The Use Of Words...Some Pet Peeves Of Mine, What Are Yours?

[mountaineer]

I haven't read Faulkner since senior year of high school, when his three-page-long sentences wore me out.  At least, they seemed that long.    As for hillbilly dialect, as one whose roots in W.Va. run hundreds of years deep, I only can say, "Don't look at us. It's those people from Tennessee (or fill in your favorite state) who talk funny."

[happyg]

I haven't read Faulkner since senior year of high school, when his three-page-long sentences wore me out.  At least, they seemed that long.    As for hillbilly dialect, as one whose roots in W.Va. run hundreds of years deep, I only can say, "Don't look at us. It's those people from Tennessee (or fill in your favorite state) who talk funny."

I'm from Ohio, and back in the eighties, I was in Upstate NY, getting my hair done. The girls kept talking to me, and finally when they were comfortable enough with me, said they loved my accent.  I never considered Ohio to have a lingo, but compared to those beauticians, I suppose I did. I wonder what they would think of a real southerner? LOL!

While there, I was sitting at a diner, and the weather was brought up. I mentioned it smelled like rain, and looked like tornado weather. They made fun of me, and said they heard Midwesterners could "smell" the weather. The next morning, I woke up to the news that a tornado set down, uprooting trees and damaging some cars and a few buildings. When I walked into the diner, the regulars thought I was some kind of psychic. We ended up becoming friends. I spent most of my NY time in that diner, that has since been torn down. This was in Amsterdam, NY., near Albany.

[jmyrlefuller]

One thing that, in particular, annoys me is improper use of the "subjunctive." It's rare, but it needs to be used properly. It's "if I WERE in your position," not "if I WAS in your position." They don't even teach this little gem of grammar in grade school anymore, at least not since I went. I know people might get confused and think "were" is plural, but not in the subjunctive.

[famousdayandyear]

One thing that, in particular, annoys me is improper use of the "subjunctive." It's rare, but it needs to be used properly. It's "if I WERE in your position," not "if I WAS in your position." They don't even teach this little gem of grammar in grade school anymore, at least not since I went. I know people might get confused and think "were" is plural, but not in the subjunctive.

Excellent point.  Had a great English teacher--was taught with emphasis!

[jmyrlefuller]

I'm from Ohio, and back in the eighties, I was in Upstate NY, getting my hair done. The girls kept talking to me, and finally when they were comfortable enough with me, said they loved my accent.  I never considered Ohio to have a lingo, but compared to those beauticians, I suppose I did. I wonder what they would think of a real southerner? LOL!

While there, I was sitting at a diner, and the weather was brought up. I mentioned it smelled like rain, and looked like tornado weather. They made fun of me, and said they heard Midwesterners could "smell" the weather. The next morning, I woke up to the news that a tornado set down, uprooting trees and damaging some cars and a few buildings. When I walked into the diner, the regulars thought I was some kind of psychic. We ended up becoming friends. I spent most of my NY time in that diner, that has since been torn down. This was in Amsterdam, NY., near Albany.

Ah, yes, you crossed past the Northeast-Midwest Speech Isogloss. It passes right through central New York and Amsterdam is firmly on the east side of it, where the northeastern accents predominate. Most of western New York (my neck of the woods) is in the midwestern part. The accent's most pronounced in Buffalo and Cheektowaga, where there are people you swear came from downtown Chicago because the accent is so thick. My Buffalo accent, in my natural speaking voice anyway, is pretty strong (although I'm just as adept at others, ranging from southern to the Queen's English).

[happyg]

Ah, yes, you crossed past the Northeast-Midwest Speech Isogloss. It passes right through central New York and Amsterdam is firmly on the east side of it, where the northeastern accents predominate. Most of western New York (my neck of the woods) is in the midwestern part. The accent's most pronounced in Buffalo and Cheektowaga, where there are people you swear came from downtown Chicago because the accent is so thick. My Buffalo accent, in my natural speaking voice anyway, is pretty strong (although I'm just as adept at others, ranging from southern to the Queen's English).

My son's wife is from Amsterdam, but she doesn't have an accent. However, most of my son's friends do.

[DCPatriot]

Prosecution rests, your Honor!   

[mountaineer]

 

[alicewonders]

Grew up in SE Okla.  A family from NJ moved to town and we could hardly understand each other...

(My 1,000th post and so little progress on being understood.)   

Congratulations on your 1000th post Gourmet Dan!   

Speaking of accents, my husband & I went to Bar Harbor, Maine once for a vacation.  Every time I opened my mouth, people would say, "Say that again" - or "How do you say dog/like/night?".  They were fascinated by my accent!

Thing was - I couldn't understand a word they said! 
Bah Hahbah, Maine?

 

[evadR]

Just got back from a tour of the south, Bama, Tenn ....I now speak fluent redneck.

[olde north church]

Grew up in SE Okla.  A family from NJ moved to town and we could hardly understand each other...

