NationStates Jolt Archive

Which phrase do you use when talking to a large gruop of people, or a small one? (multiple people)

Which phrase do you use when talking to a large gruop of people, or a small one? (multiple people)

lol.

"You peoples"

You lot.

"Mortals."

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck

I use all sorts of things...though mainly things of a more profane nature than those listed in this poll.
Weird thing is, though I am Californian, born and raised, I have been known to use "Y'all" in the singular.

Its not good.

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck
is that an insult to southerners?:upyours:

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck

To be honest I'd rather sound like a redneck than a refugee from Friends.

people from the north sound so weird to me as a southerner, like last year at the National AAU meet, my team lined up beside a team from Indiana, and they were so weird, they were like *hold your nose* guys, guys stay in a clump! and i laughed out loud and they glared at me, and i kept laughing

"Mortals."
"Ye foolish plebes and unbathed vermin" sounds so much cooler though.

"Ye foolish plebes and unbathed vermin" sounds so much cooler though.

Not quite as good as "[Lumped] Proles" though imo

people from the north sound so weird to me as a southerner, like last year at the National AAU meet, my team lined up beside a team from Indiana, and they were so weird, they were like *hold your nose* guys, guys stay in a clump! and i laughed out loud and they glared at me, and i kept laughing

Yeah but you guys smell weird.

Anyway I'm neutral, being neither a Yank or a Hick...cuz I'm a Westerner baby :p

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck

Y'all is ok to say...its just like Vosotros...only Vosotros is going out of style like it was Disco...so maybe Y'all isnt ok to say.

Which phrase do you use when talking to a large gruop of people, or a small one? (multiple people)
I usually say "all of you," or "all y'all." :p

Some from the New York area say "youse," and some from Western PA say, "yenz."

I normaly just say hay, though I guess I will ocasionaly say things like hey everyone or something like that.

Which phrase do you use when talking to a large gruop of people, or a small one? (multiple people)

What about the grammatically correct option, you?

What about the grammatically correct option, you?
Because thats one of the screwed up things about english?

What about the grammatically correct option, you?
What about making those to whom you speak aware that you're speaking to ALL of them? Huh? What about that??? :p

The Northern Irish plural of "You" is either "youse" or "yinz" (rarer). I say "youse".

I.e. "the way youse are goin' on you'd think someone had just died."

I have been known to use "Y'all" in the singular.

Its not good.
Correct, it is not good. Y'all is our slurring "You" and "All". It is an insult to use in the singular, and us Southerners can tell instantly you're a Yankee when you use it that way, even without using accents.

And Franberry, as a "redneck" myself I feel relieved that someone like you does not slaughter our vernacular. At least you are leaving us Southerners alone, which was all we were asking for in the mid-1850's and '60s. We take offense when people prod where they shouldn't, or just plain out insult us like you just have.

And go ahead and call me a redneck. I like shooting guns, always have since I learned how to shoot when I was 6. I have lived in the South my whole life. I like to hunt. I have a bow in my bedroom. I always carry a knife with me except for school and Church. I am a Southern Baptist. I can drive a truck pretty damn good. I had three out of four members of my family die in the Civil War. I am a Civil War re-enactor. I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps specifically to fight in this war.

And yet, I own and drive a Honda. I listen to hard rock/heavy metal. I can play guitar (more than just Sweet Home). I can program in three different computer languages. I am white and despise the Klan. I have traced back my family's history and we never owned slaves--simply put us share croppers were too poor to afford them, yet we willingly fought and died because of them because we believed in States Rights (an argument the North and West is ironically using now for abortion and gun control). I also listen to classical music on occasion. I am getting my major in Physics.

So, am I a redneck now? How about my usage of the word y'all?

You all.

My people don't say, "Ya'll".

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck

I live in Texas, and I'm one of the few people that says, "You all" or, "You guys." I NEVER say "Y'all", I have too many relatives in Ohio and Minnesota.

-snip-
So, am I a redneck now? How about my usage of the word y'all?

