How To Say Anything To a Southerner

[Beekissed]

My granny would call it "warsh". She'd also say, "Not nary a one of them chickens...." Never did figure out what "nary" meant...maybe "never"?

 

[valley ranch]

One day I heard cousin Betty met, fell in love with and married Jack Shafer and moved to Arkansas while I was off on an adventure. Years passed she had children, hadn't called.
So I called, : Helo, Yah, is Betty there? Betty? sure nuf hold on, ~Hi thi sis Betty. So I sez in Armenian: Betty inch bess es { how are you?} Here came the answer from a now southern lady: Richie! Inch bess es y'all?

 

[seedcorn]

Nary means none. She was using a double negative. Should have used any. Not any became nary

 

[so lucky]

I have nothing to add to this conversation, as we here in Southeast Missouri all speak with perfect diction and pronunciation.

 

[seedcorn]

I have nothing to add to this conversation, as we here in Southeast Missouri all speak with perfect diction and pronunciation.

 

[Nyboy]

 

[Nyboy]

My grandmother came here from Italy at 15. She had 13 children, livid to her late 70s never learned English. Or so pretended .

 

[Smart Red]

I have nothing to add to this conversation, as we here in Southeast Missouri all speak with perfect diction and pronunciation.

You are correct. You have to leave home -- or have visitors around -- before you can be said to have an accent.

It becomes an "If a tree falls in the forest" type of thing. . . I imagine a tree in Missouri falling with the sound of "Tim-m-m-ber-r-r-r, ya'll!"

 

[Smart Red]

My grandmother came here from Italy at 15. She had 13 children, livid to her late 70s never learned English. Or so pretended .

She may have been telling the truth, mostly. That is, she probably knew bits and pieces of English, but back then, Italian families tended to live in Italian communities where speaking English was not necessary.

 

[seedcorn]

It's timmbar ya'll.

For those saying southerners are more laid back and friendly-don't go near Nashville........it will shatter that fallacy. People are people.