Speek Suthern thar?

British or Suthern

2011-09-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Man, I dune herd today two xpressions I thawt wer suthern.

The ole weather man said, "in your neck of the woods," this mornin' when givn us the wethur.

Then, later on an ole woman said she wuz "tickled pink," about a valuable selling.

I guess suthern is influenced by British

pretty as you please

2009-05-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ev'mb in a forayn kuntry, folks do some funny thangs. Like the uttr day, someone ran a redlight, just as pretty as you please.

Pretty as you please- in a certain manner not focused on the consequence or in a carefree manner.

Big wheel

2008-07-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'd thawt I'd make my onest a yer post. Des dab nab French toad frogs has nearly made me furgit my own lingo.

But da utter day I rembered sumtin'. It's all da big wheels we iz got. Des r kinda like the bosses, the chiefs we'll say.

Der iz allwayz more chiefs than Injuns. Dat means everyone wants to be the boss, the big wheel, instead of be'n told what ta do. It caw zis problems. I'll tell ya.

I say let's let the big wheels run the show. We might thank we iz big wheels, but we ain't really.

All Right. Until next yer

I am going to go eat me a bite

2007-06-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I no, it sa ben a purty long time since Iz gotten back o'er cher.

But whan youiz talkin' a foreign tongue you sumetimes hav to stop talkin' yur naturul tongue for a bit. But e'er nowandin sumptin cumes up and it reminds ya of yur home tongue.

Recently, I learnt that folks here sumtimes say they is gonna go do sumething o'r udder. Shucks, I felt right at home. I always use to sayin' Iz gonna go do sumething. Iz even sumetimes say Iz fixin to go do sumething.

Right now I thank I'm gonna go eat me a bite. If you iz suthern, yur day revolves around wurk and food. So it's abut that time.

Seen its better days

2006-09-02T02:36:00.000-07:00

Hadn't had much oportunitee to speek my native languge har.

Been havin' to learn sum ole Franch. But I have notised sum Suthern in the Franch language.

Well jist d' utter day I came across sumtin I had not heerd in many moons.

In Franch dey say: "Le manteau a connu des jours meilleurs"= literaly= "The coat has known better days,"="The coat is worn out."

Very similar, I'd say "that thar coat has seen its better days, we'd better git rid of it and get us a new one."

Whatever...

2006-05-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

From across the water...
I've decided to speek a little suthern today. Man, Iz really otta pratis. Bein over her and all, yu dont get to har much suthern, unless it is suthern franch.

anywho, I figure they'd can talk like they want too. I'll let 'em talk in whatever way they feel dey need to. You know whatever floats their boat, whatever cranks their tractor, just whatever.

Y'all got any "whatever" thangs to say? Whatever they is, yu iz always under stood cher.

Sick as a Dog...

2006-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you were really sick?

My wife is sick right now, but the dog seems fine.

So right now, she is sicker'n a dog. (That partic'lar dog, anyway...)

I have heard that expression all my life, but I don't really understand it. "Sick as a dog."

Most dogs that I have ever had any dealings with could eat a dead rotten possum, and not get sick, while I'm scared to drink the out-of-date Orange Juice in the fridge, cause I don't want to get "sick as a dog".

What about you?

You ever been sick as a dog?

How was your dog doin'?

"Go Cut Me A Switch!!"

2006-01-22T13:30:00.000-08:00

When I wuz a young'un, When I ever got out'a line, my Daddy would sometimes send me ta get him a switch.

Most of ya know what a switch is, but fer those of ya what don't, I'll 'splain it up fer ya...

A switch is a piece of equipment made out of wood, long and slender, usually a simple branch cut from a small tree in the yard. You flick it at strategic times and locations in order to change a young'un's mind. (Usually works like a charm, too.)

In some families, it also proves to be a great source of Cardio-Vascular Exercise for Dad as well.

My Daddy would make me go and cut my own switch (and it better be a good'un, too, or he would go and get one that HE liked, and tha beatin' would be twiced as bad...), and most of the time, just havin' ta go and do that wuz enuff ta cause me ta straighten up. When it wadn't, Dad would grab my arm with one hand, and flick tha switch against my lower hind leg with the other, and I would holler and hop around and around him while he installed my new "striped stockin's."

And I was not allowed to cry about it afterward, neither. Dad would tell me "Dry up, now. If you had done what I told you in the first place, then this wouldn't have happened to you."

It taught me a lot of different lessons all at once. One is, do what you are supposed to do. Obey and respect authority, or you will be punished. Another one is, If you don't, and you get punished, then it is your own fault. Another one still, is that nobody wants to hear you complain about what happened to you because of the trouble you got yourself into.

Dad believed that corporal punishment should always be the last resort, but was sometimes necessary, and Dad as a rule did what he had to do, whatever that was.

Have y'all ever had a switchin'?

Did'ya hafta cut yer own switch?

Did'ya larn' anything?

Grits!! Mmmmmm...

2006-01-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

Ah got this'n here from a website called Country Humor . com...

The Ten Commandments of Grits...

1. Thou shalt not put syrup on thy Grits

2. Thou shalt not eat thy Grits with a spoon

3. Thou shalt not eat Cream of Wheat and call it Grits for this is blasphemy

4. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors Grits

5. Thou shalt only use Salt, Butter and Cheese as toppings for thy Grits. (They left out "Red-Eye Gravy... -TBC)

6. Thou shalt not eat Instant Grits

7. Thou shalt not put syrup on thy Grits

8. Thou shalt not put syrup on thy Grits.

9. Thou shalt not put syrup on thy Grits.

10. Thou shalt not put sugar on thy Grits either.

Note - In this context, "Grits does not mean "girls raised in the south". Ya'll can put syrup on those, iff'n ya want to, and if she don't mind...jest don't put no syrup on the kind made out'n corn that ya cook fer breakfust.

Do ya'll like grits? I love 'em!!

Scared the stew out of you

2005-12-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

Da utter day I was talkin' to a man. He had gotten skered bout sumptin. He said it scared the stew outta 'im. Now, heck he wasn't throwin' up or nutin'. He was just shore nuff skered.

Had you ever had the stew skered outta yu?

Tell us bout it.

My, What A Gomb...

2005-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

I just returned from NC where I participated in a weddin'.

While I was there, my sister reminded me of a real, honest to goodness southern expression.

"We shore Gombed that up right..."

The other two musicians and I who performed at the weddin' were of the general opinion that we gombed up the music pretty good. (Ever-body said we done good, but we knowed we cudda done better...)

To "Gomb" something up means to generally make a mess of it.

You can also "Make a Gomb out of it" or "cause a Gomb" or even "Get Gomb all over something."

Have you ever hear'd of this'n?

Do ya know uv a 'nuther ex-preshun like it?

Izat rally suthern?

2005-11-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Toeday tha speaker said he had an expression found only in da South. Iz herd it and all but Iz wandering if it is just the south.

Hez describin' a sit chu ayshun when someone duz sumptin really stupid. We say, "All man hez just ignerint."

Duz ehni one else say dat? "Boy, u iz just ignerint."

I have herd dis one also. "When da good Lord was givin' out brains, you thought they said rain and runned under the house." Whatchall call it when sum one duz sumptin stupid?

New Blood (Sorta...)

2005-10-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Y'all already know me...Well, summaya do, anyhow.

Pechur'za gittin' reddy t'fly th'coop, so ta speak, so while he's gone, I'ma gonna hepp'im out on this here blog thingy.

My credentials are that I grew up in North Carolina, the mount'ns when I'uz a young'un, an' the eastern part when I'uz a teen-ager, an' now I live in Florida, an' that's 'bout southern as y'kin git.

I done drove a big truck all over these here United States, so I'z 'bout done hear'd ever kinda accent there is, and accents and colloquial expressions are one of my fav'rite subjects.

I consider Pecheur's invitation to be a great honor, and I will do my best to continue in the spirit with which he started this blog.

I don't know if he'z invited anybody else, but I know uv'a person'r two what cud' be good'un's ta'hepp out.

Anyways, I hope ever'body likes my contributions here.

I'z glad t'be here!!

-Tugboatcapn

Ain't leavin' just on a hiatus

2005-10-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ya'll this has been fun.

