*From Jamie Renee*
I have wanted to write how I feel about the word y'all, for a while. Recently my face turned BLOOD RED with embarrassment (which by the way look for the hidden word in that word) when I was on the phone paying a bill and I said the term "you guys" only to find out my nice person who was taking my payment was a TEXAN!!!!!! I have been in Tennessee too long where too many Northerners have migrated and have actually been sucked into using "you guys" instead of "y'all." The more I think about it, the more it makes sense that y'all is a much more appropriate word and after you PLEASE READ the following article from below you will see EXACTLY what I mean.
**********************************************************
During a recent trip to Seattle, I found myself in the company of students representing schools and hometowns from around the country. Naturally, everyone talked a little differently and-afraid of being stereotyped-I became more careful about my own speech.
No "fixin'," no "gonna," no "ain't" and above all, no "y'all."
Apparently, these words scream "Southern" and "Mississippi" to the world. That's not a problem in and of itself. However, many people think of Mississippians as ignorant and backward.
This leads to wonderful questions that show who really is ignorant, like, "Do you wear shoes?" (No, I bleached my feet and tattooed swooshes on them.)
Or, "Do you ride horses to school?" (Sure do. In fact, I was walking behind one just yesterday and I wasn't looking. That's why the soles of my tattooed feet are so dark.)
Fortunately, nobody at the junket committed such a faux pas. Still, I didn't want to take any chances.
"Fixin'," "ain't" and "gonna" vanished with no problem. With a little conscious thought, "fixin'" and "gonna" became "about" and "about to."
I should not have worried about "ain't." I didn't use it, but the guy from Massachusetts did. Apparently, "ain't" is a regionalism that has grown into a "nationalism."
"Y'all" caused problems.
There I was, sitting in a room full of journalism majors trying not to fulfill the backward Southern stereotype (Y'all is not blessed by journalism's godhead, the AP stylebook). I raised my hand and was recognized for a question.
Against my intentions, my subconscious chose the best word to address my audience. It is not the proper "you," nor is it "you guys" or even "you all." It is "y'all." Defeated by my subconscious, I gave up and use "y'all" throughout the weekend.
Why was I so compelled to use "y'all?" It clearly was not pride. I purged "fixin'" and "gonna" easily enough. On the way back to the airport, I found the answer.
"Y'all" is simply the best word for the plural second person.
English books insist on using "you" for both singular and plural. Naturally, this often leads to confusion.
No other English pronouns suffer from the problem. Clearly, a distinct word is needed for second person plural. Candidates abound, but most have their weaknesses.
Some might say "you guys" is the word for the job. They're obviously scum of the earth sexist pigs obsessed with their own manliness. Or they may just be from Iowa.
Either way, somebody is going to complain about how "you guys" is unfair and try to change it to "you girl/guys," "you persons" or "you beings who may or may not be either male or female, but of indeterminate sex and/or gender." I'd rather just avoid the whole thing.
"You people" has some promise. Sadly, it already has a purpose. It's used to address groups of people who are collectively irritating, incapable or incompetent.
To me, it has about the same ring as "damn, dirty apes" did to Charlton Heston's hairy friends. Being addressed as "you people" makes me feel like a telemarketer.
"You all" is not much different from "y'all." It sounds similar, but it has two syllables, partly defeating the purpose of using a pronoun-laziness.
It also makes moving more difficult. Say, "I'd like you all to help me move tomorrow." Everyone will agree, not show up and lie the next day, "Oh, I thought you said 'U-haul.'"
So "y'all" is the perfect word for second person plural. I will never again be ashamed to use this most excellent word.
It is clear, concise, gender-free and it forces friends to help move the 50-gallon fish tank that looks perfect between the Anna Kournikova poster and the stop sign.
Using "y'all" improves the English language.
There is one more thing. The progressive may wish to use "y'all" not just in speech but in writing. "Y'all" is spelled with the apostrophe between the y and the a.
Spell it any other way and it's backward and ignorant.
http://media.www.reflector-online.com/media/storage/paper938/news/2003/10/28/Opinion/No.Substitutes.For.Word.yall-2537484.shtml
Nathan Alday is a senior aersopace engineering major. He can be reached at nca1@msstate.edu.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
First Blackberry Post
Hi people! This is my very first attempt to "Blog from the BlackBerry." If it gets lost in space, I will be angry but I'm sure I really have nothing important to say anyways.
You would find me in a small, one window room, in another city today. Its continental breakfast time. I have TWO drinks cause they are FREE. Let me note they "should" be free.
Where's my lovely coffee from TX I get at my house in Nashville? Where's my Star bucks I get at the salon? What is this thin excuse of caffeine? I did see a Star Bucks while the husband was driving last night. I could very well take the keys and run for it as he is still zzzzzz'ing. I remember Starbucks and a Revolutionary War cemetery and I'd probably end up asking a famous Colonel for coffee and he demanding I drop and give him fifty, from beyond the grave. Annnndddd its raining, the ground is wet, and I can't do push ups at a normal time, let alone BC (before coffee).
