Malcolm Gladwell

But you, so tell us the problem with you. You is a problem.

Thou is the one we miss.

Thou is the one we miss.

So let's convince us about why we need to have thou back.

So let's convince us about why we need to have thou back.

So what's your preference here? There's two parallel strands of argument here, and I want to figure out which side you're on. So you originally is the plural. Thou is the singular. Singular. What has happened is that you has come to encompass both. But we've developed these colloquial forms, y'all, et cetera, to take up the plural position, and we've moved you to the singular.

So what's your preference here? There's two parallel strands of argument here, and I want to figure out which side you're on. So you originally is the plural. Thou is the singular. Singular. What has happened is that you has come to encompass both. But we've developed these colloquial forms, y'all, et cetera, to take up the plural position, and we've moved you to the singular.

Do you think you should remain the singular, or should you be moved back into the plural position?

Do you think you should remain the singular, or should you be moved back into the plural position?

Why did, I was thinking of, you know, so if someone wrote the hymn How Great Thou Art Today, it would be how great you are. How great you are. Then sings my soul. It's not as good. My savior God to thee. How great you are. How great you are. It doesn't work.

Why did, I was thinking of, you know, so if someone wrote the hymn How Great Thou Art Today, it would be how great you are. How great you are. Then sings my soul. It's not as good. My savior God to thee. How great you are. How great you are. It doesn't work.

You have to use you. But no, you've said there's problems with both positions. But come on, you're not answering my question. Trying. If I make you language czar, and you get to push... you to the singular plural position and either reinstate thou or establish yous and y'all. Which move are you making?

You have to use you. But no, you've said there's problems with both positions. But come on, you're not answering my question. Trying. If I make you language czar, and you get to push... you to the singular plural position and either reinstate thou or establish yous and y'all. Which move are you making?

One of the things that had not occurred to me until I read that chapter was that in the South, y'all is only, is the plural. That is to say, and if it's addressed to a person, you're invoking unseen others. I hadn't realized it. So if I go to the South and I say, well, that's what y'all think, and I mean just you, I've committed a violation.

One of the things that had not occurred to me until I read that chapter was that in the South, y'all is only, is the plural. That is to say, and if it's addressed to a person, you're invoking unseen others. I hadn't realized it. So if I go to the South and I say, well, that's what y'all think, and I mean just you, I've committed a violation.

I want to go back to something. You said, well, we need to distinguish between the... Plural and singular you. But what problem does it create for us when we can't?

I want to go back to something. You said, well, we need to distinguish between the... Plural and singular you. But what problem does it create for us when we can't?

What I would like to see is the country divided on this question. There would be thou districts, and then they would be y'all districts.

What I would like to see is the country divided on this question. There would be thou districts, and then they would be y'all districts.

Because I don't like y'all, to be honest. I do like thou. I would like thou to come back.