In rural Ontario, especially the northern parts of Southern Ontario
(like the Bruce, eh?), it is common to hear 'yous' in as a 2nd p pl
address, as in 'What would yous like today?' in a coffee shop. I'm not
surprised that it's a North British usage, given the place names of
Southern Ontario.... Sorry to be off-topic!
Abigail
On Mon, 7 Feb 2000, James Connolly wrote:
> Just a quick comment on this third person plural
> thing.
> I grew up in Cumbria where it was common usage to
> address a group as "yous", for example when asking the
> health of more than one person, one could ask "how are
> yous?".
>
> Has anyone else ever come across this of is it
> restricted to us (English) northerners.
>
> Jim
> --- Bill East <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > Likewise, in California, one young woman in a
> > group of same will
> > > address
> > > the others as "you guys".
> >
> > The usage spreads far beyond California. When
> > seated in a restaurant
> > in New Hampshire with my wife and mother-in-law, I
> > have been asked,
> > "Are you guys ready to order?"
> >
> > I have sometimes wondered how Americans understand
> > Ko-Ko's reference in
> > 'The Mikado' to 'The Lady from the promises, who
> > dresses like a guy'.
> > For Gilbert, as an Englishman, a 'guy' is an effigy
> > of Guy Fawkes of
> > gunpowder plot fame, burnt every year on 5th
> > November in an outpouring
> > of anti-papal frenzy; hence, someone dressed like a
> > stuffed dummy in
> > outrageous, tasteless or over-the-top clothes.
> > Would it be supposed in
> > Americaland that Gilbert was referring to a
> > transvestite?
> >
> > Elasticus.
> >
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>
> =====
> All that is gold does not glitter, : Jim Connolly
> not all those who wander are lost; : 2 Craighall Ave
> The old that is strong does not wither, : Levenshulme
> Deep roots are not reached by frost. : Manc. M19 2BR
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Abigail Ann Young (Dr), Associate Editor/ Records of Early English Drama/
Victoria College/ 150 Charles Street W/ Toronto Ontario Canada
Phone (416) 585-4504/ FAX (416) 585-4594/ [log in to unmask]
List-owner of REED-L <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed-l.html>
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed.html => REED's home page
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/stage.html => our theatre resource page
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~young => my home page
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