Is it true that most people from California say "you all" when referring to many people? I can usually identify someone as being from California when I hear "you all". Californians sound a little different from Texans though, because they say it slower, whereas Texans say it a lot faster, and Californians put in more "likes" in their sentences. Has anyone else noticed this? Are there any other ways of identifying a Californian accent?
You all in California
Article 'California English'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californian_English
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californian_English
"Is it true that most people from California say "you all" when referring to many people? I can usually identify someone as being from California when I hear 'you all'"
?? No, Californians say "everyone"...I've never heard anyone here say "you all" unless they're mocking another accent.
"...and Californians put in more "likes" in their sentences. Has anyone else noticed this?"
Yeaahhh...I think mostly ALL of the has world noticed... :)
"I can usually identify someone as being from California when I hear "you all".
That last statement was kinda confusing. You first asked whether if Californians say "you all" was true or not, and then you later stated that you knew. If you knew all along, why did you ask in the first place?...does that make any sense? Now I'm confusing myself :P
?? No, Californians say "everyone"...I've never heard anyone here say "you all" unless they're mocking another accent.
"...and Californians put in more "likes" in their sentences. Has anyone else noticed this?"
Yeaahhh...I think mostly ALL of the has world noticed... :)
"I can usually identify someone as being from California when I hear "you all".
That last statement was kinda confusing. You first asked whether if Californians say "you all" was true or not, and then you later stated that you knew. If you knew all along, why did you ask in the first place?...does that make any sense? Now I'm confusing myself :P
"You all" is common throughout the country, not just California. "Ya'll" is the (mainly) southern and Texan contraction of "you all" (and Oklahoman, and anyone else who cares to use it).
What I meant was that I've noticed that many Californians say "you all" instead of "you guys". "you all" is not the same as the Southern "y'all". I've heard some people say "you all have to do it."
"You all have to do it." does not mean the same as "You guys have to do it." I am from California, and I would say "You all have to do it." if I wanted to say that all the people I was speaking to had to, rather than just some of them. If it were merely the plural form of "you", then I would say "you guys".
On the topic of Californian accents...CALIFORNIANS DO NOT SAY "LIKE" EVERY OTHER WORD!! We do tend to say "like" a bit more often than others, but only because we substitute "said" or "thought" with it. So if you havn't been to California, don't judge our accents based on what the movies or rumour say they sound like.
Also, California is NOT just beaches and palm trees. I've traveled around the US a lot, and it's really tiring to be repeatedly asked, "So, do you live on the beach?" and "WHAT? There's snow in California??" We DO have everything from mountains to volanoes to glaciers to beaches to deserts to forests to valleys.
Also, California is NOT just beaches and palm trees. I've traveled around the US a lot, and it's really tiring to be repeatedly asked, "So, do you live on the beach?" and "WHAT? There's snow in California??" We DO have everything from mountains to volanoes to glaciers to beaches to deserts to forests to valleys.
>>"You all have to do it." does not mean the same as "You guys have to do it." I am from California, and I would say "You all have to do it." if I wanted to say that all the people I was speaking to had to, rather than just some of them. If it were merely the plural form of "you", then I would say "you guys".<<
I myself have a similar distinction between "you guys" and "you all", and do not perceive them as being synonymous. I definitely do use "you all", but it is not a second person plural pronoun in the way that "you guys" is IMD, rather being a specific usage explicitly referring to all of those being spoken to. It also is not synonymous with "y'all" as used in many dialects which use such as a second person plural pronoun, which I would equate instead with "you guys" IMD.
I myself have a similar distinction between "you guys" and "you all", and do not perceive them as being synonymous. I definitely do use "you all", but it is not a second person plural pronoun in the way that "you guys" is IMD, rather being a specific usage explicitly referring to all of those being spoken to. It also is not synonymous with "y'all" as used in many dialects which use such as a second person plural pronoun, which I would equate instead with "you guys" IMD.
"I've traveled around the US a lot, and it's really tiring to be repeatedly asked, "So, do you live on the beach?" and "WHAT? There's snow in California??"
I've also heard non-Californians trying to sound Californian by saying dude and dudette. While we do say dude, I have never, I repeat, NEVER heard dudette used in Califorania without mockery. Here's a little guide on Californian addresses.
Dude--Male or female, if you're talking to someone; usually if the person is an acquaintance, not a serious friend. Also talking about a male.
Chick--If you're talking about a female.
Man--A friendlier address than dude, depending on how you're using it.
Fag--Hostile form of address.
Dudette--Never, ever, ever, ever, ever used. EVER.
I've also heard non-Californians trying to sound Californian by saying dude and dudette. While we do say dude, I have never, I repeat, NEVER heard dudette used in Califorania without mockery. Here's a little guide on Californian addresses.
Dude--Male or female, if you're talking to someone; usually if the person is an acquaintance, not a serious friend. Also talking about a male.
Chick--If you're talking about a female.
Man--A friendlier address than dude, depending on how you're using it.
Fag--Hostile form of address.
Dudette--Never, ever, ever, ever, ever used. EVER.
Some Californian girls do say "like" every other word. Usually blond ones.
Wow, something coming from Brennus that isn't hostile? =O
Alert the media ;)
Alert the media ;)
Oh Brennus, don't take what I said offensively. It was all in jest, all in jest, my friend.
"Some Californian girls do say "like" every other word. Usually blond ones. "
Firstly, it's "blonde" not "blond", and second, it's not EVERY OTHER WORD. Be serious.
Firstly, it's "blonde" not "blond", and second, it's not EVERY OTHER WORD. Be serious.
>> Firstly, it's "blonde" not "blond", and second, it's not EVERY OTHER WORD. Be serious. <<
Both are acceptable spelling variants.
Both are acceptable spelling variants.