What’s Wrong with Youse?!
Well, actually, nothing. Let me first explain why “youse” is OK, but then let me explain why you shouldn’t say it at the office.
There are solid historical reasons why “youse” or “y’all” are absolutely good
English, and need to be respected. Regretfully, though, “youse” and “y’all” have lost the status of being “Standard English”, and you can’t use them in formal speech. But before you laugh them off as the language of yokels, think again.
As English evolves, it tends toward simplification. But what we gain in simplicity, we lose in precision. And this is where we get into the touchy discussion of “youse”.
In nearly every other language in the world there is at least one word to express the second person singular, and at least one other to express the second person plural. In
French, for instance, there are tu and vous (with further rules having to do with the formality of address) while in German there are multiple choices because you first have to consider “case”.
As recently as a few centuries ago, English followed this normal pattern. Not that long ago it was the singular “thou sayest” and the plural “ye say”. So, “youse” is simply a logical and courageous holdout from another day.
But, the majority rules. If you want to sound like you belong in the office, or the university, or the courtroom, then you need to speak Standard English. There is no place in the world you can slip a “youse” into a treatise without raising eyebrows. So, while I will show “youse” and “y’all” the historic respect they deserve, I don’t plan to use either one in my next lecture!
Youse have a good day, now, y’all!
The full paper: Why You Should Show Some Respect to “Youse” and “Y’all” (http://www.purposeful.ca/blog)