Singular "yez"?

[Wilson Gray]

On Dec 13, 2004, at 6:51 PM, FRITZ JUENGLING wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       FRITZ JUENGLING <juengling_fritz at SALKEIZ.K12.OR.US>
> Subject:      Re: Singular "yez"?
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> This reminds me of the man on trial who says "So what if the
> prosecution can bring in 2 people who say they saw me do it; I can
> bring in 20 who can say they DIDN'T see me do it."
> I'm really not sure what prejudice I could have with respect to
> singular y'all.  What difference does it make to me whether anyone
> says sing. y'all?  All I know is what I was told by my Kentuck
> colleague.
> Fritz

I don't think that Jim meant "prejudices" in *that* sense. My
impression is that Jim was referencing my attitude and that of my
Mississippi correspondent, implying that we may be being a bit
close-minded WRT the use of "y'all" as a singular, given that such use
(supposedly;-) exists.

Of course, I could be wrong and Jim's remark *was* meant as a slam
against you personally.

-Wilson

>
>> Otherwise, all either camp has to offer is basically only
>> "I personally have *heard* this!" vs. "I personally have *never* heard
>> this!" As Jim so wisely notes below, "... we hear and interpret what
>> our prejudices instruct us to hear."
>
>> -Wilson
>>
>