(My 1,000th post and so little progress on being understood.)   

Which part of NJ?  I'm from Central NJ and I can hardly understand North Jerseyans.  They speak as if they were stung on the tongue.

[happyg]

Just got back from a tour of the south, Bama, Tenn ....I now speak fluent redneck.

Many speak fluent redneck around here.

wash = worsh
pillow = priller
wolf = woof
nuclear = nucular (thanks Bush)

I can't think of more right now, but there's a lot of crazy pronunciations.

[GourmetDan]

Which part of NJ?  I'm from Central NJ and I can hardly understand North Jerseyans.  They speak as if they were stung on the tongue.

I don't remember what part of NJ.  We didn't think it made any difference which part...   

[GourmetDan]

I can't think of more right now, but there's a lot of crazy pronunciations.

My sister loves 'Swamp People' because they are speaking American and they still use sub-titles...   

[Lando Lincoln]

Some of you know I am from Wisconsin originally.  Recently, I was in Louisville, Kentucky on business and I was sitting in the hotel bar while waiting for a colleague.  Seated at a table was a couple and their adult daughter.  They were talking to the bartender and just yucking it up about the bartender's accent (a little too much, I thought).  Anyway, I said, "You're from Wisconsin, aren't you?"  They paused, said they were from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and they asked how I knew.  And I said, "Your accent."  They were completely puzzled. 

[GourmetDan]

Anyway, I said, "You're from Wisconsin, aren't you?"  They paused, said they were from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and they asked how I knew.  And I said, "Your accent."  They were completely puzzled.

I like the people who say that a lot of places in their state have names that are American-Indian in origin.

Yeah, well don't we all...   

[EC]

My sister loves 'Swamp People' because they are speaking American and they still use sub-titles...   

 

That always cracks me up.

[flowers]

Many speak fluent redneck around here.

wash = worsh
pillow = priller
wolf = woof
nuclear = nucular (thanks Bush)

I can't think of more right now, but there's a lot of crazy pronunciations.

creek=crick

[olde north church]

I don't remember what part of NJ.  We didn't think it made any difference which part...   

Oh, there is a HUGE difference!  We hide a lot of NJ from people who are just passing on through OR NY'ers looking to move here!

[TheMom]

Prosecution rests, your Honor!   

    

[happyg]

creek=crick

Yep! I forgot that one. I found the full list:

Redneck Speak English Translation Proper Redneck Usage

Afeared   Afraid   He’s afeared of his own shadow.
A-Fixin   Getting Ready   We’re a-fixin to go to town.
Aim   Intend or Plan   I aim to go to town soon.
Biggety   Stuck up or a Show off   Well ain’t she biggety lately!
Chimbley   Chimney   Santa Claus comes down the chimbley.
Clum   Climbed   I Clum that tree over yonder.
Crick   Creek   I’m goin to the crick to go swimmin.
Dawg   Dog   That shore is a dumb dawg.
Doins   A function or gathering   Are you goin to the doins tonight?
Dreckly   Soon   I’ll be there directly.
Et   Eaten   Have you et yet?
Fetch   Bring or Go Ge  t I want you to fetch the eggs fer me.
Fer   For   Let’s rest here fer a spell.

Gander   To look  Take a gander at that there bird!
Git   Get   Go git some milk from that cow.
 
Haint   Ain’t   I haint going to the store for Roastners today.
Hankerin   Craving   I have a hankerin for Roastners.
Hep   Help   Hep me warsh this dawg!
Hisn   His   That dog is hisn.
Holler   A Valley   My family lives down in the Holler.

Mighty   Definitely   She shore is mighty mean today.

Neckid Unclothed Get Neckid and throw them clothes in the warsh.
Onest   Once   Child, I don’t aim to tell you more than onest!
Parts Area or Neighborhood What parts do ya’ll come from?
Peakid   Pale or sick looking   You look mighty peakid today.
 
Pizen   Poison   There’s pizen snakes in these parts.
Plumb   Very (nothing to do with pipes)   I shore am plumb wore out.
Pritnear   Almost   I’m pritnear done with my mendin’.

Roastners   Corn on the Cob   Them roastners shore are good.
Set   Sit   Ya’ll set and rest fer a spell.
Shed of   Get rid of   I shore want to be shed of this cold.
Shore Sure I Shore like those flowers.
Skeered Afraid He is skeered of his own shadow.
Smart   To hurt   That leg shore smarts.
Spell   A period of time   I went to church fer a spell today.
\Wallerin   Whining or Crying   Sit still and quit yer wallerin’.
Warsh   Wash   Warsh yer hands ‘n face befer dinner.
Winder   Window   The pie is coolin on the winder sill.
Ya’ll   You All   Ya’ll set with us fer a spell.
Yeller   A color between orange and green.   Look at that Yellar dog over yonder.
Yonder   Over there   Billy Bob went yonder to fetch hisn dawg.
You’ns   You or all   You’ns better aim to come for vittles.
Yourn   Yours   This aint mine, is it yourn?
Younguns   Children   You younguns better git to bed now.