But Iz gonna have to hang up our talk for a spell. You see iz about to be "transferred" to a place far far away where they don;t speek suthern like we do. So, I'll have to learnt their talk and speak their lingo. But don't forgit once a suthern speaker always a southern speaker.

Now I ain't takin' the site down. It'll be up for all to see. But I am lookin' for some ofuzuns to become team members wif me. I'll still be the administrator but I can't keep talking suthern where I'll be. So if u wuld like to be a part of keeping suthern speek goin (and some ofuzuns have rally got some stuff to say), let me know. I wuld ask that u post suthern speak, try to keep the cussin' down (this is meant to be a family friendly blog), and be nice to everyone who comes, even if they think we are makin' fun of Southerns (which we ain't cuz we are ones). But being suthern means being hospitable and nice to company.

I sure will miss home and I myself wuld love to come by and and "hear" from home.

I've made a ton o xpressions that I never got round to postin'. I'll just list a few. It's been fun ya'll and I do apologize for not updating more often.

yont to= express wish
tricity= electricity
amblance= truck that takes hurt folks to hospital
to have a hissy with a crocheted tail
it takes a poor dog who want wag his own tail
to wet to plow= too bad, too late, sorry
goose cooked

Poisin' cotton

2005-10-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

I wuz reminded the utter day bout cottin pick times.

My kin folks worked real hard in them ole cotton fields growin up. And it's right about the time to work wif the cotton har in thu south.

Iz at a friend's and I spelt that ole stuff they put on cotton to kill the leaves.

Now that's OK, but it ain't necessarily posin' cotton. That's when you spray ya cotton to get rid of the boil weevils.

Man them fields are still white even after the cottin pickers have done their deed.

Been way out a town

2005-10-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Man I went a visted sum kin folks in Mississippi. Whew doggy, what a time we had. Eye jest wish I'd had a racorder to racord all thoz sayins.

I helpt put a roof (not ruf) on my ol'e granny's house. I'll tell you sumptin. A man needs a lot a grit in his craw to uhcomplish that job. Man like to wore me out. Iz Ok now though but for a day or two I surely did not know.

An exploding duck

2005-10-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Herd this one the utter day after a fine meal.

"Im az full az uh eksploding duck."

Now friends that's full. And how can you not be wif all that good Suthern cookin'

2005-10-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Thar she blows the good ole stars an bars

Flag Ordel

2005-10-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

The other day we wuz comin' home from B'ham and bout near Montogumahrie a big ole confederate flag wuz flying high on a makeshift hill put thar by the sons of the confederacy. I took a picture. Been decidin' if I should ppost (that a stutter) it. Wuld you like to see it

You know the way I look at it's a heritage NOT HATE. Iz aginst racism but proud to be a suthern!!

Talidiga Weekend

2005-09-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Not to spoil the fun on the previ us post on "if's" (you can still put chur saying up) but this hars a big weekend fer us in AL.

There is Talidiga (ain't dat sum fine pronun she ay shun)

Then tharz the battle 'tween the Elie fonts of Alabamer and them dang Gators of Floreeduh. I aint had no gatur meet in a long time. I sure iz hongry fur sum. Roll Tide Roll!!

If a frog had wings...

2005-09-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

man, everythang has condition to it. You know if sumptin then sumptin else.

Har a two of my favs. What's yours?:

1. If a buzzard had a piano in his butt there would be music in the air

2. If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his rump

3. If If If....

Hars a test?

2005-09-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

How da u pronounce this ward? MEXIA

If you say it is Mah hey uh, then your from Tay hahs

If you say it is Meks see, then your from Alerbamer

Story to tie ya over

2005-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Gots a big job interview this wakend. Thank thangs ahll be fine. but whilz I out I got a story for ya.

Well, this wuz this man who worked in a factory bilding thangs. He worked the graveyard shift most of times. One night when he wuz gettin' ready he was runnin' late. He had been havin' problimbs and used Gold Bond medicated powdar in certain areas if you'd know what I mean. So, this one particular night we wuz in a real big hurry to get to work and poured way too much powder on him. Well he fiddled around and got most of it taken care of.

He got to work that night as normal and wuz talking to his buddies about how his supper had not settled good. He had ate some Mexican stuff with hot halipenyos and it was not agreeing with 'em. About an ir or so he let out a big one. Folks around him were used to that sort of behavior, I mean that is what happenins when ya at the factory, but one ole guy raised his eyebrow in astonishment. He went over to the man and said, "Boy, you really do have it bad."
The man said, "Yeah, I told you. You don't believe me."
The co-worker said, "If I'd evered doubted it I don't no more cuz when you let that go I saw SMOKE comin' out your rear end and I knew you butt had to be on fire."

Hope ya'll have a good week. And tugboatcaptn I ain't forgot about your additions to "tore up". Hope to make another post on it. ER, not forgot about your request for Dr. ER. neither.

Scuppernon Season

2005-09-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well I just did git in thar and get me a handful of skuppernons before the saison is over. Man them good eatin' thar. When da storm hit I wuz up country a bit. We had to got out in the vine yard and try to keep them ole vines from blowing away. Heck, I almost blowed away myselves. None the o less, we got back up on the T's them vines and picked us about 80 ilbs the next day for market. The market was runnin' on generators and culd sell groceries. And for we left I got me a handful of tasty scuppernons. Sure wuz good. Wished yall culd had ya some.

The South done got hit hard

2005-09-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

That dad burn storm has kicked our hineys down here. Iz alright, but been w/o 'tricity since Monday. Steel not back to normal, but man have I got the stuff to tell. I tell ya'll more when I get to a more stable time. Ya'll keep the victims in ya'll's prayers. Living w/o 'tricity is nuthin' in comparison to losing family and friends.

PS I saw ya comments, tugboat, I'll get back wif ya on it. Good stuff, man!

Left the road at 90

2005-08-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

I heard this one today. I had forgotten about it. It describes reckless driving. I used to think it had something to do with Highway 90. Then I connected Highway 98 with it since a stretch of that road is called Dead Man's Highway (or something similar). But I think the 90 refers to 90 mphs.

And speaking of speed. What's up with the AL State Troopers everywhere? Geeesh.

Tore up

2005-08-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

So, I was sort of convinced by a transplant from Iowa to do a post on tore up.

It seems like everything gets tore up here. First, it was the car, then the plumin', then the dang roof got tore up from the storm. After that hurricane, the roof was in bad shape but that thunder blunder really tore it up.

And in Iraq we tore up Jack with our missles and tanks and stuff.

I just hope ya'll get ya'lls thangs fixed that were tore up. Heck, I am fixin' to get some rest myself then maybe I'll worry about what's broken around here.

Slam up

2005-08-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Being 'round har therz lotas talk 'bout fars. Got bowth friends and family that luke after folks in fares. And t'day at church one women talked about how our bad works are gonna get slam burned up. Like sticking a fare to a roll of hay (not a bail, a roll bigger than a bail). I guess that is like that ole house fare where the hole dang thang burnt slam up.

Course I reckon when ya place a candle slam up aginst the wall it's liable to burnthe whole thang slam up exspecialy when that old oak wood ketches on fare. It'll burn like kindlin'.

Now me and my wife sayz slap dab up. We've been on a couple trips out in the cuntry where the volonteers fight them fares in the wuds. Man, I've see the a whoel tree burnt slap dab up. Nothing left but an ole smoking stick. I wanted to help one time but my buddy got plum mad when I picked up the hose and it went shooting water out so fast that the water went up in the air and I to the ground.

slam: adj= completely; sinonims: slab dab and plum

Ya'll ready for sum futball?

2005-08-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!! It's practice time around here in the south and the Crimson Tide is gearing up for a great season (I hope). My buddy Bob C, sent me this email about futball in the south. He claims to be a Christian and a Gator fan, but I often wonder how that can be. But if anybody gets to heaven ole Bob will, wearing Green and Blue and Orange. I just hope the Tide bleachers are no where near the Gator bleachers.

BTW the Tennessee one is my favorite.

1) What does the average Univ. of Alabama player get on his SATs?
........Drool.

(2) What do you get when you put 32 Arkansas cheerleaders in one
room?
.........A full set of teeth.

(3) How do you get a South Carolina cheerleader into your dorm
room?
........Grease her hips and push.

(4) How do you get a Georgia graduate off your porch?
.........Pay him for the pizza.

