Date:  Mon, 23 Oct 1995 23:21:04 -0700

From:  Rima & Kim McKinzey <rkm[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SLIP.NET>

Subject: English-southern style



I've forwarded a bunch of the y'all discussion to my inlaws - she a native

of Oklahoma and he a native of Texas and later OK. My father-in-law

responded with the following and I thought I'd pass it along.   Rima

>

>Thanks for the info ya'll sent on southern words. I wish to add comments

>from this simple Tex/Ok person to your collection.

>

>Ya'll-Plural to shorten "all of you", "you all" or the yankee version of

>"youse guys". Also a familiarity word for "you". (Saves having to use 2

>words when

>one will cover both.

>

>Y'uns-Commonly used with younger persons as "you younguns" but also is a

>familiarity word used with more then one adult or to a mixed group.

> (Again a conservation of words).

>

>These two words are symptomatic of the characterization of southern persons as

>being persons of few words plus southern people typically speak more slowly so

>they have to find a way to combine words to keep up with the communicating

>speed of their yankee kinfolks.