Yup. Still a redneck. I'm not saying thats a bad thing. Negative connotations associated with it, but whatever. And hey, being a redneck doesn't mean you are a closed-minded, stupid, ignorant shit. Physics? Thats chill. Cool stuff, but I'm not good enough at math to do it.

And what does any of this have to do with your usage of y'all?

It depends on the situation, I'll either say "y'all" or I'll say "Dudes!!" (and Dudettes :))

I always say y'all when talking to a group of people.

Yup. Still a redneck. I'm not saying thats a bad thing. Negative connotations associated with it, but whatever. And hey, being a redneck doesn't mean you are a closed-minded, stupid, ignorant shit. Physics? Thats chill. Cool stuff, but I'm not good enough at math to do it.

And what does any of this have to do with your usage of y'all?
Because you were attaching a negative tone towards redneck. That's the problem with the internet, tone is much harder to place in a conversation, or to pick up and is mainly what the reader is biased towards. As you can tell, I don't have much fondness towards Yankees and Westerners in general until I get to know you.

And I agree I am a redneck. One of my friends describes me as "The only cultured redneck she knows." because I'm just as inclined to shoot as go to a fancy restruaunt.

Because you were attaching a negative tone towards redneck. That's the problem with the internet, tone is much harder to place in a conversation, or to pick up and is mainly what the reader is biased towards. As you can tell, I don't have much fondness towards Yankees and Westerners in general until I get to know you.

And I agree I am a redneck. One of my friends describes me as "The only cultured redneck she knows." because I'm just as inclined to shoot as go to a fancy restruaunt.

LOL

its funny because its true

"Y'all"...cuz' I'm from the swamps!!!

Most of the time I say y'all, but I also use you guys or various other forms of plural address depending on the situation.

I like shooting guns, always have since I learned how to shoot when I was 6. I have lived in the South my whole life. I like to hunt. I have a bow in my bedroom. I always carry a knife with me except for school and Church. I am a Southern Baptist. I can drive a truck pretty damn good. I had three out of four members of my family die in the Civil War. I am a Civil War re-enactor. I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps specifically to fight in this war.
Welcome! And kudos to you for your desire to enlist. :D

I tend to use y'all for groups. Granted it sounds redneck, but if you are a real redneck, you would use you'ns.

"You guys" or "you people."

Because you were attaching a negative tone towards redneck. That's the problem with the internet, tone is much harder to place in a conversation, or to pick up and is mainly what the reader is biased towards. As you can tell, I don't have much fondness towards Yankees and Westerners in general until I get to know you.

And I agree I am a redneck. One of my friends describes me as "The only cultured redneck she knows." because I'm just as inclined to shoot as go to a fancy restruaunt.

Bingo!

And I just recently came across a great phrase - "postmodern redneck".

The Postmodern Redneck is also found all over North America. The Postmodern Redneck may, or may not, have Redneck roots. As opposed to "The Poser", the Postmodern Redneck has experienced a philosophical transformation in which he rejects modernism and urbanity, in favor of simpler more genuine way of life. The Postmodern Redneck is often an educated professional who owns guns, hunts wild game, and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty changing oil or cleaning a stable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck

A good example of usage:
He's a paradoxical fellow and therefore hard to ignore, a postmodern redneck who chews Red Man tobacco, disdains political correctness, knows a bit about tractor repair and a lot about software, and views the suburbanized landscape of modern America with cold loathing. Born in New Jersey, raised there and in Pasadena, California, he has fully transplanted his sense of what's home. "I plan on dying out here," he says of the central African forest. "I'll never go back to live in the U.S."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0010/feature1/fulltext.html

i say y'all. it sounds a bit odd out of the mouth of a woman with a downeast accent but its grammatically superior to "all of you".

i also sometimes say (and more often write) yas. i amuse myself by making up new words like that.

What the hicks are trying to get at: "all of you"

Interestingly enough, "you" was originally plural, with "thou" being the english second person singular.

