Understanding "Southern Talk" Without Moving to Dixie

Anyone who has watched an episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" realizes that the Clampetts speak a language of their own. But when I was growing up, it made perfect sense to me, because everyone I knew talked just like Granny and Jed. Now that I am a seasoned, world traveling American who lives in the United Kingdom, it has become painfully obvious that very few people are privileged enough to understand the "Southern" language. Some predict that this regional dialect is on its way to extinction, but I think not. This lens was produced to introduce you to the basic of "Southern Talk."

Photo © Shawn Lea

Southern Word of the Day

lickacents — English translation: "lick of sense." Definition: lacking in common sense. Usage: "If she had a lickacents, she'd think twice 'bout moving to New York."

How did ya'll like it?

I'd appreciate some id's on how to improve this site.

stillar

That is some pretty funny stuff. Thanks for posting. Check out my online encyclopedia resource at http://www.squidoo.com/talksouthern

Posted March 31, 2008

lens4Him

I'm fixing to learn to talk like y'all do :)

Posted March 28, 2008

GrillGirl

You'uns gotta funny page. Cute as a speckled pup. Not sure what that means - but they say it round here. It means "great."

Posted June 04, 2007

Scottyj_13

Another book you may like is Redneck Words of Wisdom...

www.redneckwordsofwisdom.com

It's Hi-Larious stuff

Posted October 11, 2006

Books on Southern Talk

Some of My Favorite Southern Expressions

If things get any better, I may have to hire someone to help me enjoy it.
This gravy's so good, if you get it on your forehead your tongue's gonna slap your brains out!
Stop it right now or I'm gonna whip you so hard you won't be able to sit down for a week.
He's ugly as a mud fence!
There were so many people in that place, you couldn't stir 'em with a stick.
Them dumplin's are so good, they'll make you want to slap your granny!
He's drunk as Cooter Brown.
He was grinnin' like a possum eatin' briars.
He doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.
It came a frog-strangler yesterday! (meaning "it rained really hard)
If you don't stop your cryin', I'm gonna give you something to cry about! (meaning a spanking)
If you do that again, I'm gonna pretend like your ass is grass, and I'm a power lawn mower.
That's like putting a side saddle on a boar hog! (means you're wasting your time)
Beauty's only skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone.
He's busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kickin' contest.
She's got more nerve than Carter's got liver pills. (evidently there was a product called "Carter's Liver Pills" in the old days)
He didn't know me from Adam's housecat.
He's as country as a bowl of grits.
That's enough to gag a maggot! (it's disgusting)
If my dog was ugly as you, I'd shave his butt and make him walk backwards."
With them buck teeth, she could eat an ear of corn through a picket fence.

More "Southern Talk" Resources

Southern Language & Culture Links

Y'all Magazine | The Magazine of Southern People: An interesting look into some of the South's famous personalities and culture.
Y'all (definition): From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The pronoun y'all :: Language: A 'southernism' we all know There are of course other words and expressions that are part of a southern way of talking, but this is the one we're all familiar with. When we hear someone say "How y'all doin'?" we conclude without giving it much further thought that they come from south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Southern American English: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Southern States English: Background, geography, features, and sound samples.
Hillbonics: Learn to Speak Southern West Virginian: This web site is designed to preserve the speech pattern of southern West Virginia. We are not attempting to ridicule or poke fun at anyone's language use; its purpose is to share the dialectal elements of southern West Virginia. These elements are slowly disappearing from use because of the homogenization of America.
Lagniappe: Right Common Southern Phrases: By Toni L.P. Kelner. "Since I started writing mysteries set in North Carolina, I've found that many intelligent, well-educated people (as all of my readers are) are unfamiliar with even the most common Southern phrases. So in the spirit of hospitality for which the South is known, I've put together this list of some of the expressions I use in my books to at least give an introduction to proper speech. At least, it's proper where I come from."
Redneck Slang: Extensive collection of clean humor, funny pictures, movies and flash animation.