Y'all Two: Early Examples
Department
History and Philosophy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2006
Abstract
The article deals with the usage of the English pronoun y'all. Most linguistic experts suggest a predominantly plural usage of the term. However, Tillery and Bailey found in 1998 that a third of their respondents in Oklahoma agreed that the term can be used in a singular sense. On the other hand, in 1992, Montgomery challenges the common knowledge that the pronoun originated as a contraction of you all. He argued that the pronoun is a derivation from the Scotch-Irish term ye aw.
COinS