Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 15:27:56 -0600 From: debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UIUC.EDU Subject: Re: 2 pl I've argued on this list and elsewhere something very similar to what Edgar is proposing, though it probably took second place to my question about whether y'all could be singular. You guys is definitely gaining as a 2nd person marked plural, distinguished from a sg. restoring the lost thou/you at least in informal speech, and may eventually even make inroads in y'all country. The interesting point is that here we have yet another masculine generic developing, but in an era when we have become much more sensitive to inclusivity and are backing away from generic masculines in other contexts. A vocal minority opposes you guys on grounds that it is sexist, but the voice of the people, that's another thing, in't it? dennis -- Dennis Baron debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uiuc.edu Department of English office: 217-333-2392 University of Illinois fax: 217-333-4321 608 South Wright Street home: 217-384-1683 Urbana, Illinois 61801