I tend to use y'all for groups. Granted it sounds redneck, but if you are a real redneck, you would use you'ns.


I make a distinction between rednecks and hillbillies, and consider the second to be hillbilly english.

Here in the land of New York, you know the greatest and most powerful state of the union, y'all is not our speak. "You guys" is proper.

depends on what I am saying

"hey, you guys need to calm down"

"what do y'all think you are doing?"

"y'all, hush for a minute"

"you guys shut up!"

yeah, I don't know but. probably Y'all more than you guys........since I am from Oklahoma and all.

(although my y'all comes out more yawl)

Here in the land of New York, you know the greatest and most powerful state of the union, y'all is not our speak. "You guys" is proper.

Heh. You're almost as proud of your state as a Texan. ;)

"Ya'll."

It's quicker. And more fun to yell out.

"Ya'll shut up!"

"Girls, girls, girls... one at a time, I got plenty for everyone"

This ain't even a question. Its y'all with a doubt

I generally say you all, not y'all. Or I say "everyone" or "everybody". I'm so dull.

I've taken up saying "Vous", until we as english speakers come up with a real word for you (plural). It works fairly well in speech, though people get confused.

is that an insult to southerners?:upyours:
You guys have feelings???

The Australian version is youse, but I don't really like using any of them. It's a bit of a bind.

I didn't even know that people really said Y'all and you guys, I thought it was just in films. :)

I would clear my throat lightly to attract attention, or tap my glass with a spoon, say 'excuse me everybody!' and then say 'We all know why we are here' or 'Would everyone be quiet for a moment please?' or 'Ladies and Gentlemen, unnacustomed as I am to public speaking...' y'all know what I mean? :p

Daistallia 2104: I'm not really a post-modern redneck simply because all my biological family (both mom and dad's sides of my family for the under educated) are full of rednecks. I mean, my mom grew up in a town that is such a hicksville thatthis past summer, when stopped at a stop light, I saw 6 Mexicans in an El Camino (two in the bed on top of a matress), painted primer, one of the mexicans was a pregnant woman, using ropes for seat belts, and a shotgun rack (with a shotgun) on BOTH sides of the glass. There's nothin post-modern about my family's rednecks.


And Carisbrooke, you're from England. We don't expect you to understand or have heard someone use y'all. After all, you're a f'ern'er (and only true Southerners will catch the humor)

How about

Friends, Romans, Countrymen?

None of the above. I just say "you" and don't bother distinguishing plural from singular. It's never really been an issue as there is a thing called context which allows you to tell that if there is a group, the speaker means the group and if there is one person, the speaker means one person. Japanese doesn't even have a well-developed plural system and frequently leaves out pronouns in sentences, I'm told; I don't see why English needs a plural "you".

Correct, it is not good. Y'all is our slurring "You" and "All". It is an insult to use in the singular, and us Southerners can tell instantly you're a Yankee when you use it that way, even without using accents.

And Franberry, as a "redneck" myself I feel relieved that someone like you does not slaughter our vernacular. At least you are leaving us Southerners alone, which was all we were asking for in the mid-1850's and '60s. We take offense when people prod where they shouldn't, or just plain out insult us like you just have.

And go ahead and call me a redneck. I like shooting guns, always have since I learned how to shoot when I was 6. I have lived in the South my whole life. I like to hunt. I have a bow in my bedroom. I always carry a knife with me except for school and Church. I am a Southern Baptist. I can drive a truck pretty damn good. I had three out of four members of my family die in the Civil War. I am a Civil War re-enactor. I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps specifically to fight in this war.

And yet, I own and drive a Honda. I listen to hard rock/heavy metal. I can play guitar (more than just Sweet Home). I can program in three different computer languages. I am white and despise the Klan. I have traced back my family's history and we never owned slaves--simply put us share croppers were too poor to afford them, yet we willingly fought and died because of them because we believed in States Rights (an argument the North and West is ironically using now for abortion and gun control). I also listen to classical music on occasion. I am getting my major in Physics.

