Y'all: Plural form

Posted by Jim on February 02, 2002

I always thought y'all (meaning you all) was plural. However, during a trip down to South Carolina to purchase a sailplane several years ago, I heard a resident address a group of people as "All y'all". Recently, I checked the web and "All y'all" shows up in multiple documents including an article in "The Onion". Y'all, apparently, is now singular, meaning you in particular. Do all y'all have any other examples of a phrase changing form or a formal name for the transformation? Also, how long has "all y'all" been in common usage?

• y'all: Plural form ESC 02/02/02
  • Y'all: Plural form Jim 02/03/02
    • Regional usage R. Berg 02/03/02
      • Regional usage usage Alex 02/22/02
      • Regional usage Jim 02/03/02
        • Regional usage ESC 02/03/02
    • Y'all: Plural form ESC 02/03/02
  • y'all: Plural form Bob 02/02/02
    • All ya'll Word Camel 02/03/02
      • All ya'll Marian 02/03/02
        • The Irish Connection Word Camel 02/03/02