(5) How do you know if a Mississippi State football player has a
girlfriend?
........There is tobacco spit on both sides of his pickup

(6) Why is the Kentucky football team like a possum?
....Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.

(7) What are the longest three years of an Auburn football
player's life?
.........His freshman year.

(8) How many Florida freshmen does it take to change a light
bulb?
.........None. That's a sophomore course.

(9) Where was O. J. headed in the white Bronco?
........Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He knew that the police would
never look at LSU for a Heisman Trophy winner.

AND FINALLY (drum roll and cymbal crash.....)

(10) Why did Tennessee choose orange as their team color?
........You can wear it to the game on Saturday, hunting on
Sunday, and picking up trash along the highways the rest of the week.

The Controversy of the Haint

2005-08-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Them feathers have been ruffled around pech's house over the "haint". It seems Kc wuz right. A darn haint IS a spook. My dear wife got all upset that I did not know that a haint was a ghost. She then began to give me the third degree. Have you not read 13 Alabama Ghosts, 13 more Alabama Ghosts, 13 Mississippi ghosts, 13 Georgia ghost..." and a whole list of other Suthern ghost books.

But in my defense I do remember my grandmother talking about haints in reference to a small bug. Or at least that is how I remember. Nevertheless, I guess I need to be whipped 40 times save one with a wet noodle. I have been made fun of fur not knowin' my suthern stuff. Even been accused of being a dang Yankee in suthern clothes. Now that was a real insult. It's made me run around like a whipped down with its tail between its legs. And boy am I in the dawg house for it.

(Side note. The word An Ankou is the Breton word for haint. So, not all has been lost. I've learned sumptin).

What's your accent?

2005-08-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

Wif all these quizes everybudy is takin' I shore wuda thought someone wuda dun this one. Check it out to find out what accent you have. And if you don't find it then add yours to the list!!!

This is surely not me.

This is a suthern one but...she must live in Mountain Brook.

Now this fella is suthern!!

And hars anuther site from Kentucky college. (ya'll know every skool is a college except for The University).

Do any of these people sound like folks ya'll know. The first one sounds like my former boss. "hey, where za time sheet?". Maybe a familiar sound will come to mind as you have fun.

Answer Question 2

2005-08-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Next kwestun' comes from ER also. What are molasses?

Heck boy them thar good eatin'. Molasses is syrup made from sugar cane. You put it on biskits and it shore is good. Now thar is also sargum molasses too. I can't remember what exactly they are made from. But molasses is made for soppin' up with homemade biskits.

Side note: I saw my dad mix butter and pear perserves together then sop that up with a biskit too. Whew. Ya'll making me hungry. Anybudy got some conecuka sawsage or bacon. Heck I'll take just plain ole biskits and gravy.

Answers to Question 1

2005-08-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

My good ole blogger buddy ER has asked for a little help. I kinda figure he already knowd the answers but heck he's helping me keep this cheer blog up and running. And I shore do thank 'im. Also, I like to say a big howdy out to Hen House. Stop by her hen house when ya get a chain sah. Thanks for stopping by, grab you a glass of tea and sit for a spell with us.

He's asked what is "haint" except a funny way of saying "ain't". My answer is that "haint" has been used to describe a little bug but not necessarily an ant. However I figure that is how that durn haint came into being. Some ole suthern heard an ole Yankee talking about an ant and thought, "He must be talking about a haint."

Now let's also remember that haint no telling. Haint could synoneemus wif ain't. Maybe one yall know better than me. If so we loved to learn from ya.

Thank I got it

2005-08-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well I thank I have cleared up the confusion. I just decided to change schems. That looked like it solved the problem.

Now I just need to get my tale in gear and post sumptin' for yall.

Been absent for a long while

2005-08-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for awhile. We've been a movin'g back to the heart of Dixie. And Blogger has mess'd up my first post with a bunch of white space between the title and the first sentence. I'll have to get some ole smarty pants in here to find out what the heck is going on with the HTML. Anyway, I'll cha know when I hear sumptin.

I shuld be able to post a lot of things now that Iz back home. But somehow I ain't heard nothing to put hear. I guess Iz used to the talk around and hadn't paid no never mind to the Suthern. I mean I've visited sum of my gud ole buddie swho live out in the woods and nothing. I'll try to pick those ears up and heard sumptin to write cha'll about. If nothun' else share some ole stories I keep hearing around touwn.

Crazy sumptin'

2005-08-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Thar's an old lady that I know. She's crazy. She as crazy as a bessie bug. I've seen 'er do all sort of thangs like hollerin and carrin' on in the middle of the night. It's like she's out thar skerin' all the boogey men away or sumptin. It's quite a site. Heck one day my neighbor said she az out in dar yard with an ole dang whip yellin and hollerin and such and hittin' da house with the whip. Who knows what she's up to. She is sort of like that Boo Radley in that ole Killin' Mockingbard book. All the yunguns in the neighborhood are plum skered of her. Shoot, i know I know sure am!!

Denton,TX

2005-08-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

Home of one of the Confederate Memorials.

An incenitive

2005-07-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

Got a little bit of motivation t'day from ole ER. Dat ole boy cracks me up, but heck he's helpin' me out with some verbage. So i'd best give him some credit for this har entry that I am bout to post drectly. Now "drectly" has to do with how fast sumptin's gonna git done. And if it's real fast I'll get to it right drectly.

Of course da word can be used to indicate a compass direction. Like, I'd go drectly to the store but I gotta go by ole man Smith's place ferst and pick up an ole tractor blade. That dad burn grass has gotten so durn high I need a darn bush hog to cut it. But I'll get to the store drectly, it may just take a minute or two.

(did ya'll notice our counters are back up?) Man, that's some more insipiration to git thangs goin.=)

Thanks ER. I need a kick in the pants every wunce in awhile.

WamP(F)us cat

2005-07-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

So I am wondering how do ya'll pronounce this word. I've always heard it was womfus cat. But folks around here call it wampus cat. Today I even heard that something is all wampus meaning cattywanked.

Maybe I should ask my neighbor she has a ton of womfus cats running around.

WomF(P)us cat: a stray (or alley) or wild cat usually pretty mean unless tamed at an early age. However after googling the term wampus cat (thanks to ER for bringing this to my attention), here's what I've found: Legend of, Wikipedia, and some football team's mascot

Now the last one, a football team's mascot is the context I heard wampus cat here in Texas. But I've heard it used for an ole mean stray cat back home, and with a slight difference in pronunciation, e.g. womfus cat. There has to be a strong connection between the Applachian mythical creature and the womfus cat. Strange how it has slightly evolved.

2005-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Coon Hunters Assn.

Gawd

2005-06-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

Being from the South Gawd and cuntry are two big thangs we git into.

So naturally, we have a couple of different ways to pronounce the Almighty's name.

1) Gawd- the usual pronunciation
2) Guh-ah-da. The three syllable word, usually heard in rucous sermons when refering to the Lord.
3) Giat (or Gyat). Every day use, usually followed by an expletive. This is not the form we address the Lord when we pray. This might be found in use when we wish damnation on someone or something.

Anyway, Gawd bless, and we'll talk at chu later.

Have you ever had your....

2005-06-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

head peeled?

My dad says that a lot.

Ya'll know when rednecks get drunk they tend to whoop up on one another. And them fancy pants news folks report every bar fight in town. So, when my dad reports what has been reported it may sound like this:

Dat ole boy put a frailing on him. Richard had been on his front porch when two boys in a Camaro came by with no dang muffler on their car runnin' up and down the road. Finally, he got tired of it and got out inthe road and flagged them boys down. Tole 'em to get the heck out thar wif dat mess. One of the ole boys gave him some lip so he said, "Boy, you better git from har before I peel your head." He laughed and fore it was over, ole Richard had already put a good frailing on him.

ner a one

2005-06-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

I guess I've inherited from my mother a since of awe in nature. Specilly with that Arlene comin' thru the utter day. All is fine as frog hairs split ways when I called on Sunday. She told me about the wind and the rain how the good Lord was in control etc.

Me and maw got to talkin' and she was gettin' me caught up with all the gossip. And she was talking about a trip my cuzins were on to NC. They all went on an ole bus. My mom said, "Ain't ner a one of um brought wif 'um a jacket." Just hearing that kind of talk made me homesick. I've got to get home soon!

Ner a one- not even one, or not a single one of them.

