Our dialect is perfect

I’ve heard it for the better part of my life. When I travel across this great country, I tend to get “the look.” You know. The one where people look at you and automatically know you are from the south after words come from your mouth.
“Where you from… Texas or Georgia?”

Georgians, especially us South Georgians, have our own way of communicating. We have a tendency to combine and abbreviate. The ultimate example is “y’all”. Isn’t it perfect? Who wants to say “you all” anyway?

Have you ever noticed how we also drop Gs? We don’t say “fixing.” Instead we say, “fixin.” “We fixin to go fishin.” How about “cookin” or “workin?” If you add the G, we will probably figure out you are not from around these parts and you could even rate a “bless your heart” in the process.

I have noticed we say the word “on” like “own.” “Oil” is pronounced “ohl.” The word “can’t” sounds more like “ain’t” with a k in front of it.

We have mastered the art of combining words as well. “Didja” is a great example. What about “y’ontoo”? This means “do you want to”. See how much simpler it is to just say, “y’ontoo?” One of my favorites is “widjadidja” and means, “with you, did you.” Did you bring a towrope “widjadidja?”

I bet I have lost my favorite English teacher, and retired news editor, Mary Ann Ellis, by this point in this column. She’s probably ready to give me a good tongue-lashing. She’s one of those “highfalutin” English experts, you know. Mrs. Mary Ann kept this publisher’s commas straight. If she could do that…she’s certainly an expert.

When something goes “cattywampus,” as us true southerners like to say, you’d better head the other direction.
By the way, in South Georgia it’s “Coke,” not “Coca-Cola.” Those folks up around Atlanta have lost their way and say the latter.
Here are a few more of our favorite sayings…
I’m so full, I’m about to pop.
If I had my druthers.
That doesn’t make a hill of beans.
Plumb tired, or plumb excited.
We’re so poor, we can’t afford to pay attention.
He was as busy as a cat on a hot tin roof.
Well, I declare!
God willing and the creek don’t rise.
Hush your mouth!
Full as a tick.
Aren’t you precious.
Worn slap out.

Well there you have it. That’s today’s lesson in Southern Grammar. One old boy said, “Grammar, never heard of her.” Okay. Just one more, as Grandma would say when she was getting off the telephone, ”let me let you go.”