A Southern friend of mine once explained to me a common misunderstanding of forms of address in the South. “Y’all,” she said, “is singular.” If you’re speaking to a group you say “All y’all.” Illogical as this may seem to a strict grammarian, I find something both endearing and provocative in that curious construction. Even in addressing an individual, it calls attention to the fact that each of us is one among others. In a culture where individual rights, individual choices, individual preferences, differences, and quirks are all given incessant attention — a culture dominated by radical individualism — there is something to be gained from any reminder that we are not entirely separable from one another. 1 Column Content Background Color White Ali...