A lick a...

2005-06-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Now you've proally herd about not having a lick or a prayer, meaning you ain't got a durn chance. Well, usually a lick is synimonious with 'bit'.

Here is a sentence for ya:

Heck, that dog keeps runnin out into traffic, he ain't got a lick a sense (could be He ain't got a bit a sense)

Now don't kinfuse this with lickur, which is an adult beverage, or lick 'er which is what a cat does to itself. It licks 'erself to death.

What does a Yankee know about the South?

2005-06-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

As is always the case when I get in good reading sumptin, sumotin else comes along and makes me put her down for awhile. Thus is the current state of afers.

I had tod ya'll dat I'd be reading some here book on southern vs southwestern dialects. I got through Wet As A Hen and Handy as Hip Pockets Is on a Hog. But I ain't had a chaince to settle in with This Dog'll Hunt or "How We Talk". But I did get to peruz them.

My Comments: This Dog'll Hunt by Wallace Chariton seems to be all right. I found many phrases in it that I've heard my pappy say (et al). However, i did not thank it wuz too reader friendly.
The next book "How we Talk" by Allan Metcalf is real nice and somewhat professionally done. Now he's from up north, so everything he said I was suspicious of. Nevertheless, I read the chapter on the South. Now, this fellar is a prof of Anglish, so I guess he knowd a lot bout this here subject. Here is what he wrote:

"The South is not only the most distinctive but also the largest of the distinctive areas of American speech, occupying the entire southeastern corner of the United States. More specifically, it stretches from Virginia to eastern Texas..." (emphasis mine) Did ya'll hear that!!!??? Eastern Texas. Maybe Longview. But Mr. Black has put Paris in the Southwest. So, you see people not even the experts can agree.
But Mr. Metcalf continues,"...Its influence extends well beyond the boundaries of the Old Confederacy to area linguists call Upper South or South Midland, stretching from Maryland to eastern Oklahoma and including Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, much of Missouri, and the southernmost parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois." (where the author lives) WHAT IN TAR NASHUN??????

Like I said before everybody wants to be a part of the South, even Maryland and southern Ohio. I guess Hades is about to freeze or something. You know I don't mind it too much if Texas (east) and Oklahoma want to be honorary members of the Southern club, but I'll be dang if I'm going to put up with some South Midland mess which includes Hawaii and Alaska and Guam and British Colombia as a part of the "South."

If this don't beat all, Mr. Metcalf goes on to say that many words are used both in the South and in the South Midland. Then there are some words limited to both regions without crossover. Well, if there are words that are not crossed over obviously there are two different dialects. And this dude claims to teach Anglish? And what about this," Southern has a definite geographical base, but linguistically it is a state of mind." So, I guess you can be Southern and all if ya set yacha mind to it. Well, I'll be. Ain't that sumin'!!!

I will say that he mostly got right some of the dixtinctions. I ain't had time to analiz his treatment on osunds but I bet he did all right there too. Here is his list. Maybe someday we can go back and pick these up for lessons.

y'all
hey
snack time
fixin'
might could
it's a jungle out there
all the difference
bidness
blessing
bucket
butter beans
buzzard, bell a
carry and tote
chunk
cold drank, coca-cola
evening and diner
funny bone
gully washer
icing on the cake
jackleg (although there is a variation to this one)
light bread
lightwood
like to
they ment it
mash off, mash on
polecat
redlight
sack
sick at the stomach (it's to the stomach)
skillet
spigot
furnished with suits
wait on.

The battle continues

2005-06-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

Please go to this site and take this quiz. My score was a 55. ER, the OKie, now has emperical proof that he is Southern and an OKIE!!! WOW. Best of both cultures. =) Let me know your score.

Southwest

2005-06-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

It show do appear that I may have to take a short hi eight us from suthern stuff for a few dayz.

As promised below, I am still reading Handy as Hip Pockets On a Hog by Donald Chain Black. Here are my few snipets I've recovered from 'im. He claims that the Southwest is different from the South, but admits it has had a huge influence on the Southwest (also highly influenced by the West, thus its name). Now I know we have already fot this war at this site. I am not trying to bring back the past. I am just finishing my research so I can return these liberry books. I wuld like to quote Mr. Black. "Situated in the remote northeast corner of Texas, Paris is a goo d place to listen to the folk langugae of the Southwest" (empahsis mine)And I thought this was good "My sole criterion for including a phrase in this book was that I heard it spoken." Amen and Amen. And I must say I have heard few of these myself, which simply proves my previous point, the South is different than the Southwest.

Not up to Snuff

2005-06-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

***WARNING*** THIS SECTION IS NOT DEALING WITH SOUTHERNISMS BUT SOUTHWESTISMS OF DONALD BLACK

This whole expression made no sense to me except for the not up to snuff part.

"When I went to hold Bill's hind leg, I seen he wadn't up to snuff, tricked out in his rump-sprung Sundays and nearly callin' for Earl."

What do think this means. Black gives options but I won't. You jist tell me.

Cooter Brown

2005-06-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

***WARNING*** THIS SECTION IS NOT DEALING WITH SOUTHERNISMS BUT SOUTHWESTISMS OF DONALD BLACK

Dad burn it ER, you got to it before I'd could get it published.

Well that's all OK and all. I had always wondered that same durn thang!

Cooter Brown. He is not the mechanic on the Dukes of Hazzard (which I thought growing up). It is simply someone drunk as all get out. So this is one of them ther expression that has a wide usage, in the South and Southwest.

He says Cooter Brown may come from Paul Dickson's list of drunkness in his Words where the innocent ant or coot was described as "drunk". But we do not know who Mr. Brown is.

I have also heard other terms of innebreation as

"drunk as skunk"
" 3 sheets to the wind"
and some more colorful ones which I will refrain from here.

Bleed the lizard

2005-06-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

***WARNING*** THIS SECTION IS NOT DEALING WITH SOUTHERNISMS BUT SOUTHWESTISMS OF DONALD BLACK

I shuld warn this un is a little crass. All the Southern Belles may want to go on to the next un.

The male counterpart to the women going to the chic sales (powder her nose) has many forms. Here's Black's list

"bleed the lizard"
"ball the jack in his rod" (I have not ever heard this one and I am not sure I want to know where it comes from)
"drag the dobber in the dirt"
"shake the dew off the lily"
"dip his wick in the strange" (not heard this un ether)

What I have heard is
"go waterfall" (when I was a kid)

Arkansas replies

2005-06-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

***WARNING*** THIS SECTION IS NOT DEALING WITH SOUTHERNISMS BUT SOUTHWESTISMS OF DONALD BLACK

Whatcha ssay when somebudy aske ya "Hidy, hi, you"

"If things was any better, I'd think they was lyin' to me"

"Fine as frog's hair"

"Cookin' on the front burner."

"Fat and sassy"

"Tol'able"

"Fair to middlin'"

"I'd have to get better to die."

Of course you can say an of 'em depindin on how ya feeling.

I would add that I have heard most of these with small variations. I've heard these:
"Fine as frogs' hair split both ways"
"Cookin' with gas"

I mean to shout

2005-06-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

***WARNING*** THIS SECTION IS NOT DEALING WITH SOUTHERNISMS BUT SOUTHWESTISMS OF DONALD BLACK

"I mean to shout is unquestionably the parent of the ubiquitiuos Southern I mean." It means "emphatic agreement". He goes to say that it is not as emphatic as You can't beat that with a hickory switch and the superlative is If I'm lyin' I'm dyin'. Those last two phrases comes across in the Southern dialect as You can't beat that with a stick and If I'm lyin' I'm a dyin'. There may even be some variation in these. If so, what have you heard?

Bull in a China Shop

2005-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Before I get all these angry comments, I realize that this is not a "southernisms" per say.

It also was in Mad as a Wet Hen book.

But the variation I've always heard is a "pit" bull in a china store. I guess when people stopped having cattle around and got themselves some ole mean pit bull the expression morphed to fit the context.

What 'bout chu? Whachu herd?

Mad As a Wet Hen

2005-05-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

I went to the library once again even though I have no time to be reading. I picked up this book, Mad As a Wet Hen and Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban and Illustrated by Giulio Maestro. It is a kiddy book but pretty good for what it is.

The book states that to be mad as wet hen means "to be furiously angry". It describes that a wet hen flaps its wings furiously and thus the idiom.