No one could tell I'm a famous hair stylist this morning. I'm so glad, I'm not up to signing autographs and handing out business cards 300 miles from home. I shampooed my hair and fell asleep wet headed last night so now it a mess of crinkled cut blonde french fries thrown into a pony tail. Dude with 5 year old dread locks looks better than me. If these people didn't go to the last Big Aveda show they would think my t-shirt that loudly announces "I'm On the Edge" means I'm a crazy hostile person. Especially with this hair.
So fun being incognito.
Its raining or else I'd try and hold my Sunday morning Worship service outside. I'm going to get this dining room of people to gather in prayer for things like our Troops, the U.S., world hunger, and the hope that Lisa Marie gets the rights to her daddy's song back since Michael had em and we know we went bye bye. Ya know what they say! Ya can't take your "stuff" with you when you go.
I must run so I can get em singing "How Great Thou Art" Elvis style OF COURSE, cuz this man is attempting to sweep us out of this room with a broom. Now there's fuzz in my cream cheese and the Spouse called, he's loading the car and I get to go!!!!!!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
****Edit****
My dearly loved Blackberyy TOTTALY didn't allow me any more room than a few texts. So I had to email this to myself and copy and paste it here. Gotta figure out how to blog from the cell!
You would find me in a small, one window room, in another city today. Its continental breakfast time. I have TWO drinks cause they are FREE. Let me note they "should" be free.
Where's my lovely coffee from TX I get at my house in Nashville? Where's my Star bucks I get at the salon? What is this thin excuse of caffeine? I did see a Star Bucks while the husband was driving last night. I could very well take the keys and run for it as he is still zzzzzz'ing. I remember Starbucks and a Revolutionary War cemetery and I'd probably end up asking a famous Colonel for coffee and he demanding I drop and give him fifty, from beyond the grave. Annnndddd its raining, the ground is wet, and I can't do push ups at a normal time, let alone BC (before coffee).
No one could tell I'm a famous hair stylist this morning. I'm so glad, I'm not up to signing autographs and handing out business cards 300 miles from home. I shampooed my hair and fell asleep wet headed last night so now it a mess of crinkled cut blonde french fries thrown into a pony tail. Dude with 5 year old dread locks looks better than me. If these people didn't go to the last Big Aveda show they would think my t-shirt that loudly announces "I'm On the Edge" means I'm a crazy hostile person. Especially with this hair.
So fun being incognito.
Its raining or else I'd try and hold my Sunday morning Worship service outside. I'm going to get this dining room of people to gather in prayer for things like our Troops, the U.S., world hunger, and the hope that Lisa Marie gets the rights to her daddy's song back since Michael had em and we know we went bye bye. Ya know what they say! Ya can't take your "stuff" with you when you go.
I must run so I can get em singing "How Great Thou Art" Elvis style OF COURSE, cuz this man is attempting to sweep us out of this room with a broom. Now there's fuzz in my cream cheese and the Spouse called, he's loading the car and I get to go!!!!!!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
****Edit****
My dearly loved Blackberyy TOTTALY didn't allow me any more room than a few texts. So I had to email this to myself and copy and paste it here. Gotta figure out how to blog from the cell!
Friday, July 3, 2009
PRIDE and DANCING
Well I heard from my sweet, sweet Solider this morning. What an awesome way to start the day, and the 4th of July weekend. Through the glory of Facebook and technology we can chat and email and send pictures on a computer from around the globe, during WAR TIME!
Who in past wars and conflicts can say they were able to do that?! Remember poor Scarlett who had to stand amongst a crowd of stinky people (because you KNOW they didn't have indoor pluming and only bathed on Saturdays) just to check to the new list that had come out of casualties. Now I know she was in love with a married man, but she had to go months on end without knowing who was alive and who was okay, and who wasn't.
So when I've spent two weeks without a peep from my kid I get a little worried. I wear his dogtags near my heart every moment. The closest thing I have of him. Yet how LUCKY am I that I can turn on the computer and see he's okay! That I can get an email or instant chat and not wait for weeks on a letter.
Then...... I hear a song on the radio on my way to the salon that was the epitome of all last year that he spent with us. This leads to another point..........
I danced, I had the radio up as loud as it would go. I was so happy just to know Matt is okay. So pulling up to a redlight I see a coworkers van. So with my windows down, and dr. pepper in hand I was just dancing like a maniac and singing at the top of my lungs. I thought she would laugh and enjoy how absolutely adorable I am. Well, I look over, and my very white friend with long red hair was an asian woman with a short black bob who's eyes turned into saucers when she saw the hysterical dancing blonde girl next to her.
Oh well. Ha Ha Ha. Same thing happened in the parking lot of Wal Mart last week after Michael Jackson died.
