[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by PeggyM

Hi Tex, Alabamans are called just that. I lived in Houston for 6 yrs and definitely noted there was a similar accent to N AL. Their accent is pretty extreme and flat, and has multi syllables for a one syllable word. But "HI (doesn't have an 'e' sound at the end of the word) It's strictly an 'I' sound. E'ALL" is pronounced exactly as you read it - Y'all. There you go, you've got the sound.

Lots of Alabamans moved to TX in the middle 1800s, including some of my family. whats you think TEX? Let me know.

Interesting observation, Miss Peggy! And I have to admit, I never really thought about the slight "ee" sound in "y'all"! But yeah, after I read what you wrote, I admit I said it over and over to myself to see if I DID in fact say it that way. I am STILL not sure! LOL

On a related tangent, something you and the rest of my Alabama friends who replied so nicely to my queries might be interested in seeing part of survey done a while back concerning the use of "y'all." I can't really remember right off hand where I found it, but I thought it was sort of interesting when I did, and copied it for later reference! LOL Anyway, here it is:

More than half using “y’all”: 1. Mississippi – 85.47% 2. Louisiana – 79.30% 3. Texas – 73.09% 4. Alabama – 72.81% 5. South Carolina – 71.83% 6. Georgia – 71.15% 7. Arkansas – 69.17% 8. North Carolina – 66.13% 9. Tennessee – 62.15%

Less than half using “y’all”: 1. Oklahoma – 46.35% 2. Virginia – 44.03% 3. Florida – 41.49% 4. Kentucky – 39.00% 5. West Virginia – 28.35% 6. Delaware – 20.93% 7. Maryland – 20.52% 8. Missouri – 13.44%

And, as a sort of “control group”, four non-Southern states: 1. California – 6.8% 2. Illinois – 6.05% 3. Colorado – 6.78% 4. Pennsylvania – 4.08%

Wherebouts did most of your kin settle in Texas?

[aseret]

Hi TexasReb,

I live in Dallas but grew up in North Alabama (Florence) as did the mother of Texas Monthly's Executive Editor, Skip Hollandsworth. When I go home to visit Florence, I'm usually asked if I'm from New York!?

The barbecue difference to me is the fork. Texas barbecue is sliced beef served on a plate with red beans, sliced onions and texas toast. To me barbecue is pulled pork served on a bun with cole slaw and hot sauce. In Alabama if your going to need a fork it would be for potatoe salad and baked beans (no relation to the Texas red beans).

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by aseret

Hi TexasReb,

I live in Dallas but grew up in North Alabama (Florence) as did the mother of Texas Monthly's Executive Editor, Skip Hollandsworth. When I go home to visit Florence, I'm usually asked if I'm from New York!?

The barbecue difference to me is the fork. Texas barbecue is sliced beef served on a plate with red beans, sliced onions and texas toast. To me barbecue is pulled pork served on a bun with cole slaw and hot sauce. In Alabama if your going to need a fork it would be for potatoe salad and baked beans (no relation to the Texas red beans).

Hi Aseret! I was going thru some old theads and just now saw your reply. Matter of fact, Skip Hollandsworth graduated from the same high school I did in our hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas. I never knew him (he was several years ahead of me), but enjoy reading his articles in the magazine.

Anyway, quid pro quo so to speak, I have a very good friend/distant cousin of mine who is originally from Florence, Alabama! In fact, SHE is the one I was referring to in my original post! LOL Anyway, I will DM you and see if you might have known her family.

Yeah, Texas BBQ tends to be beef (although I actually prefer pork). But my experience is that coleslaw is very popular too as a side dish, along with red beans. Interesting thing on that...the bean definition, I mean. For instance, in Texas "red beans" are what a lot of people call "pinto beans", not what a lot of northerners mean by kidney beans.

One more little comment that I got a kick out of was your mention of living in Dallas and being asked if you are from New York when you returned to Alabama. LOL Yeah, Dallas is so full of transplants from the north that, from a linguistic point of view, one might as well be in New York (or Chicago, or whatever!). Perhaps like I have heard Atlanta is in the Southeast.

Anyway, one year I was in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex and checked into a motel room near the airport for the night. I made some small talk with the clerk and, even before she had seen my drivers license, she suddenly said "You must be from Texas." I was amused and taken aback (after all, weren't we IN Texas???). So I asked what clued her in. She replied, "Cos I am too honey, and you don't sound like you are from around here!"

Thanks again for all these interesting comments, y'all.

[Bravo35223]

When I lived in Texas, the one positive thing I learned about from their BBQ experience was smoked sausages, which I learned to love and have brought back with me to Alabama.

I still never, ever eat BBQ beef though....it's all about the pig.

[MullinsCurve]

I've always referred to white sauce as a white gravy, like that nasty stuff Cracker Barrel, Hardee's and other restaurants put on their biscuits.

I like beef BBQ over the pig, but will eat both.

I prefer to be called an Alabamian.

I've never looked much into the North Alabama accent but it does differ from that which we use in the Southern part of the state. The North is more like the Appalachian accent of East Tennessee and West NC, while the Southern ALabama is more of a "Cracker" accent that is spoken in South Jawja and N FL.

One important thing to remember about "y'all". It is ALWAYS and FOREVER plural. One day Hollywood will figure this out when making movies about Southerners. When speaking to one person, "you" should be used.

[Southlander]

White sauce is NOT white gravy.

2 totally separate things. They don't even have the same ingredients.

You are correct about the accent and "ya'll." Cheers!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by MullinsCurve

One important thing to remember about "y'all". It is ALWAYS and FOREVER plural. One day Hollywood will figure this out when making movies about Southerners. When speaking to one person, "you" should be used.

Ditto on that one for sure!

There is, however, ONE noteable exception. Which is to say that one can be addressing another person individually and use the word "y'all" if also obviously questioning about members of their family or mutual friends, and or extending an invitation to the same. For instance, "How have y'all been doing?" Or, "Y'all need to come by and see us sometime."

[MullinsCurve]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

Ditto on that one for sure!

There is, however, ONE noteable exception. Which is to say that one can be addressing another person individually and use the word "y'all" if also obviously questioning about members of their family or mutual friends, and or extending an invitation to the same. For instance, "How have y'all been doing?" Or, "Y'all need to come by and see us sometime."

Yes, but you are still asking about more than one person. If you were to inquire about that specific person's health, you would use "you", as in "How are you doing since your hemorrhoid surgery?" Down here, when we get into your business, we get into your business.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by MullinsCurve

Yes, but you are still asking about more than one person. If you were to inquire about that specific person's health, you would use "you", as in "How are you doing since your hemorrhoid surgery?" Down here, when we get into your business, we get into your business.

Absolutely on that one. I am just making the qualification that there *are* some very limited instances where you can actually address one person, and it be acceptable to use "y'all" in doing so!

Not many, but one or two!

[MullinsCurve]

Oh yeah, one more thing, Texas Reb, Roll Tide.