I do wish English had some common-use ones that were explicitly singular, though.
In the long run I predict that “they” will follow the same path as “you” - it’ll become increasingly more associated with the singular, until it’s the default interpretation. I also predict that both “they” and “you” will eventually require a pluraliser to convey the plural.
“Vos” (you, singular) in Rioplatense Spanish followed a similar path.
If that’s correct, eventually there’ll be explicitly singular second and third person pronouns.
Well, I guess the need for “y’all” may just may depend on the user’s desired level of informality when talking/writing. (To me personally, I just don’t like using it as it just sounds wrong to me.)
I think that “all” is evolving in this direction. It was already used as an explicit pluraliser for “you” (alongside “guys”, -s, and others); and now I’m seeing “they all” more and more across the internet, even in situations where the “all” clearly does not convey “every single one of them”.
Just keep in mind that this is anecdotal from my part, not backed up by hard data.
In the long run I predict that “they” will follow the same path as “you” - it’ll become increasingly more associated with the singular, until it’s the default interpretation. I also predict that both “they” and “you” will eventually require a pluraliser to convey the plural.
“Vos” (you, singular) in Rioplatense Spanish followed a similar path.
If that’s correct, eventually there’ll be explicitly singular second and third person pronouns.
my prediction is for th’all and y’all or just thal and yal in the long run
I have a soft spot for ‘yous’, personally.
youse guyseses
My first bet is roughly in this direction, too.
Not outside of the US…
Most people’s English is more closely linked to American English anyway, or otherwise follow their own development path
And especially in the age of the internet, where language changes quickly spread globally
I tend to use “mates,” as “y’all” just doesn’t really agree with me.
how does that work?
“could y’all please help me” -> “could mates please help me”?
Could I get some help, mates?
you dont need the word mates in that sentence ?w?
and it wouldnt work in like so many situations.
not saying you cant use it, but it doesnt seem like an adequat plural you
Well, I guess the need for “y’all” may just may depend on the user’s desired level of informality when talking/writing. (To me personally, I just don’t like using it as it just sounds wrong to me.)
Do we currently have an explicit pluralizer for they?
I think that “all” is evolving in this direction. It was already used as an explicit pluraliser for “you” (alongside “guys”, -s, and others); and now I’m seeing “they all” more and more across the internet, even in situations where the “all” clearly does not convey “every single one of them”.
Just keep in mind that this is anecdotal from my part, not backed up by hard data.
We can thank Harry for this one
(TV;DW: them’ll)
Theys