So the other day I said to my kids, "You young'uns get in here and fix y'uns a plate!" Just trying it out, you know, as it's been a long time since words like that got to roll around on my tongue. Riley had absolutely no idea that I was telling him dinner was ready. I repeated it twice; still, no clue.
How I miss hearing those little expressions! They wrapped me up in the warmth and security of family during my childhood. Maybe I understood that they were old-fashioned, but I never knew until recently that there would be a time in my life when I would ache to hear them again.
Just a few things I want to remember from my eastern TN / north GA roots:
I'm reading a great book (Bloodroot by Amy Greene) and it has put my in a nostalgic mood. Makes me feel like I'm sitting on my Granny's lap, listening to her talk to one of her sisters.
How I miss hearing those little expressions! They wrapped me up in the warmth and security of family during my childhood. Maybe I understood that they were old-fashioned, but I never knew until recently that there would be a time in my life when I would ache to hear them again.
Just a few things I want to remember from my eastern TN / north GA roots:
"a'body" - someone (Can't a'body stand it.)
"liked to" - almost (I liked to a'died!)
"least 'un" - youngest sibling (That least 'un needs a bath.)
"of a'day" - every day (I make beans of' a'day and eat them for supper.)
"sweet milk" - not buttermilk (Put some sweet milk on your cereal.)
"thow" - throw (He thowed a rock and it hit the house.)
"whoopin'" - whipping
"Cut me a hickory (or a switch)" - You're about to get a whoopin'!
"a'hold" - take in hand (Get a'hold of that tooth and pull.)
"come up" - grew up (I come up with 2 sisters.)
"about to bust" - ate too much
"ill" - bad-tempered (He's always ill when he loses sleep.)
"hen apples" - eggs
"okra" pronounced "okree"
"wasn't" pronounced "wutton"
"wash" pronounced "worsh"
"wire" and "fire" pronounced "war" and "far"
"Coke" for any carbonated drink, but "Co-cola" for "Coke"
"like" for "lack" - (I liked 2 dollars, or I would have had enough.)
"Hush!" - a command to be quiet
"Law!" as an expression, instead of using the Lord's name
"directly" - soon (I'll be there directly or "dreckly.")
"mash" - apply pressure to (Mash the button.)
"waspers" - flying stinging insects
"liked to" - almost (I liked to a'died!)
"least 'un" - youngest sibling (That least 'un needs a bath.)
"of a'day" - every day (I make beans of' a'day and eat them for supper.)
"sweet milk" - not buttermilk (Put some sweet milk on your cereal.)
"thow" - throw (He thowed a rock and it hit the house.)
"whoopin'" - whipping
"Cut me a hickory (or a switch)" - You're about to get a whoopin'!
"a'hold" - take in hand (Get a'hold of that tooth and pull.)
"come up" - grew up (I come up with 2 sisters.)
"about to bust" - ate too much
"ill" - bad-tempered (He's always ill when he loses sleep.)
"hen apples" - eggs
"okra" pronounced "okree"
"wasn't" pronounced "wutton"
"wash" pronounced "worsh"
"wire" and "fire" pronounced "war" and "far"
"Coke" for any carbonated drink, but "Co-cola" for "Coke"
"like" for "lack" - (I liked 2 dollars, or I would have had enough.)
"Hush!" - a command to be quiet
"Law!" as an expression, instead of using the Lord's name
"directly" - soon (I'll be there directly or "dreckly.")
"mash" - apply pressure to (Mash the button.)
"waspers" - flying stinging insects
I'm reading a great book (Bloodroot by Amy Greene) and it has put my in a nostalgic mood. Makes me feel like I'm sitting on my Granny's lap, listening to her talk to one of her sisters.
I can hear your voice saying all of these in my head as I read them, even though I'm not sure I've heard you talk like that too much. This was very fun to read. Oh, the good old South!
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny! I had friends in WV that I loved to listen to when they would talk to their kids, because they used this kind of language. I love it!
ReplyDelete