Has "y'all" become a word in common use outside Southern American English? (subdivision, to live in)

[Stars&StripesForever]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I live in the Atlanta area and I don't use the word "y'all". I use the words "You guys", "yous guys","yous" and "you all". I have lived in metro Atlanta since 1996.

Where are you originally from?

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

Where are you originally from?

I have lived in Louisiana, Texas, Washington state, and South Carolina. Oddly enough, the southern influence was largely thwarted by my father, who is from Wisconsin. Furthermore, the first place I lived in metro Atlanta was Marietta, which felt more like New York than Georgia to me.

[Stars&StripesForever]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I have lived in Louisiana, Texas, Washington state, and South Carolina. Oddly enough, the southern influence was largely thwarted by my father, who is from Wisconsin. Furthermore, the first place I lived in metro Atlanta was Marietta, which felt more like New York than Georgia to me.

Marietta feels like Georgia to me, though parts of East Cobb (Marietta) can feel more like anywhere USA suburbia.

[Stars&StripesForever]

Originally Posted by Smtchll

I hear that pronunciation of "yall" with Southern African Americans, but not Southern Whites usually. I think that's where the confusion came from.

Southern Blacks- Yao
Southern Whites- Yawl

That's how it generally is around Memphis^ I can't say that it's like that across the South though.

I think that you have a point. Now that I think about it, I do think that I have heard some black people say y'all in that manner, usually in an almost non-decipherable manner, as though they are speaking quickly, as in "What'll yao doing hiyere".

However, I have never heard a white southerner pronounce y'all in such a manner. It is either y'all (rhyming with wall) or yawl (rhyming with drawl).

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

Marietta feels like Georgia to me, though parts of East Cobb (Marietta) can feel more like anywhere USA suburbia.

Marietta(at least the part I lived in) didn't feel like Georgia to me. Most of the residents I was living around were from out of state and foreigners as well.

[Kid Cann]

I use 'ya'll' and I'm from Mn... I get some weird looks sometimes.... usually people will say "Ok, are you from Texas or what?"

[David Alleyne]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I have lived in Louisiana, Texas, Washington state, and South Carolina. Oddly enough, the southern influence was largely thwarted by my father, who is from Wisconsin. Furthermore, the first place I lived in metro Atlanta was Marietta, which felt more like New York than Georgia to me.

Okay, at least you admitted it. One thing though, I don't get how "y'all" (a very legit contraction) can be frowned upon by many but saying "youse" & "youse guys" can be alright??? The only time that that the word "youse" was used prevalently in ATL was when people heard HO by Luda (it adds emphasis too). To me, "youse guys" is saying nobody because the "youse" is already trying hard to be plural and "guys" is plural; it's worse than saying "all y'all." It also sounds like slave language to me. Sorry for the rant though.

For the record, I'm not dissing you. My father's from the lower Midwest and always uses "y'all." Do they really say "youse" in Wisconsin or is your mother from the NEast?

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

I've lived in Georgia over thirty years, so I know what I'm talking about. I'm not trolling, kid.

By the way, who would know how the majority of a population pronounces "y'all"? A native southerner, or someone living in NYC?

Either/Or, they say y'all in both it's not just a Southern thing.

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by eek

YouTube - Y'all

The way you did the Midwestern way is the way I say it.

[Smtchll]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

Either/Or, they say y'all in both it's not just a Southern thing.

It's far more a Southern thing than a NYC thing. Most of the people who say "y'all" up North have roots in the South. Almost everyone down South says "y'all"