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Post by librarylady on Aug 3, 2023 16:58:53 GMT
from the article: I used some of the new digital literary databases to search for older uses of the word, and I found over a dozen examples. They were all in dramatic or poetic works dating back to the 17th century and published in London. The earliest “y’all” that I uncovered was in William Lisle’s The Faire Æthiopian, published in 1631: “and this y’all know is true.”
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Post by AussieMeg on Aug 3, 2023 23:52:18 GMT
I did actually know that. I have a colleague whose family is from the UK two generations back, and she despises the Americanisation (or should I say, just to annoy her, the Americanization!) of spelling and grammar in Australia. I love the word y'all, and use it in informal settings at work (eg. Teams messages). A few months ago I looked into the origin of the word, and was surprised that the earliest use was in the UK. Ever since then I have been dying for her to call me out on the use of the word, so I can share this information with her!  |
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Post by gillyp on Aug 4, 2023 2:46:58 GMT
Interesting. I would have expected the old English version to be pronounced ye all as in two separate words, rather than yawl, despite how it’s written. (Suggested by someone whose knowledge of 15th Century English could be written on the back of a postage stamp.  ) Y’all has never bothered me. Imho it’s infinitely better than yous/youse which is used a lot here and drives me batty. |
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Post by Merge on Aug 4, 2023 5:07:19 GMT
It was the first word I adopted when we moved to Texas, followed quickly by its plural, all y’all.
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Post by hjs on Aug 4, 2023 6:13:27 GMT
I love the sound of all y’all, but don’t use it often. I do use y’all fairly regularly  |
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Post by lesserknownpea on Aug 4, 2023 11:37:10 GMT
I’m. Not surprised at all. I read that the southern drawl is in fact the closest American accent to the English spoken by the early Colonists.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 4, 2023 11:41:54 GMT
Y'all know this is a subject near and dear to my born and bred southern heart.  |
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Post by auntkelly on Aug 4, 2023 13:54:11 GMT
That gives me a whole new perspective on all the yard signs that will soon pop up in my neighborhood which say "Happy Fall, Y'all."
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 4, 2023 15:37:17 GMT
I’m. Not surprised at all. I read that the southern drawl is in fact the closest American accent to the English spoken by the early Colonists. I was going to say the same thing. We have been known to hang on to things...apparently including accents. |
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,396 
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Post by RosieKat on Aug 4, 2023 17:23:34 GMT
I read that the southern drawl is in fact the closest American accent to the English spoken by the early Colonists. I think we must have read that here, probably from librarylady, since at least 3 of us have that recollection! |
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