🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <37m339$s5b@boogie.cs.utexas.edu>,
Janet M. Swisher <swisher@cs.utexas.edu> wrote:
>In article <CxMHKJ.LKq@txnews.amd.com>,
>C. Dru Cabler <cabler@bianca.amd.com> wrote:
>
>>It's not strictly a "Texas slangism".  It's more a "Southern
>>U.S. slangism".              
>
>Not slang, either, I submit, but a "regionalism".  That is,
>nonstandard and informal, but not very informal (it's acceptable in
>the same contexts as other contractions).  Slang generally refers to
>words and phrases, not grammatical constructions like "y'all".

Actually, I'll take back my "slangism".  My Webster
refers to it as a "Southern Colloq." rather than a "slangism". Unfortunately,
my edition of Webster only has "you-all" and not the contraction
form "y'all".

Wesbster's second definition for colloquial states it is "designating
or of the words, phrases, and idioms characteristic of informal
speech and writing; informal: the label [Colloq.] is used throughout
this dictionary in this sense, and does not indicate substandard
or illiterate usage..."

Now, Webster's third definition of colloquialism states "3. erroneously,
a localism, or regionalism"

My copy of Webster does not have a definition for "slangism".  (I wonder
why :-)  )  However, the third definition for "slang" states "3. highly
informal language that is outside of conventional or standard usage and
consists of both coined words and phrases and of new or extended meanings
attached to established terms: slang develops from the attempt to find 
fresh and vigorous, colorful, pungent, or humorous expression, and
generally either passes into disuse or comes to have a more formal status..."

Sounds like "slangism" is a slang under this definition.  

Where does this leave us?  The dictionary states that it is a
"Southern Colloq." and as such it is an idiom "characteristic of informal
speech." It also states that a colloquialism is erroneously used to
mean a regionalism or localism.  The fourth definition of "regionalism"
is "a word, custom, etc. peculiar to a specific region."  

So, is "ya'll" a slangism?  I have no definition for slangism.  Is
it a slang? Well, it isn't exactly new, nor is it "fresh and vigorous"
among Southerners.  Maybe it isn't.  Is it a regionalism?  It sure
seems so to me. Is it a "Souther Colloq."?  Only if "y'all" has the
same meaning as "you-all". Is it a colloquialism?  Only if one uses
"colloquialism" in an erroneous manner.  

Is it late on Friday and time to go home?  Yep!
Has this whole subject gotten out of hand? Yep!
Does it really matter? NO!

Have a good one!

Above quotes are from Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language,
1984, Second College Edition.  All comments are my own and not my employer's.