Now I heard that the expression is mad as wet setting hen. It means the same thing, but I wonder how the word "setting" got added. I do know that a setting hen can be very angry if you get near her chicks. I can remember growing up we had chickens, and I hated this one ole mother hen. If I ever got too close to her nest she would chase me. No one would believe me. And as the chicks got bigger we put them in their own cage off the ground. It was my duty to let them out of their cages every morning and so often the mother hen would chase me. My mom would tell me not to run, but what is a kid suppose to do hen a hen comes at you flapping her wings and sqwaking? Anyhow, when someone refers to other as an ole mother hen, it does not bring to mind anything positive and I try to avoid them!

Summer Reading

2005-05-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have picked up two books I plan to read soon. I was prompted by ER to find the origin of "I'll swaney", so I went to the library to find some books on southern and other English.

I did not yet find any, but I did find two great books. 1)Handy as Hip Pockets On A Hog by Donald Chain Black and 2) This Dog'll Hunt by Wallace O Chariton. Each day I'll let you kno what I've read and if I agree with it. Supposedly these are Texan and Southwestern expressions. This may help my position that in fact Texas is not a part of the South (and OK also, that's for ER's benefit). So far the two books have not disappointed and lean to helping prove my point about the distinction.

But don't worry ER, you have nothing to fear. You still have won, and I do plan to find the origin of our little catch frase. =)

BTW Why is crushed leviathan down? It says it does not exist. Is anyone else getting this message. I really do need to change blog hostings. Does anyone have any good alternatives?

Black Redneck and White Liberals

2005-05-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Man I can't wait to get my hands on this one. I've heard it talked about on almost every talk show. He was on the Laura Ingraham show today. Man, I like this fella. I ain't willin' to buy the book so it may be awhile fore it comes to the local liberry. But I can't wait.

Has anyone ever read The Jakes? I thank i ought to read it soon.

Liable to be

2005-05-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

It's liable to be 10:00 for Iz able to stop goin' a hundred miles an ire. And I heard a story tooday about a man who is liable to break another Guisness World Record. Shucks alive, I can't even break open a jar much less than a world record. How 'bout chu? Whatchu liable to do today?

Liable to v: to be likely to

Loosing compression

2005-05-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

This will be one of those crass posts. I am sure I will hear about from the most proper Southern women.

Anyway, this may not be a "suthernism" but it is humurous, I think.

Growing up every parent comes up with euphamisms or something to talk about all types of body functions. My dad used to say someone was loosing compression to indicate their flatuence. Which reminds of a comment made in 3rd grade by Autumn King. She was so excited one day about a recent discovery. So, she came to the table of us boys as she said looked up the word "fart" in the dictionary. We could not believe that she said that word. Anyway, we were all curious what she found. Her definition, "A minor explosion between the legs". It was our joke from then on.

Maybe I should not have posted this one.

Galavatin' around

2005-05-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

Life in the South is great. Ya know when got thangs to do or even when ya ain't, you can go galavatin' around town and get chor bidness taken care of. For example, usually on da weekends I like to galavat around town in my ole pick up truck (well actually I ain't got a pick up truck, too poor to buy one) with that ole dog in the back. We got our 2-50 (pronounsit fity) air conditioner on and tear up jack all over town. Man, ther ain't nuthin' like seeing 'em ole red dirt roads kickin' up smoke.

Galavatin' around- v: to drive around on errands at your leisure, usually around town

Can't cuss a cat without gettin' fur in yer mouth

2005-05-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

That bathroom was so small if you can't even cuss a cat without gettin' fur in yer mouth. A wonderful expression showing how tiny of a space sumtin is.

Ain't No tellin'

2005-04-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

What a week! OKlahoma has been admitted to the states that consider themselves Southern. Although I did notice that several of the "for" voted more than once. Anyway, I am over it. But let me say, that I still do not think Okalahoma is a part of the South but highly influenced by it. (BTW for those living in Okolona, MS, you are very Southern with your very own bobe fide Confederate Cemetary, if memory serves me correctly.

But back to the lesson at hand. It ain't no tellin' how many people thank that we Sutherners are just plain stupid. But we ain't as dumb as we look. It ain't no tellin' how many times I've been sneered at just cuz I'm from the great South. But oh well, I knowd different. Heck, next week I'll have the piece of paper to prove that I have been surely edjumacated beyond my intelligents.

Ain't no tellin'= hard to say with certainty.

A great day for Oklahome

2005-04-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well, friends and neighbors, the poll results are not looking good. It does appear that most people who have voted agree that Oklahoma is a part of the South. I suppose it time for me to move on and get back to learnin' ya'll some more language. I give up on trying to teach geogrpahy. We'll keep the poll up for a few more days, but I am gonna have to move on to other thangs.

I do apologize for leaving VA out

2005-04-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Ya'll up thar in Virginia, I do apologize for leaving you out of the Southern list here. However, if you read my blog called Trip to the South, you know I do consider you a part of that wonderful piece of the proud Confederacy. Please forgive me. And vote "no" on letting foriners come in her. Even Erudite Redneck himself wants his cake and eat it too (see his lovely comments). I knew if we gave in to Texas then Oklahoma would be next. I am glad to see that Kansas wants to remain a part of the great Mid West. You see folks, it's a slippery slope. Before long Hawaii and Alaska and Maine will want to be a part of the South.

A little bidness to take care of

2005-04-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention, (I do thank ya, Erudite Redneck) that we need to take care of some bidness of difinin' whose in the South. Okleehoma wants in on bein' considered a part of da South. Heck, I like ya'll Okkies, ya'll ain't bad folks. And I do declare that you presented a good argument for admition. All them thar Injuns that we plucked up from ther houses and made 'em go live out yonder in the dad burn boon docks. I suppose ya'll do have a lot of Suthern in ya. Ya'll might actually be real red necks. Well, we'll let folks vote, since we still part of da Union and let 'em decide if OK can be thought of as the South. I hold put on any CO rekshun until the folks decide. How 'bout dat?

show nuff

2005-04-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

So now dat um 'bout to finish up har at that dad burn scholl (i'd also say dag gum school, but sumbudy said it ain't suthern'. Well heck I heard on the cuntry station t'day somebudy say, "Call the wulf with a rang and get some blang". Now Blang ain't cuntry, its afro-americanized, jive, ghetto if you like and now its dun made it to mainstream. Same be true with dag gum. I bet your bottom dollar it came from the SOUTH. Have you ever heard of a da** Yankee be able to even say dag gum. Heck no, it sound stupid if they said it). Anywayz, like iz saying, It show nuff feels good to get the heck out har.

Dag gum

2005-04-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

My favorite Southern cuss word. It is a show of utter disgust. Like, dag gum, I ain't posted here in forever. Y'all dun thought I'd died on ya. Or dag gum I got so much work to do. What bout dag gum it, I dropped a piece of fried chicken on the floor. What is your favorite dag gum saying?

Trip to the South

2005-04-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

Just got back a few ago from the top most section of the South, Richmond, VA. It was my first trip and I did not even get to see the White House of the Confederacy. It is on my agenda next time. Man, it was so good to hear those suthern accents and "y'all" and sweet tea and everything mostly suthern.

Still in the throes of work and when it is finished I'll be able to spend a little time here. BTW Ms. Scarlett, i got your note on wop sided and it happens to be on my list to address. THANKS.

I've got a hankering for

2005-04-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

I need a little hepl with thisun. I've heard it all my life but need a little clarification.

So, can I have a hankering for some ice cream and chitluns' (although not at the same time)? or can I only have a hankering for yard work (alhtough I'm gonna have to let the yard go for a couple mo' days)? So witch is it?

Hankering for. Is is desire fer something or is it a knack for something?

A hissy fit

2005-03-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

I think this is a Southernism. I have heard it all my life.

to throw a hissy fit- to get really upset at someone as in, She throwed herself a little hissy fit since she couldn't go out and play in the rain. For kids it is usually accompained with "jumping up and down and a hoopin' and a holleran'.

(BTW Thanks for the help with the flitter thing. I still am in limbo as to exactly what she is. Thanks Tish for the expression!!!! I tried to comment at your site but my computer was too slow, I'll hollar back at cha though in a day or two when thangs calm down a lit over cher. I apologize to all for two Irish posts).

