Alabama: culture shock

[Monkeyleg]

Oh well, I don't expect Southerners to understand 'off'n' 'less'n' 'cep'n' or 'agin'...(sometimes misunderstood to be 'often' 'lesson' or 'again' but bearing no similarity in meaning)... or anyone not from California to understand the word 'bes'.

That's okay. I don't expect southerners to understand "der, hey" or "down by" or "ainah."

Example: "We're going down by Sears, ainah?" Translated, this means that we're going to Sears, not just going by the store. "Ainah" is a question of sorts, as in "ain't it?" or "ain't we?"

"Der, hey" is optional for finishing sentences, as in "I'm going by the beer store der, hey." "Der" is a contraction of "there." "Hey" is just thrown in for emphasis.

Compared to that, "ya'll" is pretty simple.

 

[stickhauler]

Gee, I didn't know the South had a monopoly on "ya'all." I'm from SE Ohio, and we all used that contraction. But then again, after moving to Dayton, I've been asked what Southern state I hail from.

I hear people say they can't understand anything Hermie Sadler or Ward Burton say, yet I understand them just fine. I just wish these folks up North here quit complaining about my accent. I think they have one. I just wish they'd slow down a little when they're talking, you don't make more money for spitting out a certain number of words per minute.

 

[gearhead]

Gee, I didn't know the South had a monopoly on "ya'all." I'm from SE Ohio, and we all used that contraction. But then again, after moving to Dayton, I've been asked what Southern state I hail from.

I hear people say they can't understand anything Hermie Sadler or Ward Burton say, yet I understand them just fine. I just wish these folks up North here quit complaining about my accent. I think they have one. I just wish they'd slow down a little when they're talking, you don't make more money for spitting out a certain number of words per minute.

My sig on the NASCAR scale modeling forum I help moderate is, "If Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton are the only drivers you can understand any more, you MIGHT be a redneck!" lol

 

[DammitBoy]

Oh, and find out if a squirrel gun is still obligatory to be a proper Southerner

Y'all better have a good squirrel gun, cuz we gots some biguns down here!

 

[stickhauler]

My sig on the NASCAR scale modeling forum I help moderate is, "If Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton are the only drivers you can understand any more, you MIGHT be a redneck!" lol

And I proudly express myself as a redneck. Foxworthy describes a redneck as " a glorious lack of sophistication." Yup, that's me. I might go to the ballet, but I ain't gonna like it.

Everyone cusses rednecks, until their car breaks down. Then, they love to see us come around.

 

[JWF III]

I wouldn't try to say "y'all." I'm sure I'd sound foolish.

Try to refrain from "youse guys" also. That's a dead giv-a-way.

Wyman

 

[esquare]

Just go ahead and say y'all - no one cares. Hey, I started saying it in college when I made friends with a few floridians. It turns out, it's actually a really useful contraction, much easier than 'you all'. When I moved down here, I learned the plural form though.

 

[gearhead]

And I proudly express myself as a redneck. Foxworthy describes a redneck as " a glorious lack of sophistication." Yup, that's me. I might go to the ballet, but I ain't gonna like it.

Everyone cusses rednecks, until their car breaks down. Then, they love to see us come around.

It certainly wasn't intended as a put-down, I was just chuckling along with your story. I was born in Mississippi to parents who were from Arkansas originally and I have held a NASCAR driver's license myself in my younger days. I've been judged before based on my background and my accent, I finally decided to just not let it bother me.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Looks like I'll have to buy a .50 BMG for squirrels.

Oh, by the way, I've never said "youse" in my life.

It would be really interesting to see someone with a heavy New York City accent down here. Maybe I could get a job as an interpreter. Maybe.

Went to the courthouse yesterday for the fifth time in a week and the same three deputies were at the metal scanner. One noticed my motorcycle helmet and we all got to talking about motorcycles. Then the talked turned to guns and CCW, and they were telling me about their permits and carrying out of state (with and without permits). Then the discussion turned to stocking ammo for social unrest.

Can't say I've ever had that sort of discussion with LEO's before.

 

[Acera]

Since you now live in Alabama, you might check these political ads out, they seem to be the kind of people I would vote for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwCa-1MQ9V4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0

(If you do make contact with Mr. Peterson who is running for agriculture commissioner you might teach him a thing or two about gun safety. First don't sweep the cameraman with your rifle barrel, and second keep your finger out of the trigger guard unless you are ready to fire. I know it's not cocked, but still. But I guess you don't look as tough if you do those things for TV.)

 

[Monkeyleg]

Acera, I saw that ad for Peterson. It was really good.

That's another thing that's different down here. Even though Wisconsin is a pro-gun state, candidates don't mention guns in their ads or general literature. They use mailers and flyers specifically targetting gun owners so as not to scare the general public.

Down here it seems like every candidate's ad mentions how pro-gun he or she is.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Oh well, I don't expect Southerners to understand 'off'n' 'less'n' 'cep'n' or 'agin'...(sometimes misunderstood to be 'often' 'lesson' or 'again' but bearing no similarity in meaning)...

let me take a stab at it. Off'n=off of,less'n=unless,cep'n=except that and agin=against. If I have properly identified/defined them,I would not attempt to use them,I would just sound foolish.

I wouldn't try to say "y'all." I'm sure I'd sound foolish.

You can get away with using the word if you use it in the correct context. Do not attempt it with a faux Southern accent! Nothing worse than a non-southerner trying to sound like one! BTW,you can forgo the squirrel gun if you have an LC Smith 28ga double for quail.

 

[Tacbandit]

Quote: By Monkeyleg
"I wouldn't try to say "y'all." I'm sure I'd sound foolish."

You just wait and see... one day you're gonna sure 'nuf surprise yourself. People (everywhere) are creatures of habit, as well as products of their environment, to some degree. Having said that, one day you'll hear yourself say "ain't", or "ya'll", and you will step back in disbelief. From that point on, you'll begin to slip more often...'til one day, you'll look down and say "hey... when did I start eating grits?" Even funnier is when the wife looks at you all strange and says..."what did you just say?"

 

[Sam1911]

This has been fun, but we're pretty darned far off topic at this point.