Differences in how we talk...

[Jenster]

Hey, so I was thinking about how we've got people from all around the U.S. (and abroad?) here in the forum. It'd be interesting to see if there are any particular ways that people in your region talk. Are there words you say that people elsewhere don't? For example, some people say "pop" while others say "soda."

I'll throw out two thoughts:

-- A co-worker who grew up on the East Coast pronounces the word "mirror" as one syllable: "meer." But I pronounce it with two syllables -- "mir-ror."

-- I always call men and women "men" and "women" or "guys" and "gals." I never say "males" and "females." (I grew up on the West Coast.)

Any others?

 

[dluvs2trvl]

I dated a guy from South Carolina and instead of saying something like - I'm going to take my son to basketball practice - he says - I'm going to carry my son...

I thought that was kind of funny - I would always picture him physically carrying his 15 year old son or is 68 year old mother when he'd talk about carrying her to the doctor... LOL!

 

[ido]

I say southern things like I'm fixing to... when I'm going to do something and Y'all.

 

[eatenbylocusts]

I dated a guy from South Carolina and instead of saying something like - I'm going to take my son to basketball practice - he says - I'm going to carry my son...

I thought that was kind of funny - I would always picture him physically carrying his 15 year old son or is 68 year old mother when he'd talk about carrying her to the doctor... LOL!

Is that just a S. Carolina thing? I have family in the south and I've never heard that-just their pleasant southern drawl that makes everything sound more genteel.

My mom is from Oklahoma and she says all kinds of odd things. She says warsh for wash, oinge for orange, "necked" for naked, virgent for virgin, harricaine, and pop which my kids think is pretty funny. People ask me where I was born because it's obvious I'm not from California. Not, just been exposed to all kinds of funny-speaking people, including the Persian my mom was trying not to forget from her missionary days.

 

[Jenster]

D, my back is hurting for the guy. I've never heard that expression before. Did you make a comment the first time you heard him say that? ("You're going to ... what?")

Flnativegirl, what are you fixin' to do this afternoon?

 

[Jenster]

Is that just a S. Carolina thing? I have family in the south and I've never heard that-just their pleasant southern drawl that makes everything sound more genteel.

LOL. I agree. I had a little crush on a co-worker years ago because he just sounded so wonderful. I think he was from one of the Carolinas (or Ca-row-lahhh-nas).

 

[ido]

D, my back is hurting for the guy. I've never heard that expression before. Did you make a comment the first time you heard him say that? ("You're going to ... what?")

Flnativegirl, what are you fixin' to do this afternoon?

I'm fixing to get back to sorting/filing the new literature that came in to our office.

 

[dluvs2trvl]

Is that just a S. Carolina thing? I have family in the south and I've never heard that-just their pleasant southern drawl that makes everything sound more genteel.

D, my back is hurting for the guy. I've never heard that expression before. Did you make a comment the first time you heard him say that? ("You're going to ... what?")

Well, he's the only guy I've dated that was from the south so I have no idea if it is just a Carolina thing or not!

and yes, Jen, I did say...uhmmm you're gonna what? the first time he said it...so he repeated it and I said, uhmmm what are you going to carry him in?!? He said - uh, the car! Totally cracked me up!

 

[FlatpickingJD]

My father dates a Southern woman who says "tote:" as in, "I'm going to tote these bags to Goodwill." He and I both say "carry" instead; me da's from the Midwest and I'm from the west.

Interesting . . .

 

[Jenster]

My father dates a Southern woman who says "tote:" as in, "I'm going to tote these bags to Goodwill." He and I both say "carry" instead; me da's from the Midwest and I'm from the west.

FJD, I've seen you use "me da" a few times now. Is that your normal lingo?

Personally, I would *bring* bags to Goodwill.

 

[dluvs2trvl]

My father dates a Southern woman who says "tote:" as in, "I'm going to tote these bags to Goodwill." He and I both say "carry" instead; me da's from the Midwest and I'm from the west.

Interesting . . .

Thanks for the back up JD

 

[FlatpickingJD]

FJD, I've seen you use "me da" a few times now. Is that your normal lingo?

