Lately, I've come to treasure the uniqueness of the Southern dialect. It seems to be disappearing, and I'm pretty sure it's because there's a sinister plan to make us all sound like newscasters. I mean, when was the last time you heard Brian Williams close NBC Nightly News with, "I reckon that's all for tonight. Y'all have a good'un."
I'm all about good grammar and whatnot – I am a journalist with a minor in English – but I can do without it in an informal setting. Talking like a Southerner means you're talking honestly, and the conversation feels authentic, even if it's small-talk. "Hey, fella." "Hey, what ya know good?" "Nothin'. How's ya mom and them?" "Fair to middlin'." See what I mean?
Some of my favorite Southern phrases:
• "I'm fixin' to tan your hide, boy!"
• "Now you're cookin' with grease!"
• "She's easy on the eyes."
• "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's rainin'!"
• "A'ight." (All right)
Then there are phrases that I'm pretty sure no self-respecting Southerner has ever uttered, but Hollywood or someone has made up:
• "I do declare!"
• "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"
• "Possum on a gum bush!" (Enos, from Dukes of Hazzard)
Speaking of Hollywood, don't you hate it when they cast a non-Southern actor to play a Southerner? Ugh. I still haven't forgiven Susan Sarandon for Bull Durham (she's from New York). Now Reese Witherspoon, there's a true belle (New Orleans).
Anyway, enough of that rabbit trail. I just always try to make sure my words, both verbal and written, retain the richness of the Southern dialect. If I had my druthers, everyone would talk like me. But we ain't all perfect.
Today's Redneck Thought: "What in tarnation was he talkin' about?"
3 comments:
Sonny Shroyer was born in Georgia. I don't remember where he came up with that phrase, "possum on a gum bush", but I think he did come up with it.
Jonathan
Well, maybe I'll give him a pass on it then. Just never heard it anywhere else. Some of the Southernisms they say on Dukes seem a little forced – like Bo's "yeehaw!" – but they tried hard.
My grandmother always said "Y'all come go with us!" whenever they left our house. Now my aunt says it whenever I see her. I think that is one of my favorite Southernisms.
Just for the record, Josh Lucas had a believable accent in "Sweet Home Alabama." Of course Reese did, too. The worst accent I can ever remember was Carroll O'Connor on "In the Heat of the Night." It has always been one of my pet peeves that they hire non-Southern actors to play Southerners, as if there aren't enough Southerners to fill the parts.
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