YOH

[Benjamin Barrett]

> -----Original Message-----
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf Of Michael Newman
>
> Currently, it maintains that use among almost all young
> New Yorkers.
> It is also used by many as a kind of emphasis marker (I'm
> not sure of
> the technical term here-not my area) not unlike the
> Straights English
> "la-" or for that matter the peninsular Spanish "tio" or Mexican
> "guey" which also share vocative uses.
>
> e.g. That Falwell's such a fool, yo.
>
> In that usage the 'yo' is downstressed.

That might be the usage I've been hearing. It has that downstress
which is probably why I think I hear a residual "l" sound from
y'all. I'll try to listen more carefully.

Benjamin Barrett