Then there's the Pittsburgh version of "y'uns," "yinz."
 
Dr. Seth Katz 
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Bradley University

________________________________

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of DD Farms
Sent: Tue 8/18/2009 2:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Howdy, Y'all



At 01:00 p.m. 18/08/2009, Katz, Seth wrote:
>. . . I still use y'all (and I think its use is spreading). But
>don't you find that people use it as both a singular and a plural?
>Though the singular may imply something like 'you and your people.' Opinions?

DD:  Aged Decayed Southron [ Suthrun ] gentry am I. I use it both
ways, too. As a plural, usually, but singularly meaning both you and
your family, but also as a shortcut for you and all your affairs.
Obviously if I say, "Y'all want to come over to my farm?" and it is
addressed to one person, it means you and your family. If it is said
to two or more it probably doesn't include their family. If I wanted
them, too, I'd add something like, "And bring your folks, too." In
East Tennessee Hill country, it will most likely be, Y'uns." "Y'uns
come, weuns ain't much for going."

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