So, am I a redneck now? How about my usage of the word y'all?



thats pretty much what im sayin, im from North Carolina and love the South, and gettin pretty tired of people throwing negative connotations on being from the south and talking like it when i think its the most beautiful accent in the world, especially when a pretty little southern belle has that cute little accent.

I say y'all all the time.

I say "you guys" as that's just how it's done up here. When I first joined the Army I thought it was odd that people actually said "Y'all", but I soon got over thinking that it was abnormal in some way. It's a different culture, they say different things, and that's that.

You guys have feelings???

thats funny buddy, seem like your the ignorant one,
fag

You Chaps

thats funny buddy, seem like your the ignorant one,
fag
Lets be best friends forever!

Here in the land of New York, you know the greatest and most powerful state of the union, y'all is not our speak. "You guys" is proper.

thats why i don't like new york, they think they are the best and think everyone should be just like them or they are shit, but thats why i will never go there, i believe i will stay on this side (southern side) of the Mason-Dixon line

You guys.

I sometimes use "y'all" to spice things up, but generally I think "you guys" comes more naturally. I might go with simply "all" rather than "y'all". "Folks" and "team" or "group" and "friends" are all other possibilities. I use "pals" quite a bit. I suppose I just prefer not to use the same word a lot.

I would just say, "Multiple people," that's it.

I say "Cuuuuuuuh." Obviously

The Northern Irish plural of "You" is either "youse" or "yinz" (rarer). I say "youse".Wow. "Yinz" is a Pittsburgh thing...we just stole all of your slang now, didn't we?

Wow. "Yinz" is a Pittsburgh thing...we just stole all of your slang now, didn't we?

The Pittsburgh accent and Ulster are actually very similar. It's weird, because both accents developed very differently.

Anyway, I've always said "you guys" or "guys". I grew up around a lot of Midwesterners (mostly Michiganers) and New Englanders, so that's that.

And I always thought it was "Michigander". Now that I know it's "Michiganer", I'll use that from now on. :p

Heh. You're almost as proud of your state as a Texan. ;)
i literally LOL'ed

and yeah, y'all is a contraction of "you all," i'm from Texas, and i use that phrase with pride, even on the internet :)

i literally LOL'ed

and yeah, y'all is a contraction of "you all," i'm from Texas, and i use that phrase with pride, even on the internet :)

*stabs eye with fork*

I can't stand all of the people here who say that. People who say it without a dumbass drawl are fine, but the ones who sound like dipshits get on my nerves.

It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't such ardent Bush supporters.

Wow. "Yinz" is a Pittsburgh thing...we just stole all of your slang now, didn't we?
Pretty much, yeah :p

*stabs eye with fork*

I can't stand all of the people here who say that. People who say it without a dumbass drawl are fine, but the ones who sound like dipshits get on my nerves.

It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't such ardent Bush supporters.
wow, it's impressive that you can deduce that i have a souther drawl AND my political affiliation just from a single sentence of typed text unrelated to either of those things!

nevermind that neither of those things are true, in my case.

i mean, really...

The Pittsburgh accent and Ulster are actually very similar. It's weird, because both accents developed very differently.

Well, Pittsburgh English takes alot of colloqial words and pronunciation from the Ulster dialect of, say, the mid 19th C, but it's also heavily influenced by a load of other languages. So there's a decent amout of words stolen from us ;)

When I was in Pittsburgh, the museum had a thing up "The Local Pittsburgh Words" (or something to that effect), followed by something like, "Here are some words, with meanings, that you're likely to only hear in Pittsburgh".

We pointed out to the guy working there that you would hear most of them in NI as well. He wasn't surprised, he knew where they came from.

Well, Pittsburgh English takes alot of colloqial words and pronunciation from the Ulster dialect of, say, the mid 19th C, but it's also heavily influenced by a load of other languages. So there's a decent amout of words stolen from us ;)

When I was in Pittsburgh, the museum had a thing up "The Local Pittsburgh Words" (or something to that effect), followed by something like, "Here are some words, with meanings, that you're likely to only hear in Pittsburgh".

