Tag Archives: Where y’at?

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Yat

Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang

English

United States of America

Context: a term to describe a New Orleans Accent, also used to describe native New Orleanians, especially those from St. Bernard parish. derives from the Phrase “Where Y’at?”

Transcript:

“The people that live in ‘The Parish’ are commonly referred to as ‘yats’ people calld yats are native New  Orleanieans, Usually more blue collar Neighborhoods and  the term derives from  ‘Where Y’at’- Wjere are you going; what are you doing; ‘Where Y’at.’”

Collectors Commentary: (are there other informants for this?)

Key words: Yat, where Y’at?, St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans, accent

 

“Where Y’at”

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Where Y’at?

Informant: Brian Flint, age 23, Metairie, LA. Collected on May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang

English

United States of America

Context- a phrase which means both where are you going/ where are you and how are you doing?

Transcript:

“ The next one is the Expression ‘Where y’at?’ that’s ‘where Y-‘-A-T ‘ as in ‘where are you?’ and it evolved more from a expression for where your location is to  how you are doing as a person and it’s so prevalent that the term ‘Yat’ became synonymous with a New Orleans Accent. Even more so, there is a Christmas album called the twelve yats of Christmas which are indicative of – it’s a parody of the twelve nights of Christmas. It’s a popular cd around.”

Collectors commentary: The phrase is slang because it is a common phrase that has developed into a new orleans slang word because of the accent in the region and a tendancy of exxagerating interesting characteristics, like accents, when pronouncing words. It is unique to new orleans because it is a product of the New Orleans accent. See Yat for more on the accent and the people who have the accent.

Keywords: Where y’at?, how are you?, New Orleans