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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
"you guys" is on its way to being proper speech. AUGH!!! Rant! Rail! [running screaming in circles while pulling hair out e]
I am not a guy, nor will I ever be one!!!!!!!!
I refuse to bow to this. Refuse, I say! It is an abomination towards the entire female population! "You-all" is SO much better: nice and genteel.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
You's. 
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
Indonesian also has kita (inclusive)v. kami(exclusive).
I don't think I've ever used 'you guys' in my life. A guy is an effigy burnt on Guy Fawkes Day (Nov. 5).
Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
I can peg it at least to 1965. My youngest sister was two and not nearly as adventurous as I. She would stand in her crib on Saturday mornings while the rest of us were watching cartoons and yell "Guys! Hey guys! Let me out!...Alright, you guys!" and rattle the crib. Needless to say, we weren't scared or inclined to go get her 
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 133
member
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member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 133 |
Living always in the south, I thought a transplanted
Michigander's use of the phrase "youse all" was an effort to modify his speech patterns to his new home--Later heard it from other
people, am told it's a common Michigan usage. There are probably more that y'all didn't list as 3rd person plurals.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Well, like others I don't think it will ever be anything more than a universally accepted colloquialism. I've used it myself, whereas I have never used "y'all", even though I am very used to hearing it used.
I think we do want the plural better defined, no argument. I don't know if we need the distinction as made in Indonesian. I have been known, however, to say "you, singular" and "you, plural" when I want what I say to be exquisitely clear ...
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725 |
I grew up in Los Angeles where everyone says "you guys" regardless of gender, even in an all-female environment. My parents always said "you folks" which was probably a more genteel alternative, and taught us children not to address adults as "you guys."
In college (also in southern California) there were a lot of kids from Texas. We teased them a little for saying "y'all" but admitted it was a little nicer sounding than "you guys." Funny -- they said "all y'all" when addressing larger groups, which tickled us.
One day we asked the kids from Texas how they distinguished between "y'all" and "all y'all." They thought for a moment and the consensus given was that for one to four persons, use "y'all" and for five or more, use "all y'all."
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
In England it would, of course, for the plural be:
"I say, gentle folk one and all!"
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
Or else, "OY !!! You lot!" 
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Ah yes, the teacher's warcry.
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