We pointed out to the guy working there that you would hear most of them in NI as well. He wasn't surprised, he knew where they came from.

As he should. There are many people of Irish and Scottish descent in Pittsburgh.

wow, it's impressive that you can deduce that i have a souther drawl AND my political affiliation just from a single sentence of typed text unrelated to either of those things!

nevermind that neither of those things are true, in my case.

i mean, really...

Wow, you totally took my post out of context.

either "you lot" or "you people" or "you guys"; and maybe "y'all" as an afectation.

Wow, you totally took my post out of context.
okay, so it wasn't directed at me in particular. however, seeing how you made it a direct reply to my post, there is some logic in me rebutting like that, isn't there? ;)

okay, so it wasn't directed at me in particular. however, seeing how you made it a direct reply to my post, there is some logic in me rebutting like that, isn't there? ;)

Yeah.

Yeah.
heh... now that we've kissed and made up:

DOWN WITH THE NORTH! LONG LIVE THE SOUTH!!

:upyours:

:D

;)

heh... now that we've kissed and made up:

DOWN WITH THE NORTH! LONG LIVE THE SOUTH!!

:upyours:

:D

;)

At least you didn't put a sniper in it.

Guys

At least you didn't put a sniper in it.
lol, but oh, was i tempted :D

Well, Pittsburgh English takes alot of colloqial words and pronunciation from the Ulster dialect of, say, the mid 19th C, but it's also heavily influenced by a load of other languages. So there's a decent amout of words stolen from us ;)

When I was in Pittsburgh, the museum had a thing up "The Local Pittsburgh Words" (or something to that effect), followed by something like, "Here are some words, with meanings, that you're likely to only hear in Pittsburgh".

We pointed out to the guy working there that you would hear most of them in NI as well. He wasn't surprised, he knew where they came from.I might have to do a search of Pittsburgh history to find out if a particular wave of Northern Irish came here at any particular point.

I might have to do a search of Pittsburgh history to find out if a particular wave of Northern Irish came here at any particular point.
They'll probably be referred to as "Scotch-Irish".

This (http://pittsburgh.about.com/library/weekly/aa_scotch_irish.htm) (hardly an authoratitive document, I know) says,
Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania claim a strong Irish heritage, dating back to the 18th century. The region's first settlers hailed from Scotland and Ireland, most putting down roots in the area as farmers and tradesman. These Scotch-Irish were primarily young, rebellious Presbyterians who played a large part in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. The University of Pittsburgh, Washington & Jefferson College, Allegheny College in Meadville, Westminster College, Grove City College and Geneva College were all founded by Scotch-Irish. Noted Scotch-Irish in Pittsburgh history include Stephen C. Foster, Robert Fulton and Andrew W. Mellon.

"Hey you."

I say ya'll...but thats just the hick in me i guess

And I always thought it was "Michigander". Now that I know it's "Michiganer", I'll use that from now on. :p

Actually, it's Michigander. Abraham Lincoln once called Lewis Cass (the father of our state) "The Great Michi-gander" with "gander" being slang at the time for a silly person. To spite him we took the moniker for ourselves, just as we took "wolverine" from the Ohio press during the Toledo War. Although a few people do say Michiganer, and the state government seems to prefer the term Michiganian. The most common usage is Michigander.

Correct, it is not good. Y'all is our slurring "You" and "All". It is an insult to use in the singular, and us Southerners can tell instantly you're a Yankee when you use it that way, even without using accents.

And Franberry, as a "redneck" myself I feel relieved that someone like you does not slaughter our vernacular. At least you are leaving us Southerners alone, which was all we were asking for in the mid-1850's and '60s. We take offense when people prod where they shouldn't, or just plain out insult us like you just have.