Kiss Me I'm Irish

2005-03-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

And yes I am Irish. In fact I want to be called an Irish-American from now on. Well, not really, but I would like more recognition for us Irish people who made this country what it is. There is too much emphasis on the majority Anglo-Saxon culture who have oppressed us Celtic peoples for centuries. I mean where would you people be without Guiness Beer or James Joyce? Sober illiterates. Is that the life you want? Well, keep oppressing us and we will take out literature and beer and go back to the old country. Haha not a chance.=)

On a serious note I really am Irish. My grand parents' grand parents immigrated from Ireland to Alabama during the infamous Potato Famine. Louis Alexander Scott named his daughter America in honor of their newly acquired opportunity for a better life here.

State mottos

2005-03-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

I am sure you also received this email but I thought it was a propos for the site. I've only included the Southern States and Texas, so as not offend them. I think I have them all here, but if I've left out your state let me know. I am a little worn from the day. My favorite was Alabama (its actual motto is "Alabama the Beautiful")

Alabama
HELL YES, WE HAVE ELECTRICITY.
Arkansas
LITERACY AIN'T EVERYTHING.
Georgia
WE PUT THE "FUN" IN FUNDAMENTALIST EXTREMISM.
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Mississippi
COME AND FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR OWN STATE
North Carolina
TOBACCO IS A VEGETABLE
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender YET!
Tennessee
THE EDJOOCASHUN STATE
Texas
SE HABLA INGLES

Flat as a Flitter

2005-03-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

Not so recently I heard someone describing a pancake's flatness. It was described as being flat as a flitter. I am assuming that that is pretty darn flat. I looked up flitter and it seems to be synonomous with flicker or flutter. Somehow that does not seem to fit the usage here. Does anyone know what a flitter is and exactly how flat is it?

FYI I am right in the middle of trying to close out this semester and my educational career, so my posts will be short and sparse in the coming days. But please come back I have some real good stuff to post here. And reading and studying linguistics (one of my favorite things) has allowed me to appreciate my mother language even more. See y'all in a little bit.

Useless as...

2005-03-13T19:47:00.000-08:00

Man oh man I jest kan't keep this here blog updated. One thang I've been out of town camping. Another is just sorriness. Anyway, here's a hit for you for Southern liken.

When something is useless it is as useless as teats on a boar hog. And I would say they are pretty darn useless. I've always wondered why the male species have them, but I guess God thought it necessary. If anyone has any idears let me know. (And I am sure I will git nasty emails from the proper Southern girls who are shocked by this post). My apologies to ya, ma'am.

BTW saw two books I want to read. 1)The Redneck Manifesto and 2) White Trash. Both deal with the Southerners from a sociological point of view.

Just remembered a story that was suppose to go under the Texas vs the South post. Once upon a time my wife had to go Atlanta for a job related conference. So, she and her Texan co-worker decided to take in Gone with the Wind at the Fox (Ms. Scarlett, you gonna love this one). Well, one of the first complaints was that there were so many Black people doing "servant type" jobs such as working at the hotels and restaurants. What she did not realize is that in Texas these same jobs are filled by Hispanics. Now we could debate why, but I think it would inappropriate here. It does not matter. So, she was criticizing the South for continued racism when the exact same thing was (is) happening in her state. But she failed to see that at that time the mayor of Atlanta was Black (or African-American if you want to be technically incorrect but politically correct. And yes, i realize the skin color is not "technically" black either. Touchee for you). So it was not necessarily a racist thing.

Next, when they go to the Fox and the audience clapped at the references to killing Yankees, this poor lady thought she was going to get lynched or something. She took the emotion to be some kind of revolt where the first non-Southern would be hanged by the highest limb in the courtyard. She thought the audience had some sixth sense to detect non-Southerns and riot to eliminate their presence. Anyway, a good chuckle.

Texas vs the South

2005-03-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

James has observed that THE SOUTH and TEXAS are two separate entities.

Bravo!

That is correct. I don't have time to do actual research to confirm this, but I bet it exist. I know from personal experience this is true. Here's why.

I've lived in Texas for almost 4 years. Before that spent all my life in the South.

In Texas you do not necessarily get served sweet tea.

In the South there is a lot of Black influence, in Texas a lot of Hispanic influence

The language is similar but not the same (even though we both use y'all that does not mean anything. I heard that y'all has actually gone mainstream. Looking into this for a possible future post.

The food is different. Texas=Tex/Mex whereas in the South the food is "soul" (take too long to explain here) or seafoodish. Texas does have a coastline on the Gulf as do most Southern states (including Georgia and SC who have an Atlantic Coast; excluding Tennessee)

No moon pies in Texas (yes I realize that moon pies are specific to the Deep South, but this is a difference)

Texas has a emphasis on cattle for livelihood while in the South there is pecans, watermelons, peaches, and peanuts etc. etc.

Texas have the most pride of any one in the USA. Everything is Texas this or Texas that. You would never hear about something being Miss (except mud pies) or Ala or Tenn or SC. No sir. Texans are the proudest people when it comes to their state. You really are your own country. I guess that is why YOU out of all the poeple can fly your state flag level with the US flag.

Depending on how where you are in Texas or the South will determine how much Native American influence is there.

I would say Texas and the South are not the same but are likable cousins.

I should also say that some of my critique could be that I live in a large city in Texas whereas in the South I lived in a rural community. I am recognizing my comparison as being potentially city vs country rather than Texas vs the South.

That Southern Hospitality Wanes

2005-03-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

I call myself a Southerner but for the life of me I can not seem to be hospitable to my friends and neighbors who stop by. But again I am bowed up like a Halloween Tom Cat. I do apologize. Several people have giving me some ideas and I've not been able to post them yet. I'll get to them if you can just hold your horses (that's sounds more West than South). Others have left comments that I have not responded to yet. So instead of hiding them in the comments section of each post I want to address some them here. Try to treat y'all might nice and sweet, offer you a big o' glass of tea (do you even have to ask if it is sweet or not?) or water. So have a seat and read on.

For Ms Scarlett:
I am still going to get over to the Southern Ring. I have not ignored ya. Thank ya much for puttin' me on ya blogroll. I feel promoted or something. And you were right about the wake thing it does not always have an "a" in front of it. And even though you got a lot of "AL" tendencies I still thank you are true GA gal. What about sending us some of them thar nice tastin' peaches. They're the best!!!

For Janice:
I got your email about me calling ya trashy here. I guess it depends on how you define it. =) You're a good sport though. Say, when y'all coming back home to the South? Y'all really do need to get out a ther.

For KC:
You tell that forin' wife of yours that if she's a'gonna live in this country she better learn how to speak real English and stop always correcting yours. Smiles. Tell her "hi" and inform her of my humor. Otherwise she might get mad at the both of us. BTW, I am going to take that comment and put here on the main page if that's alright? I liked it. And you was right about the correctness of gettin' runned over vs. ran or ranned over.

For James:
I plan on doing a post dedicated to the differences between the South and Texas. I am glad a Texan agrees with me about the differences. Hang in ther being in Yankee Land and all.

For Frenchy:
Yeah, that's about right. Everybody becomes Aunt and Uncle something. I can't tell you how many "nieces and nephews" I have. And I guess in latino culture they take that "Mi Casa es Tu Casa" seriously. Well, it's all good. I don't mind folks dropping in and staying for a little while at the house, but they better not wear out their welcome. However, I do appreciate you stopping by this here site. You are welcomed any time, and you can stay as long as you like.Thanks again!

Well, now that I have exhausted my list of people who actually read this blog (Yeah,Yeah, I know I left out a couplun's of ya. Not intentional. But I believe I've tied up all those ends with y'all. But if I haven't let me know and I'll get to ya right fast like) I think I'll go and get me a nap (ha, I've got too much work for that nonsense).

Here's a samplin' of dialect Suthern

2005-03-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Janice is a dye hard Alabamian even though she done got above her raisin (by moving to Yankee land), so what she sayz I don't pay no mind to. I especially don't listen at 'er when shez all the time complaining abouts where I growed up being trashy. Man, has she looked in her back yard lately? She must have a half dozen cars spread out all over her backyard.

