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Southernisms 101
by Brooke Kelly
August 11, 2010
When JFP managing editor Ronni Mott moved to the south from Washington, D.C., she quickly noticed some of the rules and sounds of the South. Social niceties such as asking complete strangers, “How you doin’?” were all of a sudden social requirements. Horrendous things could be said about people as long as the insult started or ended with “bless their heart.” Some one-syllable words were really drawn out and made to sound like two-syllable words, while other words were just jammed together like “Nawlins” instead of New Orleans. The small town-ness of the area sort of jarred Mott during her early years in Jackson. Everyone asked her “What church do you belong to?” and “Who’s your family” as if these questions were part of her credentials.
Below is a list of words and phrases to get you Jackson-ready. We southerners can be an interesting and funny bunch when it comes to the things we say.
• ‘preciate it/’preciate cha: Minus the “a,” means thank you.
• y’all: The most widely known southernism that really isn’t just southern anymore. Fun variation: “all y’all” as a possessive.
• fixin’ to: Used in place of “going to.” “I’m fixin’ to fix some dinner as soon as this show goes off.”
• axed: Instead of asked. “I axed her was she comin’ to the party tonight.”
• No ma’am/sir. Yes ma’am/sir: A social nicety used to refer to anyone older than you.
• Visit a little: Going to talk to someone, having a chat.
• I’m blessed: Said in response to “How are you doing?”
• fellowship (as a verb): Meaning either to eat together or simply hang out together with a group of people.
• make groceries: Said instead of “buy groceries.”
• cold drank: Not soda. Not pop. Cold drank.
• Democrat: A word that is only to be whispered by some non-Democrats, often used as a synonym for African American.
From http://www.alphadictionary.com:
• Bobby-Q n. A delicious meat dish made from pulled pork roasted over hickory wood and doused with red pepper boiled in vinegar: “Pass me some moa dat bobby-Q, Leniel, foh ah stahves to death.”
• Cut up v. Show off, as in, “Now don’t you young’ns cut up in church today; do you hear?
• Err n. A colorless, odorless gas containing oxygen, as in: “He cain’t breathe. . . givvim some err!”
• Pocketbook n. A woman’s purse. (A bag is something different).
• Purse n. pro. The capital of France.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/11/10 at 01:54 PM. [printer version] Share |
COMMENTS
What about shold is, som_itch, smelling the bottle, I'm doing tobly well, over yonder, earthly devil aka a republican, et al?
posted by Walt on 08/18/10 at 04:36 PM
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