So the Fourth is starting today... people are off and I notice every flag flying. I'm even more proud to be in America and celebrate this year now that I've realized the sacrifices our men and women soldiers make. Because of knowing my stepson and friends who are Army Soliders, I feel so much more connected to my grandfather who fought in WWII... Who's birthday would be tomorrow and so is my Dixie dogs!!! And I JUST found out last week Dixie's birthday is the fourth. Had NO idea but her human mom that watched her be born told me for a fact. So how patriotic is she that she was born on the fourth of July, and WE named her DIXIE?!?!?! And my Papaw James *who I am proudly named after* loved his dogs so much.... and I'm going to choose to think he sent this special doggy to me, because she is the perfect dog. And I know without a doubt he loved ME so much. And to think of his war efforts, for all of us, and for his grandchildren and their children makes me so proud to be a descendant of the Ticer family.
I just couldn't be more proud or happy and bittersweet today.
And I won't go into detail about Memorial Day and how I cried like and idiot running around at 90 mph in the Natl Veterans Cemetery sticking fallen flags back in the ground at the headstones after a bad storm. The husband thought I was nuts, especially when I saluted SOME of the graves, but I HAD to fix their flags! And y'all don't EVEN know how big this cemetery is. FInally the Indian Husband helped so we could hurry and go eat dinner. And no, thats NOT me going into detail. Trust me.
So this year, I'm going to realize everything that my step son and his friends I got to know so well are doing. And I'll remember the screaming outburts and flashbacks my grandfather had, and know that no one will ever know what those war times were like. Yet I'll be so thankful my Papaw James came home and I knew him for my first 17 years.
And I will be so proud and thankful to be where I am, and safe, and know above all God is watching over every little thing, and my worries should be given all to him, so I can just dance in the car and be happy.
P.S.
GO SCREAMIN' EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who in past wars and conflicts can say they were able to do that?! Remember poor Scarlett who had to stand amongst a crowd of stinky people (because you KNOW they didn't have indoor pluming and only bathed on Saturdays) just to check to the new list that had come out of casualties. Now I know she was in love with a married man, but she had to go months on end without knowing who was alive and who was okay, and who wasn't.
So when I've spent two weeks without a peep from my kid I get a little worried. I wear his dogtags near my heart every moment. The closest thing I have of him. Yet how LUCKY am I that I can turn on the computer and see he's okay! That I can get an email or instant chat and not wait for weeks on a letter.
Then...... I hear a song on the radio on my way to the salon that was the epitome of all last year that he spent with us. This leads to another point..........
I danced, I had the radio up as loud as it would go. I was so happy just to know Matt is okay. So pulling up to a redlight I see a coworkers van. So with my windows down, and dr. pepper in hand I was just dancing like a maniac and singing at the top of my lungs. I thought she would laugh and enjoy how absolutely adorable I am. Well, I look over, and my very white friend with long red hair was an asian woman with a short black bob who's eyes turned into saucers when she saw the hysterical dancing blonde girl next to her.
Oh well. Ha Ha Ha. Same thing happened in the parking lot of Wal Mart last week after Michael Jackson died.
So the Fourth is starting today... people are off and I notice every flag flying. I'm even more proud to be in America and celebrate this year now that I've realized the sacrifices our men and women soldiers make. Because of knowing my stepson and friends who are Army Soliders, I feel so much more connected to my grandfather who fought in WWII... Who's birthday would be tomorrow and so is my Dixie dogs!!! And I JUST found out last week Dixie's birthday is the fourth. Had NO idea but her human mom that watched her be born told me for a fact. So how patriotic is she that she was born on the fourth of July, and WE named her DIXIE?!?!?! And my Papaw James *who I am proudly named after* loved his dogs so much.... and I'm going to choose to think he sent this special doggy to me, because she is the perfect dog. And I know without a doubt he loved ME so much. And to think of his war efforts, for all of us, and for his grandchildren and their children makes me so proud to be a descendant of the Ticer family.
I just couldn't be more proud or happy and bittersweet today.
And I won't go into detail about Memorial Day and how I cried like and idiot running around at 90 mph in the Natl Veterans Cemetery sticking fallen flags back in the ground at the headstones after a bad storm. The husband thought I was nuts, especially when I saluted SOME of the graves, but I HAD to fix their flags! And y'all don't EVEN know how big this cemetery is. FInally the Indian Husband helped so we could hurry and go eat dinner. And no, thats NOT me going into detail. Trust me.
So this year, I'm going to realize everything that my step son and his friends I got to know so well are doing. And I'll remember the screaming outburts and flashbacks my grandfather had, and know that no one will ever know what those war times were like. Yet I'll be so thankful my Papaw James came home and I knew him for my first 17 years.
And I will be so proud and thankful to be where I am, and safe, and know above all God is watching over every little thing, and my worries should be given all to him, so I can just dance in the car and be happy.
P.S.
GO SCREAMIN' EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)