.



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



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M. Lynne Murphy              104lyn[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]muse.arts.wits.ac.za

Department of Linguistics            phone: 27(11)716-2340

University of the Witwatersrand          fax: 27(11)716-4199

Johannesburg 2050

SOUTH AFRICA