And go ahead and call me a redneck. I like shooting guns, always have since I learned how to shoot when I was 6. I have lived in the South my whole life. I like to hunt. I have a bow in my bedroom. I always carry a knife with me except for school and Church. I am a Southern Baptist. I can drive a truck pretty damn good. I had three out of four members of my family die in the Civil War. I am a Civil War re-enactor. I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps specifically to fight in this war.

And yet, I own and drive a Honda. I listen to hard rock/heavy metal. I can play guitar (more than just Sweet Home). I can program in three different computer languages. I am white and despise the Klan. I have traced back my family's history and we never owned slaves--simply put us share croppers were too poor to afford them, yet we willingly fought and died because of them because we believed in States Rights (an argument the North and West is ironically using now for abortion and gun control). I also listen to classical music on occasion. I am getting my major in Physics.

So, am I a redneck now? How about my usage of the word y'all?

WOOT!!!! I agree, man! Although I come from AK, I have found folks from the South to be in no way inferior to the rest of us.

At least you didn't put a sniper in it.
DOWN WITH THE NORTH

LONG LIVE THE SOUTH YALL

:upyours:

:D

;)

:sniper:

:mp5:

Actually, it's Michigander. Abraham Lincoln once called Lewis Cass (the father of our state) "The Great Michi-gander" with "gander" being slang at the time for a silly person. To spite him we took the moniker for ourselves, just as we took "wolverine" from the Ohio press during the Toledo War. Although a few people do say Michiganer, and the state government seems to prefer the term Michiganian. The most common usage is Michigander.

Well then, I shall continue to use the term.

DOWN WITH THE NORTH

LONG LIVE THE SOUTH YALL

In case you haven't noticed, the North is declining. The economies of the Great Lakes states are sluggish at best, and the largest areas of population growth are in the South and West. The pendulum is swinging the other way. The South and West will have comfortable control of DC within the next 20 years simply due to demographics.

Well then, I shall continue to use the term.

Don't matter what you use, as long as you say or imply ", better than Ohians" after the term.

Don't matter what you use, as long as you say or imply ", better than Ohians" after the term.

Not all Ohioans are bad, but I've run into some pretty lousy ones.

the reason the south is more populated is because of the invention of airconditioning.( i am a yank who converted to the south)

i usually say dudes or guys never the whole sentence of you guys... y'all is just not a habbit for me but i have said it before. mainly Hey you bunch of homo-phobic fags(oxy-moron)

Not all Ohioans are bad, but I've run into some pretty lousy ones.

The smart ones are actually evil.

Y'all and You guys interchangeably, whichever comes out first----and sometimes I even say Oy! Laddies!!!

The smart ones are actually evil.

Smart ones... Those come at a premium in Texas. :p

Don't matter what you use, as long as you say or imply ", better than Ohians" after the term.

I thought the word "Michigander" implied this :p

I say "y'all" all the time, and don't even notice it. I only know I say it because I never say "You'se guys"!!! And I ain't even about to act ashamed or embarressed because I am a redneck. I ain't a hillbilly (although I hail from the Ozark "mountains"), but I am a redneck, without all the boozing and skulls on the Confederate flag.

American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God!!!

I say "y'all" all the time, and don't even notice it. I only know I say it because I never say "You'se guys"!!! And I ain't even about to act ashamed or embarressed because I am a redneck. I ain't a hillbilly (although I hail from the Ozark "mountains"), but I am a redneck, without all the boozing and skulls on the Confederate flag.

American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God!!!

As far as I know only New Yorkers and people from New Jersey say "You'se guys". The rest of us up north say "You guys"

Correct, it is not good. Y'all is our slurring "You" and "All". It is an insult to use in the singular, and us Southerners can tell instantly you're a Yankee when you use it that way, even without using accents.

You can say that again!!


And Franberry, as a "redneck" myself I feel relieved that someone like you does not slaughter our vernacular. At least you are leaving us Southerners alone, which was all we were asking for in the mid-1850's and '60s. We take offense when people prod where they shouldn't, or just plain out insult us like you just have.

Amen, brother!!