No, not really. It's an affectation I use. I read it somewhere and I liked how the words fit in my mouth so I use it. Only when writing though.

Personally, I would *bring* bags to Goodwill.

Bring, carry, take . . . anything but tote. Btw, isn't a tote a bag?

 

[Jenster]

Aren't Totes also an umbrella? Hm, I've never tried to umbrella something to Goodwill.

LOL about the affectation. I use "ain't" and "durn it" as affectations myself. *gasp!* Yes, I know y'all are shocked.

So I'm trying to figure out what your "da" would be if I referred to him. "Ye da"???

 

[FlatpickingJD]

. . . LOL about the affectation. I use "ain't" and "durn it" as affectations myself. *gasp!* Yes, I know y'all are shocked.

for affectations.

So I'm trying to figure out what your "da" would be if I referred to him. "Ye da"???

Oh, here's another one: creek. I say creek except when I'm trying to annoy my family, then I say "crick." But someone from the midwest told me that there actually is a difference between the 2: a creek is a body of running water, less than a river, that actually flows regularly and always has water in it. A crick on the other hand, is a dry creek bed that only rarely has water in it, but you need to be able to give an indication that it will have a flowing body of water after rains. And, when it is flowing, it's still a crick.

Yeah, again, tmi. But I liked the answer and the words so there.

 

[Anles]

I'm originally form Alabama (in TN now) so I speak the dialect and understand the natives.
I have, indeed, carried my mom on some errands.

I have a midwestern friend that gives me grief for saying "might could", as in "We might could do that".

And then there's y'all...
you= singular (or as my mom would say "You better get in that bed and go to sleep!")
y'all= plural (Y'all better knock it off and be quiet up there.)
all y'all= more plural (If I have to come up there, all y'all are getting a spanking!)

 

[ido]

I say "all y'all" too!

I thought of another one earlier - I don't know if it's regional or not, but when the boys need to pull their pants up, I tell them to "hitch your drawers up".

And, I call the the flat green stickers that get stuck on your pant legs beggar's lice.

 

[FlatpickingJD]

I've heard that all y'all is also regional. Some parts of the south say that y'all is all encompassing, so all y'all is redundant. That's pretty funny actually: regional phrases having regional phrases.

 

[GritsnGrace]

for affectations.





Oh, here's another one: creek. I say creek except when I'm trying to annoy my family, then I say "crick." But someone from the midwest told me that there actually is a difference between the 2: a creek is a body of running water, less than a river, that actually flows regularly and always has water in it. A crick on the other hand, is a dry creek bed that only rarely has water in it, but you need to be able to give an indication that it will have a flowing body of water after rains. And, when it is flowing, it's still a crick.

Yeah, again, tmi. But I liked the answer and the words so there.

I agree!!! A crick by any other name!!!

I'm originally form Alabama (in TN now) so I speak the dialect and understand the natives.
I have, indeed, carried my mom on some errands.

I have a midwestern friend that gives me grief for saying "might could", as in "We might could do that".

And then there's y'all...
you= singular (or as my mom would say "You better get in that bed and go to sleep!")
y'all= plural (Y'all better knock it off and be quiet up there.)
all y'all= more plural (If I have to come up there, all y'all are getting a spanking!)

I have lived in Louisiana since I was 12 (except for a two year period when I was in Virginia, and didn't realize til I got there that I was still in the south! lol), so I use a lot of this dialect. But, my mom was born and raised in Wyoming, and my dad was born and raised in Oklahoma. So, i got a lot of different dialect growing up (2 years in florida, 4 in Louisiana, 4 in Nebraska, 2 in Spain, then here) So, I am as apt to say You guys as I am y'all!! I use fixing to, but not carry or tote when I am talking someone someplace. I might say pop or soda. But, if I want a coke, I drink Coke! (diet, anyway)

 

[dluvs2trvl]

My dad was born in Oklahoma and he says dungarees instead of jeans....

 

[Jenster]

I might say pop or soda. But, if I want a coke, I drink Coke! (diet, anyway)

LOL, grammy!

And thanks for the explanation of the difference between "creek" and "crick," FJD. I thought a "crick" was what all y'all who "carry" things get in your backs.