I’m a bit of late getting round to this however there’s a survey out by a gaggle referred to as Writing Suggestions Institute, an internet site that teaches individuals write accurately. (An apart from the editors: Please think about becoming a member of, and in the event that they will even educate you to place commas the place they belong, we’ll kick in with the schooling.)
In response to the survey, 51% of Georgians would love our dialect protected by regulation. I’d have thought the quantity can be greater, however then most all people right here is from someplace else and might’t perceive us anyway, not to mention make an effort to guard the way in which we speak. Fuhgeddaboudit.
If we’re going to discuss passing a regulation, we must always go laws that claims if anyone from north of the Mason-You-Know-Who line a lot as snickers on the approach we speak, we are going to put them into saggy white shorts and ship them off to Guatemala as unlawful aliens. Let’s see how they snicker then.
There’s not a lot that can sull me up faster than anyone telling me I speak humorous. I’ll remind them that there’s nothing unsuitable with the way in which I speak. They’re those with the unusual accents. And I’d chuckle at them, besides that’s rude and within the South, it’s all about good manners. That’s the way in which our mommas raised us.
I’m actually unsure why we speak like we do, however there isn’t any query we’re economical with the language. Not like different components of the nation, we don’t discover it mandatory to stay extraneous letters on our phrases. Like placing the “g” on the finish of phrases. Should you haven’t discovered that we’re saying “fussin’” or “fightin’” by the point we get to the top of the phrase, sticking a “g” on it ain’t goin’ make a lot distinction.
Identical with the letter “r.” We use them on the entrance finish of vital phrases like “Readin’” and “Ritin’” and “Rasslin’,” however we don’t really feel compelled to place them on the top of phrases, like “over” or “underneath.” We simply say “ovuh” and “unduh.” Even the Supreme Being doesn’t fee an “r.” We simply name him “Lawd.” He doesn’t appear to thoughts.
We use the identical phrases all people else makes use of. We simply assign them a unique which means. Bard, for instance. In response to my private lexicographers, Barney Funk and Porter Wagnalls, bard is outlined as a poet. Round right here, bard means you took one thing that doesn’t belong to you. (“Honey! That sorry brother of yours bard my driving mower once more with out asking.”)
Within the West, a ranch is a variety of acreage with horse or cows on it. We have now ranches within the South, too, solely we’ve extra of them. We have now pipe ranches and box-end ranches and socket ranches. We use our ranches to make things better.
Talking of “fixing,” that’s one among our favourite phrases within the South. We use it like everybody else when we’re going to restore one thing, as in “Darlin’, the place’s my ranch? I’m gonna repair the leak within the sink.” Nonetheless, we additionally use repair as an alternative choice to “preparation,” which has too many “r’s” and takes too lengthy to say. We “repair” supper (Within the South, supper is dinner and dinner is after we eat lunch) after which announce to the household to clean up, that we re “fixin’ to eat” or “I’m fixin’ to take a seat down and watch me some Andy Griffith on TV.”
When others discuss “struggle,” they’ve visions of bombs bursting in air. After we say “struggle,” we’re describing what goes round fence posts to maintain the cows from operating free. “Barbed struggle.” In different components of the nation, “moan” means “to utter a low boring sound.” Not right here. After we say “moan,” we imply to get the lead out and transfer it. (“Moan, Clarence, we ain’t received all danged day.”) Identical with “far.” To a variety of of us, far is a good distance off. Far retains us heat.
Frankly, I don’t suppose our dialect must be protected by regulation. It’s advantageous like it’s. Moreover, I don’t belief that the Legislature to get it proper anyway. As my candy momma, Southern to the core, used to say, “If brains have been dynamite, they couldn’t blow their nostril. Bless their hearts.” What’s exhausting to know about that, y’all?
You’ll be able to attain Dick Yarbrough at dick@dickyarbrough.com or at P.O. Field 725373, Atlanta, Georgia 31139.