And go ahead and call me a redneck. I like shooting guns, always have since I learned how to shoot when I was 6. I have lived in the South my whole life. I like to hunt. I have a bow in my bedroom. I always carry a knife with me except for school and Church. I am a Southern Baptist. I can drive a truck pretty damn good. I had three out of four members of my family die in the Civil War. I am a Civil War re-enactor. I am enlisting in the United States Marine Corps specifically to fight in this war.

All ditto for me, except I am Independent Baptist (and I carry my knife to church!) and I am going in the Air Force!

And yet, I own and drive a Honda. I listen to hard rock/heavy metal. I can play guitar (more than just Sweet Home). I can program in three different computer languages. I am white and despise the Klan. I have traced back my family's history and we never owned slaves--simply put us share croppers were too poor to afford them, yet we willingly fought and died because of them because we believed in States Rights (an argument the North and West is ironically using now for abortion and gun control). I also listen to classical music on occasion. I am getting my major in Physics.

I listen to Country, Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, and some Irish/Celtic music. I drive a Chevy, but can't program computers. Like you, my Confederate family never owned slaves (although they did farm, keep stores, or worked in law enforcement). A thousand "amens" on your statement about States' Rights.

So, am I a redneck now? How about my usage of the word y'all?

Yes, you are! I welcome you as a brother! What state are you from?

Neither, I don't think. I might say "guys", but I don't think I ever say "You guys". I'd say "What's up guys?" rather than "What's up you guys?". I certainly don't say "y'all".

I'd rather say "You guys" than "Y'all", I dont want to sound like a redneck

"Y'all" is far from "redneck"... It's a phrase which is heavily south-eastern in origin, but which now covers a large chunk of the southern US out as far as Arizona, and up the Rockies into parts of Canada...

It's destined and headed towards becoming a standard.

What about the grammatically correct option, you?

You isn't gramatically correct whch dealing with a group... Which is the screwed up thing about present day english... In the past the language has borne two seperate words for addressing single people vs. groups, and the surfacing of "you guys", "youse" and "y'all" are mearly ways to compensate for the lack of such. Y'all merely is gaining more territory than the others, and etymologically speaking will end up being a normal part of speech, and is alreadty pretty normal over a large section of the present US.

I. by the way, use the term "y'all".

"Y'all" is far from "redneck"... It's a phrase which is heavily south-eastern in origin, but which now covers a large chunk of the southern US out as far as Arizona, and up the Rockies into parts of Canada...

It's destined and headed towards becoming a standard.

In America, maybe. It hasn't caught on here.

(and shouldn't, I still think it sounds silly. I'd find it impossible to say without feeling like i'm poking fun at America.)

In America, maybe. It hasn't caught on here.

(and shouldn't, I still think it sounds silly. I'd find it impossible to say without feeling like i'm poking fun at America.)

And I find it impossible to say without feeling like I'm taking a piss on rednecks. Well, I guess that's not a bad thing, now, is it? :p

In America, maybe. It hasn't caught on here.

(and shouldn't, I still think it sounds silly. I'd find it impossible to say without feeling like i'm poking fun at America.)

Definitely in America, however I do see it eventually gaining ground internationally.

That's the great thing about language, despite the overwheling presence of the grammar police, language still manages to show that it is a changing and evolving thing... The various forms of english that are spoken in various places now, is not identical to the english spoken a mere 200 years ago; and the english that will be spoken 200 years from now will only have a passing resemblance to the various forms spoken now.

And I find it impossible to say without feeling like I'm taking a piss on rednecks. Well, I guess that's not a bad thing, now, is it? :p

While we're on language, I was going to say "taking the piss out of Americans" but wrote it off as an Australianism. There you go, eh? :p


Definitely in America, however I do see it eventually gaining ground internationally.

I'm not sure. It seems to be a lot more natural to an American accent than a British or Australian accent for example. But yeah, you're right. Who knows where the English language will end up?

I thought the word "Michigander" implied this :p

Doesn't hurt to say it again.

You isn't gramatically correct whch dealing with a group

...It sort of is...