Growing up in St. Louis gave me that mid-western accent that is taught to radio personalities...not very interesting but something they believe everyone in the states can understand. Maybe that's why I loved the end of "The Beverly Hillbillies" so much when the Clampetts came out waving good by on the front porch of their mansion and said: "Y'all come back now, y'hear!" It sure sounded like a foreign language to me! I gave up my uninteresting "you guys" and acquired my very own "y'all" when I moved to New Orleans. I really drawled after a red wine or two! Embarrassingly, I found myself saying things like "a bientôt, y'all and au revoir, y'all" during my early days in France. I also found that I tried to give my French a southern accent after a red wine or two. Putting a drawl on "je" turns it into something in the past-so drawling en Français can be dangerous! Last Monday our language teacher announced in class that he thought I was losing my accent. The rest of the class agreed-but then said maybe they were just getting used to it. (They mostly hear English-English spoken here!) 
I didn't think too much more about it, until my Lafayette friends said: "Where's your y'all Laury? We promise you'll have it back after 24 hours with us!" It gave me pause...the second time in less than a week that my "y'all" was noticed to be missing.
I wonder where our accents go. I know I don't say "you guys" anymore, even when I'm in St. Louis. I confess that my "y'all" has been tamed in France, but once more after a wine or a pastis that "y'all" just falls out all over the place when I'm leaving the fêtes on my way to the Chatette. 
Everybody humors me. Some even tell me that it's "charmant" and that always makes me smile. I realize that whenever I left friends or parties in New Orleans, I'd always say: "See y'all!" And now, it's carried over to my life in France. I like that my neighbors think it's charming and are able to laugh with me! It makes me smile to know that they accept me just as I am-even if I am a little different and that crazy American from time to time. I think that this "y'all" is here to stay!
The top photo is the Chatette and the Chateau reflecting in the Lot River taken from the other side in Saujac-which is in the Aveyron Department. My friends and I met this St. Cirq Lapopie pooch on our visit. I couldn't resist...Looks like an "A Bientôt Y'All" to me!
Back from the repas de chasse and enjoyed your accent experiences too! Some days those reflections from the other side are just right-thanks! I guess the y'all has become a kind of a signature and connection to that old life that I try to hang on to from time to time! It feels natural-glad it's lovely!
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | March 29, 2009 at 05:03 PM
I remember the first time my brother commented on my "Iowa" accent after I moved here. I was horrified...oh no, I don't really sound like that, do I? Please give me back my native California-girl accent! I did have a French woman tell me that even tho my French is VERY limited that I don't have much of an American accent...that's encouraging. I think 'au revoir, y'all' sounds just lovely, by the way. I love the view of Chatette across the river.
Posted by: Evelyn Jackson | March 29, 2009 at 04:15 PM