BBC Home

Explore the BBC

h2g2
30th December 2009
Accessibility help
Text only

.

Conversation Forum


SEARCH h2g2
Edited Entries only
Search h2g2Advanced Search


New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
BBC Homepage
The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything.

This is the Conversation Forum for The Word 'Y'all'
Contact Us


Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Conversation list
Some misconceptions about "y'all" >>

Backwards and forwards
Post: 1
Posted Jun 20, 2001 by Online NowNo, four Goshos. Goshos for forks
Nice entry y'all smiley
Whilst 'y'all' is a contraction of 'you all', I've noticed something here in Texas which is exactly the opposite. For instance...
One person sees another person engaged in an activity of some kind. "Hi there Bubba, what all are you going?"
I've heard it more than once and from different people, so it can't be just one person's idiosyncracy, and the same kind of thing is found in Britain too. I reckon most Brits know that in some Northern English dialects, the word 'the' is usually shortened to just the letter 't', as in "Why don't you go out and play in't street?". Howewver, where the word 'the' is followed by a word which begins with a vowel, you get this kind of thing...
"Should I bake it or stew it?" "You have to bake it, so put it in't th'oven" See what I mean? If you re-lengthen all the contractions, what you get is "Put it in the the oven" smiley

Reply 

No Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 2
Posted Jun 20, 2001 by Online NowNo, four Goshos. Goshos for forks
Dang, that should read "What all are you doing?" blush

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 3
Posted Jun 20, 2001 by unremarkable: Lurker, OMFC, LPAS
i cant speak for y'all, but i'm downright facinated...smiley

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 4
Posted Jun 20, 2001 by Steve K.
I'm also in Texas, specifically Houston which has a LOT of transient population due to the international companies, plus immigrants from the entire world, I think. The redneck accent is definitely in the minority in this retro Tower of Babble. But its still there. A friend had a visit from his New Jersey brother, they drove a couple of hours east to Beaumont to visit another friend. At a gas stop, the New Jersey brother was sent to the office to ask directions, on returning he was asked, "Where do we go?" "I don't know, I couldn't understand a word he said." I suspect a little Cajun contributed to the problem.

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 5
Posted Jun 20, 2001 by Roz0908
I'm in Kentucky, but y'all gets used here, too. I've never heard 'what all are you doing?' though, that must be more of a Texas phrase.


Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 6
Posted Dec 19, 2001 by BobTheFarmer. I'm not really here.
I think that the northener saying 'You have to bake it, so put it in't th'oven' is actually saying 'You have to bake it, so put it inTO the oven' not 'in the the oven'. That doesnt make sense.

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 7
Posted Dec 19, 2001 by Online NowNo, four Goshos. Goshos for forks
Oho <lightbulbsmiley> That would work smiley

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 8
Posted Apr 5, 2002 by oh you know, that..girl
they say y'all in new york too. beastie boys use it, as in "aawwl a' yaawll, get awf the wawwl, have a bawwl, and get invawlved with.."
and "listen awwla-yaawl it's sabotage!"

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 9
Posted Nov 25, 2002 by Researcher 209997
With the example, put it in the oven, Americans often drop the second preposition. As for y'all, it is now used across the entire country. However, it may not be as noticeable in somplace like, say California, because we do not have that southern drawl(sp?). And finally, I have often heard and used the term 'what all are you doing?' I think though, that the person who mentioned it may have misinterpreted it of having origins in the phrase y'all. It does not have origins from that, but rather, it is synonymous with, what all are you up to? Meaning literally, tell me EVERYTHING that you are doing right now.
Interesting Discussion...
Audrey

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 10
Posted May 30, 2007 by Cals_Incitatus (the boorish American)
"I'm also in Texas, specifically Houston"

Me, too. More specifically Westheimer and the West Belt...
(HOWDY!)


When I visit East Tennessee I feel the need to flaunt my fancy big city speech by using the word "y'all" instead of the local "you-uns" (presumably "you ones").
-Yes, I use the American form of Received Pronunciation. winkeye



Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Backwards and forwards
Post: 11
Posted May 31, 2007 by Steve K.
I am more specifically in Deer Park, a couple of suburbs out (where they filmed parts of "Urban Cowboy").

My dad claimed to be from Tennessee, the state that has our beloved Oilers (not the owner, just the "Luv Ya Blue"). I recall the line from the movie "Cast Away", after the Tom Hanks character returns home (paraphrasing):

"Wait. Tennessee has a pro football team? And its in NASHVILLE?!"

Maybe we could arrange a trade, Texans for Titans? What if we throw in the Astros? Some steak knives?

grovel





Reply 

Previous PostNo Next Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Key
Navigation Example
A: An older reply to the parent Posting
B: The parent Posting, to which this is a reply
C: A newer reply to the parent posting
D: The first reply to this Posting
Click to Make a Complaint
 Click on this icon to make a complaint about a specific Posting
Conversation list
Some misconceptions about "y'all" >>






Disclaimer

Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please click on the Feedback button above.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy