Going to be needing some new friends . . . soon

[francousteau]

. . . And let's get something straight right from the beginning...it's "ya'll", not "ya" down here. Mastering that fact will go a long ways in helping you aclimate to your new surroundings.

Ok, I'll bite . . . what exactly is "ya'll"? Is it plural for "you" or is it used in the singular sense, like "ya"? Also, how soon after I get there can I start using "ya'll"? Now keep in mind that my sister lives in Austin, so that's gotta get me some points right?

"pre-stirred" . . . funny as sh . ., well you get it.

 

[carrielsal]

I could have sworn it was just one word...yall

It's the plural of you...instead of saying hey you guys, you would say hey yall.

 

[Guba]

Ah, yes...(ahem, in my most academic voice) "Ya'll", or sometimes spelled "y'all" or even "yall" is ubiquitous to the Texan dialect, although it has variations throughout the South. It can be singular (as in, "Hey, Bubba, ar ya'll goin' diving this weekend?") or plural, (as in, "Hey, do any of ya'll know any good divin' sites?"). Many times, the term is possessive, though that form requires creative spelling. ("Is this dive flag ya'll's? I woulda sworn I left mine here somewheres.")

As for the proper waiting period, that's a matter of proficiency. Upon arrival and for at least some time afterward, a newcomer needs to pay close attention to the pronunciation, emphasis, and timing in the way locals use the word. It is important to note that the word is a single sylable. A cardinal sin is to mispronounce it as "you-all", or (possibly worse) "youse-alls". Natives have been known to get testy with such (mis)usage. However, with care to detail and proper decorum, you (or better yet, YA'LL) should be able to use the term properly very quickly after getting settled in. In fact, you will probably find that when you return to New Jersey, say for Christmas, your family and friends will many times wrinkle their noses or perhaps break out in giggles as they ask, "What happened to you? You're talking so funny and you have a...a...ACCENT!"
It will tend to rub off on ya'll with time.

 

[ianr33]

So, y'all fixin' to move to Plano in July huh? Should be warmin' up nicely by then

 

[francousteau]

So, y'all fixin' to move to Plano in July huh? Should be warmin' up nicely by then

Ok, y'all D) had to do it, didn't you? Just as I'm getting my 1st lesson, you had to throw in another one . . . "fixn'". Friends in SC tell me there's different variations on that one too, ie: fixn' & fitn' (spelling might be wrong). Is there some sort of dictionary I can refer to?

 

[paulw]

Ok, y'all Is there some sort of dictionary I can refer to?

Hummm.. How bout it instructors a Texas Lingo Specialty cert

Just come on down, were fixin to hook yall up

 

[ianr33]

Hummm.. How bout it instructors a Texas Lingo Specialty cert

Just come on down, were fixin to hook yall up

Bloody foreigners

 

[vintagediver]

Bloody foreigners

Damn Yankees....

 

[Guba]

Ok, y'all D) had to do it, didn't you? Just as I'm getting my 1st lesson, you had to throw in another one . . . "fixn'". Friends in SC tell me there's different variations on that one too, ie: fixn' & fitn' (spelling might be wrong). Is there some sort of dictionary I can refer to?

Well, there are many to which you might refer. Here's a starting point...

Texan-English Dictionary

Hope that helps.

"Why, we'd do enythin ta hep a feller diver git awl ac-li-mated to his new en-virn-ment. Ya'll have fun now, y'heah?"

 

[francousteau]

Well, there are many to which you might refer. Here's a starting point...

Texan-English Dictionary

Hope that helps.

"Why, we'd do enythin ta hep a feller diver git awl ac-li-mated to his new en-virn-ment. Ya'll have fun now, y'heah?"

Yee-Haw!! ummm, can I say that?