Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Southern Vernacular

Having a book discussion here at the 'brary today. It is part of our Lunch 'n Learn series, as well as part of our Gadsden Reads. Boss Lady and I are leading a discussion called Ava’s Grandson: The Works of Rick Bragg. Since I had tried to write down all of the Southernisms Rick used in all three books, I thought it would be fun to have a Southern vernacular vocabulary discussion to break the ice at the beginning of the talk. I am proud to say that I have, at one time or another (and with complete sincerety), used all of these words and phrases.

Vocabulary Words:
Kilt
Throwed
Purty
Hongry
Disremember
Ort
Tater
Skeeters
Likker
D’rectly
Holt
Fat pine
Loafered
Ha’nts
Woolyboogers
Sammich
Commodity
Puny

Phrases:
Done eat…
Got run off…
Blind as a concrete block…
These got to do me…
Prayed into heaven…
A little piece off (just a little piece down the road)…
Be back d’rectly…

It is nice to see these words and phrases printed in New York Times best selling books. It lends them a legitimacy that they are not often afforded...

2 comments:

lauri said...

Our faves:

"Fixin' to"

"Carry"

The first time a friend told me about all the people she had to carry places, I wondered if everyone in her family was unable to walk.

The wonder of language, so varied, colorful, and revealing. Language places us in time and location.

La Petit Rouge said...

Oh, if I had a dime for every "fixin' to" and "carry!"

I have thought of so many more since posting this. Will have to just start a google doc...