Anyway, she sent me this dialect of Suthern which somebody called Alabamaisms. You decided for yourself:

You know you're from Alabama when-

You have a party or a barbeque whenever Alabama plays Auburn in football. You go to Gulf Shores every summer. You call the Atlanta Braves baseball team "us" like they're actually from Alabama. You would much rather visit Florida than California. You don't "take", you
"carry" or "tote"... as in "You want me to carry you down to the 7-11?" A soft
drink isn't soda, cola, or pop, it's Coke. You call it a "buggy" and
not a shopping cart. You've said "fixin' to," "might could," or
"usetacould" during the last week. Someone you know has used a football schedule to
plan their wedding date. You know the meaning of the phrase "Fobbed
again." You can properly pronounce Eufaula, Opelika, Bayou La Batre,
and Oneonta. The Talladega 500 is the biggest sporting event of any sort
during the entire year. You know exactly what chitlins and mountain
oysters are, and you know someone who eats them anyway. You think that
people who complain about the humidity in other states are sissies. You
aren't surprised to find rental movies, groceries, ammunition and bait
all in the same store. You've missed a wedding or a funeral to go to a
football game. Asian food is always "CHINESE" regardless of the fact
that it may actually be Korean or Japanese or Thai You actually get
these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Alabama.

Down the cuntry

2005-02-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

The other day I watchin' a good ole basketball game. And you know how them thar referees are. They are crooked. They was calling fouls and jest not lettin' 'em boyz play ball like they shuld. Well, anyway I got taired of it and I mean I started givin nem refs down the the country. Now it didn't do no good cause they can't hear me, but it shore felt good.

to give someone down the country v: to agrue with someone, or lecture them on their wrongdoings.

Wishing bad thangs on people

2005-02-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

You know in the South, people are sometimes supersticious. My grandma used to put her shoes under the bed to prevent leg cramps. I've seen many a folk throw salt over their shoulder. And dont chu ever break a mirra 'cuz that a'll be 7 yers of bad luck. Along with these supersticions are things you wish for on people who dun ya wrong. My favorite is this one when someone does something to you on the highway.

I hope you get a wart on your nose and gits bigger every time the wheel turns 'round. I guess that woud be pretty big wart after a while.

Anyway, ya'll be nice out thar. Try to say a little blessin' for those idiots out on the highway. They don't know any better I guess. Of course, I myself am always a perfect little driver never doing anybody any harm. Ha.

Swearing in Southern

2005-02-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

There are many a comment I could make here about cussin' in Southern. But many Southernerns (especially the ladies) use euphemisms to swear. Here are a couple of examples.

"Well, I'll a swaney" for "Well, I swear" The term is often used to indicate disbelief or surprise. For example, let's say someone tells a tale about someone. The person may say, "Well, Ill a swaney." There is a dear elderly lady who used to say this all the time. For years I had no idea what Granny Frances was saying. (BTW we call people our Granny and Granpa or Aunt and Uncle who we are real close to even though they are not actually bloodkin. I guess that's where them Yankees think we got incest goin on or sumpten. What's wrong with 'em folks up thar?) But recently I learned what it was.

Another phrase that is almost the same in meaning is "Well, I'll be dog." It stands for "Well, I'll be dam*" (Notice I did not say the word I used an asterick for the last letter. hahaha). Again, used for surprise or disbelief.

Been out of pocket for awhile

2005-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all y'all who've stopped by lately. I've been outa pocket here recently. Just every day ole thangs.

I hope to get some more of them phrases up and going soon.

How bad do you really need that?

2005-02-14T18:45:00.000-08:00

I've heard all my life a statement about the lack of need of an object.

"You need that as much as a chipmunk needs side pockets!" So, I assume a chipmunk doesn't need any more space to put things. I guess he has enough in his cheecks. Nevertheless, the next time you want something. Ask yourself if you need it as much as chipmunk needs side pockets? Why don't cha.

Just passed away in the night

2005-02-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

The way some people talk in the South softens up the force of the event. It is sort of "proper" to say things euphemistically rather than bluntly. For example. Arthur Miller died last night. No one would dare say such a thang. No, you'd bedd'r say "Arthur Miller passed away (passed on)last night". The same is true for burial. The person "will be laid to rest", and you conclude with "May he rest in peace"

Sorry to see you go

2005-02-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

Hunter Byrd has decided to give up his blogging on a regular basis. Hate to see you go buddy. He was a great conservative blogger during the Presidential Campaign. What was cool was that he featured an article I did on Bill Keller, the so-called prophet of God who predicted that JK would win the White House in 2004. It actually generated some traffic to my site and his. THANKS!! And Hunter Byrd was a great photographer and had taken some photos near my hometown. Every post that contained pix from home made me miss the people there and brought back some great memories.

Again, hate to see you go, it was a great ride!!

Mardi Gras

2005-02-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

A Southern activity in which you get to sin as much as you want then show up at church the next day and get forgiven. My advice skip the Mardi Gras parties and just show up at church in the morning before work/school.

Dirty as Sam Green

2005-02-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

Who is Sam Green? I don't rightfully know. I jest know he must be prety darn nasty because my mother always refered to an unkempt room as house as being dirty as Sam Green. In fact my room right now is as dirty as Sam Green. Or it looks like Sam Green lives here. Whatever, I feel I am in a pig sty.

Like a Goose Looking For Thunder

2005-02-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

I have not heard this before until last Sunday.

I am like a goose looking for thunder means running around like a chicken with its head cut off which means simply going about frantically without a direction, or going crazy. Something like that.

A Tribute to Ms. Scarlett

2005-02-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

If you don't get around to reading the comments, you have missed Ms. Scarlett's lessons on talking Southern. She's been real nice to help us out here, so I thought I would post her entries on the main page. These are the latest. Practice and you too can talk Southern 'fore it's over with.

1. Yip Dog! (just used that one today!) Means - Yah! Good stuff!

2. Watching a movie last night based in Texas in the 50s - a guy tells another guy to "Chunk the handle back". As in pull the handle. I haven't heard that one in ages! Goes right along with "Mash the door shut."

It's been awhile since I've heard "mash the door shut", but I can attest to its use. Maybe my grandparents used it. I don't know.

3.Fun site - I enjoy reading it and seeing how many words I use. So far I excel at ya'll, right quick, and fixin.

Throw it on 'er

2005-02-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

This is probably a "guy" phrase. I found myself using it the other night in reagrds to driving.

throw it on 'er v: to accelerate as quickly as possible. You'd better throw it on 'er so you won't git ran over. It could be a command as when the po'lis is behind ya. Throw it on 'er, Bubba, we got company. I've also heard it in commentating on someone who is showing off in there car by spinning the tires. "Well, throw it on 'er, Jack" (screaching wheels in the background). (Jack and Bubba are not necessarily real names.)

A Swig of Coke

2005-02-02T07:16:00.000-08:00

The other night I was at one of them thar places where you git cha own drank from the machine. I shore do like them places cuz you can get how every many dranks you want, if you eat thar at the place. Anyway, I had downed one Coke and was might thirsty fer anuther, So I got up and got me another swig of Coke.

Swig adj: a certain amount of a drink, usually as small as a sip or as a big as another glass full. (BTW a glass of something does not always mean a container made of glass). I've only heard this word used with Coke, milk, water, and maybe I've heard it with whiskey, but not beer or wine.

Have fun and get chu another swig of sump'un.

Podunk

2005-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

I used to think that I lived in podunk ville, especially when I was in Wilmer. And I guess I actually did live more in podunk there than the other places because I found out today that podunk comes from an Indian word meaning "cornfield". I am investigating this matter. I always thought that podunk just meant in the country but apparently it means in the cornfield.

Hooten nanny (Updated)

2005-01-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

When I was young, my dad bought me my first hooten nanny. It was a little bug thing with wheels that you could push around.

I found out later that a hooten nanny is basically a mechanical gadget of sorts. It could be a motorcycle or a car. It could be a motorized machine. The way I understand it a hooten nanny is any device that has mechanical moving parts, sometimes used for mobility.

Who knows? Have you ever heard of a hooten nanny or something similar?

Call Me Scarlett said...
Where I'm from, a Hooten Nanny is a thing, a dance, an occasion, etc. A rowdy affair. Definately not a device.I looked it up on the internet and several references were made to "there will be a hooten-nanny party." Guess it has different meaning in different parts?