[flowers]

Yep! I forgot that one. I found the full list:

Redneck Speak English Translation Proper Redneck Usage

Afeared   Afraid   He’s afeared of his own shadow.
A-Fixin   Getting Ready   We’re a-fixin to go to town.
Aim   Intend or Plan   I aim to go to town soon.
Biggety   Stuck up or a Show off   Well ain’t she biggety lately!
Chimbley   Chimney   Santa Claus comes down the chimbley.
Clum   Climbed   I Clum that tree over yonder.
Crick   Creek   I’m goin to the crick to go swimmin.
Dawg   Dog   That shore is a dumb dawg.
Doins   A function or gathering   Are you goin to the doins tonight?
Dreckly   Soon   I’ll be there directly.
Et   Eaten   Have you et yet?
Fetch   Bring or Go Ge  t I want you to fetch the eggs fer me.
Fer   For   Let’s rest here fer a spell.

Gander   To look  Take a gander at that there bird!
Git   Get   Go git some milk from that cow.
 
Haint   Ain’t   I haint going to the store for Roastners today.
Hankerin   Craving   I have a hankerin for Roastners.
Hep   Help   Hep me warsh this dawg!
Hisn   His   That dog is hisn.
Holler   A Valley   My family lives down in the Holler.

Mighty   Definitely   She shore is mighty mean today.

Neckid Unclothed Get Neckid and throw them clothes in the warsh.
Onest   Once   Child, I don’t aim to tell you more than onest!
Parts Area or Neighborhood What parts do ya’ll come from?
Peakid   Pale or sick looking   You look mighty peakid today.
 
Pizen   Poison   There’s pizen snakes in these parts.
Plumb   Very (nothing to do with pipes)   I shore am plumb wore out.
Pritnear   Almost   I’m pritnear done with my mendin’.

Roastners   Corn on the Cob   Them roastners shore are good.
Set   Sit   Ya’ll set and rest fer a spell.
Shed of   Get rid of   I shore want to be shed of this cold.
Shore Sure I Shore like those flowers.
Skeered Afraid He is skeered of his own shadow.
Smart   To hurt   That leg shore smarts.
Spell   A period of time   I went to church fer a spell today.
\Wallerin   Whining or Crying   Sit still and quit yer wallerin’.
Warsh   Wash   Warsh yer hands ‘n face befer dinner.
Winder   Window   The pie is coolin on the winder sill.
Ya’ll   You All   Ya’ll set with us fer a spell.
Yeller   A color between orange and green.   Look at that Yellar dog over yonder.
Yonder   Over there   Billy Bob went yonder to fetch hisn dawg.
You’ns   You or all   You’ns better aim to come for vittles.
Yourn   Yours   This aint mine, is it yourn?
Younguns   Children   You younguns better git to bed now.

  Mr flowers is from the south.

One more my stepfather used this one, he was from Missouri  can't=caint

[Formerly Once-Ler]

One thing that, in particular, annoys me is improper use of the "subjunctive." It's rare, but it needs to be used properly. It's "if I WERE in your position," not "if I WAS in your position." They don't even teach this little gem of grammar in grade school anymore, at least not since I went. I know people might get confused and think "were" is plural, but not in the subjunctive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZzsw3Ppp84

[GourmetDan]

  Mr flowers is from the south.

One more my stepfather used this one, he was from Missouri  can't=caint

Didn't see -->        tar = tire

[alicewonders]

press = closet
bloomers = panties
playin' possum = pretending to be asleep
britches = pants
maters & taters = tomatoes & potatoes
as useless as a knot on a log = Obama

 

[happyg]

press = closet
bloomers = panties
playin' possum = pretending to be asleep
britches = pants
maters & taters = tomatoes & potatoes
as useless as a knot on a log = Obama

 

[flowers]

pert near=almost

 

[jmyrlefuller]

Coke = soft drink of any flavor or brand.

Yeah, the Coca-Cola Company has to be thrilled about that one. (/sarcasm)

[Oceander]

One thing that, in particular, annoys me is improper use of the "subjunctive." It's rare, but it needs to be used properly. It's "if I WERE in your position," not "if I WAS in your position." They don't even teach this little gem of grammar in grade school anymore, at least not since I went. I know people might get confused and think "were" is plural, but not in the subjunctive.

I don't think they really teach much grammar, period, these days.

[Oceander]

Oh, there is a HUGE difference!  We hide a lot of NJ from people who are just passing on through OR NY'ers looking to move here!

Hiding what you still can from NY'ers is a good thing; look at the bad influence NY has had on the north of NJ.

[famousdayandyear]

I don't think they really teach much grammar, period, these days.

They apparently don't teach common courtesy these days.

[Oceander]

They apparently don't teach common courtesy these days.

I quite agree; sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander, and all that.