media use of singular Y'ALL

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

I would have shuddered, too, as I did a number of years ago when I heard a
similar use (as I recall, with a possessive YOU-ALL'S) in a 1930's movie. I
wrote a brief note on this in AMERICAN SPEECH; see also Richardson's
full-length article in the same journal (different issue). However, I should
point out that serious scholars disagree about this: see the later article by
Guy Bailey (also in AS) in which he presents some response data that he
asserts supports the view that Y'ALL is developing a singular meaning in
Oklahoma. I have serious doubts about the validity of these conclusions, but
they are certainly worth considering by Y'ALL if Y'ALL want to survey all the
available evidence before making up Y'ALL's minds.


In a message dated 5/24/2001 5:23:13 AM, rtroike at U.ARIZONA.EDU writes:

<< Incidentally, if anyone happens to be a "Murder She Wrote" devotee, you
may have noted -- and shuddered, as I did -- that Angela Lansbury very
pointedly used "you-all" to refer to one person in her recent two-hour
special, in which she was playing the dual role of Jessica Fletcher's 19th
century Virginia aunt. It saddened me to see this stereotype perpetuated
so prominently on national television. How can the ADS ever get through to
TV and screen writers??? >>