Re: Southernisms (was Re: Genitive relationships (WAS: ConstructStates))

Tom Wier wrote:

> I really like this explanation.  Do you think it has to do with the /l/
> being velarized?
Maybe, but not necessarily.  The reduced form /@m/ of "them" is
probably descended from the OE 3pl dative pronoun
"hem", the sole survivor of the old 3pl system, which has otherwise
been replaced by the Scandinavian borrowings "they", "their", "them".

So we need not look to phonological explanations for reduced
pronouns: after all, "y'all" transparently was once "you+all", and
there is no reason why [y@] could not have survived as its
reduced form.

--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)