Thanks to Ms. Scarlett for this correction. I vaguely remember this being the case. I would add that this type of hooten nanny may also be called a shananigen or a shin dig (but my sources may be using the word wrongly). I am little under the gun at this moment, with my thesis. When I get that done, I'll find some time to do a little research on this to back up what Ms. Scarlett said.

Come to find out we are both right:
(from Dictionary.com)

1 entry found for hootenanny.

hoot·en·an·ny
n. pl. hoot·en·an·nies

An informal performance by folk singers, typically with participation by the audience.
Informal. An unidentified or unidentifiable gadget.

Youre doing a great job

2005-01-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I heard this one from a good friend.

He's shooting in the whole where the rabbit is.- He's doing a great job!!

Huntin' Dogs

2005-01-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

There are so many different kinds of ole huntin' dogs that I can't remember 'em all. The rule growing up was that the dogs were hunting dogs not pets.

Walker Dog- white with black and brown spots
Blue Tick- blue with dark blue spots everywhere
Red Tick- red with red spots everywhere
Red Bone- all red
Mountain Cur- usually tan with bobbed tail
Black and Tan- solid black with tan spots

You really need pictures here, but I don't have any.

Huntin' Terms

2005-01-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

I had a good conversation with my dad last night and gleaned some great southernisms on huntin'. You see, if you're from the South and you ain't got an ole dog layin' 'round somewhere, and a couple of guns, I wonder if you are truly Southern. Now, I don't have an ole dog around here. But we've named our fish "dawg". So I ain't being hipocritical or nonthin'.

As an amateur linguist I am amazed about how much of my Southern is subconcious. One of the purposes of this blog is to help me bring to the surface my inbedded Southernisms, which according to my linguistics classes was set at age 6. When I hear people from the South talk, there is little effort in understanding them. And I enjoy trying to figure out where all these sayings originated. It fascinates me. And I hope you are enjoying it also!!

any count- adj: useless. Is that ole dog any count? or That dog ain't no count.

right smart- adj: a lot. Well, there's a right smart of food fer 'em to eat up thar.

fed up- v: to feed an animal, usually a dog or pet and in conjunction with other "night work". He put the dogs in a pen and fed 'em up for the night. Every evening (eden) my dad does his "night work" which includes washing the poop out of the concrete pens, feeding the dogs, and cats, and any other little projects he may need to do with his fishing boats or truck.

runnin'the dogs- v: to go hunting. When the dogs are runnin' they may bark while chasing the wildlife. Example: We ran them ole dogs last night= We went hunting. In my dad's case, he hunts coons, rabbits, squirrels, and foxes/coyotes. He is NOT a deer hunter. But many Southern hunters are. They may even display their trophies in the living room.

turn loose- v: letting the dogs out of the "dog box" to start the hunt. We turned 'em out over Bull man's place (people in the South may have strange names). A "dog box" is a metal or wooden box usually home made for the purpose of transporting the dogs to the hunting area.

strike (struck)- v: 1.when the dogs find their target and begin the pursuit 2.the action of the hunting dog when in pursuit of game. Ranger (the name of a dog) was struck over in yonder. They struck right in thar.

caught- v: to overtake the game on the ground. Usually, rabbits, deer, and foxes/coyotes are caught. This is not necessarily the intent of a hunt. As in the case of rabbit and deer hunting, one uses the dogs to bring the game within shooting distance of the hunter.

treed- v: the act of an animal who finds "refuge" in a tree. This is usually the final result of the hunt with tree climbing game like coons, possums, and squirrels et al. When a dog is treed, he is barking in a frenzied manner and usually has his front feet on the tree that the animal is in. When the dogs are treed, the hunters move in to shoot the game. Since coon hunting is done at night, a strong light is used to spot the coon's eyes. If he can't be found, the hunter may use a coon sqawler which makes a sound of wounded coon. This make the animal move around. Oddly, this noise can make a coon climb all the way down the tree. However, this is not a prefered use of the sqawler. It's main purpose is to locate the victim.

to go out of hearing- v: when the dogs are running, they may go so far that you can't hear them anymore. This may be the time you get in your truck and drive around in order to hear them again.

jip- n: young female dog.

Sawyer from LOST

2005-01-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

I knew it. You can spot Southern boys a mile away. R and I had said that Sawyer, Josh Holloway, from the TV series LOST, must be from the South. And sure enough he is. Even though he was born in California he actually grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. He went to the univeristy of Georgia for a year before starting his modeling career. How 'bout dat? A hometown boy making it in the big time!

2005-01-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Face of a Southerner.

MLK and Southernisms

2005-01-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

Our little friend Martin King Jr. was a preacher before he became a civil rights leader, so he has a way with words. If you get a chance it would be worth the reading to get a holt of his speech. There aren't any striking "Southernisms" in that particular speech, but I bet you could find some from him in other places. He's as Southern as they come. Anyway what caught my attention was something of a style.

He said, "from every hill to every molehill in Mississippi." Now I've
heard, and you have too, making a mountain outa molehill, but I ain't never
heard this one. It fits the speech but it's an odd expression. Is he making it up? If so he's true Southern.
He also said, "prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire". I can't imagine that being a word he used in every day conversation. But the funny thing is that it fits rythmically with the speech.
One thing I can identify with is the allusion to the "sweltering heat of Mississippi". You got dat right.
And what about the governor of that great state of Alabamer (known as the Beautiful) who had "words of interposition and nullification." BTW do you know who the governer is that he's refern' to?

Halloween Tom Cat

2005-01-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

We've been talkin' 'bout one of the thangs you got to be able to do when talking Southern is make up your own sayings. Miss Scarlett has got some good 'uns. Go see her. I made one up the other night without even thanking 'bout it. It wouldn't any good so I won't share it. But my good ole friend Eric from a little town on the Missipp and Alabamer line gave this one to me 'bout a yer ago. I guess it sort of describes my life at the moment.

I am bowed up like a Halloween Tom Cat.
Translation: I am under a lot of stress. I got a lot of things going on.

2005-01-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

Gotch'a gun and dogs. Let's go coonhuntin'

Southern Cuisine

2005-01-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

This category like the neologist could have it own section. Maybe I'll try to figure out how to Archive these sayings by category.

It is hard to decribe Southern Cuisine. But I think you need a lot of frying grease and a homemade garden. I can't tell you how many people (almost everybody) who has a little garden. The top most planted items are tomatoes (commonly referred to as t'maters) followed by figs. I know not everyone's experience is like mine especially on the fig part, but my parents have a fig tree (did have two when I was younger), my grandparents had fig trees, and many other grow figs. I can remember as a kid being cautious around the fig tree because of snakes and bees. If your yard is big enough, you may a combination of any of blueberries, apples, grapes, scuppernongs, muscadines (Oh the delight of wild muscadines), plums, pears, pecans, squash, or okra. I got married to my wife because of advice from an okra patch conversation. If you own a lot of land you may also have a corn field and maybe a pea patch. Picking peas in a pea patch can kill your back, and shucking and silking corn can be quite the workout. But nothing compares to picking pecans on halves. Usually the owner of the pecan field lets you to pick up his pecans and at the end of the day you get half of the amount picked.

But Southern Cuisine is also about cooking. Many people in the South still go to church on Sunday and often the church will have potluck dinners....

By way of explanation, dinner time is the noon meal, while supper is the evening meal. Somewhere down the line, dinner came to mean the evening meal and lunch became the noon meal. Who ever heard of such!

...where people bring their favorite dishes. You'll find fried chicken, chicken 'n dumplins, pineapple casserole, yeast bread or a pone of cornbread, pimmento sandwhiches, banana pudding, watergate salad, and a host of other delicacies. So the next time you are at church in the South at some small little Baptist church (they're the most famous for this activity) in the Wildwood, look in the bulletin for a dinner on the grounds. You'll be glad you did. Years ago the dinner on the grounds used to be outside. You'd find a roofed area just beside the church building with concrete tables under the roof. The sides were usually open, so if it rained, you probably were going to get wet (Man, I wish I had a picture of this, for y'all who don't have a clue). Nowadays, dinner on the grounds is in the "fellowhip hall" of the church. (A fellowhip hall was usually the old church building beside the newer bigger one, or a building attached to the main sanctuary for the purpose of eating and of course "fellowshiping".)

Thanks to Rachel and Rachel for the cookin' ideas.