Southern DU'ers: The Difference between 'y'all' and 'all ya'll'

[Taverner]

Is there really a difference?

[GOPisEvil]

1. y'all refers to a single person or a small group of persons familiar to the speaker.

"all y'all" refers to a large group of people not familiar to the speaker.

At least that's the way I use them. I don't use "all y'all" that much.

[Taverner]

4. So its kind of a Vosotros/Ustedes kinda thing?

Like in Spanish...

[GOPisEvil]

7. I suppose. Although my Spanish is a bit rusty.

Let's say I'm having a drink after golf with friends. I might say, "Y'all know I should have been 5 shots better today." If I were a musician on stage, I might say, "Sing along with this next song. All y'all know the words." Now, to make it difficult, you could substitute "Y'all" for the "All y'all". :)

[Rhythm]

9. Yeah... exactly like that...

had to think back to high school Spanish class, but yeah...

[Lex]

5. "y'all" *never* refers to a single person

ever

[GOPisEvil]

8. I hear it said ALL the time.

[Lex]

10. Never have I heard YA'LL refer to a single person.

But I've only lived in NC.

Maybe in other parts of the South they do that.

[GOPisEvil]

13. I wouldn't say it's as common as I made it seem, but I do hear it.

I speak with and listen to (on recorded statement) people from all over the south (and other parts of the country). I think I hear it mostly in the "deep south".

[Shakespeare]

11. That is correct.

And it's generally used by non-southerners attempting, and failing, to adopt the vernacular.

[Lex]

14. Yes indeed

and it's a dead give-away, imho.

[bamademo]

2. All Y'all is redundant

Y'all is a contraction of you all. Y'all.

[Taverner]

3. Yes but such are the trappings of the vernacular

Just because it's redundant doesn't mean nothin' ;)

[Shakespeare]

6. Nope. It's the southernized version of "all of you."

And "you" in both instances taverner refers to is plural.

[Lex]

12. "All ya'll" seems to be for emphasis.

For instance, if your Aunt tells your family: "Ya'll come to dinner next Sunday. And I mean ALL ya'll."

That means everyone is invited, no exceptions. Make sure everyone shows up.

[KG]

15. you ain't from around here, are ya boy?

well, bless your heart!

[Carnea]

16. All Y'all is less friendly....

Such as Y'all have a good weekend y'hear.

VS.

All Y'all better replace my beer before i git this here thing loaded.


Capiche?

[Pithlet]

17. Now, I've only lived down here for 10 years

But, how I understand it is, "Y'all" never refers to only one person. It's always used toward a group of people. So, there really isn't a difference between "y'all" and "all y'all". But, you might want to listen to some of our more native southern DUers on this one. I still don't use that term all that much, because I haven't acquired much of an accent, so I don't use that term much. I figure it would sound phoney. I still say "You guys" in typical Midwestern fashion.

[DarkTirade]

18. They're fairly interchangeable.