The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-18

accomplishment, and few there be, eithe
North or South, who have reached sucl
degree of perfection that no exception
can be taken by "carping critics" to thei
utterances. In the matter of pronuncia
tion, the times are changing, and ont
can scarcely keep pace with the innova
tions being introduced by the leading
ortheopists.
The purpose of this paper is, however
to present, in succiuct way, few o
the quaintnesses of pronunciation ane
construction held to by the Southern
people as class. Among these the frs
that comes to mind is the custom O
emitting the last two letters in such
words as "more," "store, " "four"-whicf
are "mo," 'tsto,aand $50" "Whal
o'clock is it?" you ask the Carolinian
and ten to one be tells you it is "halt
pas fo'," if that happens to be the hour
Another common Southernism is the
use of "like as if" or "like" for the
words "as if" "She looked like she
knew me" is q common expression, Of
"shelooked like as she'd die." This is
very common in Washington, and in al
the States south of Mason and Dixon's
line.
The word "funny" is frequently used
instead of strange, and sometimes with
startling effects. A young Southern gir
was visiting US once, and caller wa:
telling of the death of her mother
through swallowing a fish bone. ooh
wasn't it jtsnny" exclaimed our visitor
at the close of the narrative. 81 think
you mean strange" said the caller, as
soon as she recovered from the astonish.
ment. Our girl friend has never used
the word "funny" since.
If you happen to hear anybody say
"rys cheer you may know it is intended
to mean right here" For instance
A South Carolinian will say: "Where
was he at last night2" and his fellow
citizen will say, "He staid rye cheer with
me-" Disar-pronounced in one sylla.
ble-is not Russian word, as might be
supposed; it means ''do you hear?" and
is usually addressed to servants in this
form: "Yoa, JIM Bring in that wood,
djears 2"
''To get to go" is essentially Georgia
expression. They say, "Do, don't fail to
come to night" and the reply is, "Tve
tried to get to go three weeks, now, so !
reckon I'll be there t'night." The ex-
preston, "Do don't" is heard in Georgia
and South Carolina, but rarely elsewhere.
One of the most laughable things you
ever heard is the peculiar pronunciation
Of the word "about." 1t is impossible to
express the South Carolinian's >pronun.
citation, phonetically. 1t sounds like
abaout-pronounced very quickly lin
three syllables. "Quare," for "queer,'
is another word. The use of reckon
for presume" is said to have been de.
rived from the Yankees, as was the ex.
preston fright smart" for the word
"much."
In imitation of English, perhaps, is
the custom of saying "i've got it" for 81
have it," and the general use of.the word
"got" where it is quite unnecessary
Also English in the use of Obliged" as
"I'm to do it" for ~ must do it )" she is
obliged to go" for che must CO." Am
biguity of expression is too prevalent ir
Dixie, and too many people sacrifice
sense for sound.
Low-country peoplei and the residents
of middle South Carolina say "gee
arden" for garden" "gee-yard' fol
"guard"-.with the hard sound of "g.'
So, too, with such words as "card,
Gear" and "cart," into which is intro
duced the sound of "kee," to take th'
place of the first consonant, thus: "kee
ard" "kee-ar," "kee,art."
The use of delightful for delicious, il
such sentence as: "The ice cream il
delightful" is very common. "Pretty'
is word very often misused, for in
stance: "Isn't this pretty day ?'-and
this error is very general one. North
Carolinians say the scenery is "pretty"-
meaning picturesque; the day is ''pret
ty"-meaning fine; and that persons
manners are "pretty"-meaning we'll
bred.
"You aN," or, as it is abbreviated
"y'aN," is one Of the most ridiculous o.
all the Southernisms I can call to mind
It usually means two or more persons
but is some times used when only one
person is meant For instance caller
on taking her departure, says: "Y'all
must come to see u.s." She means tie
lady, upon whom she is calling, and her
husband may call.
The Yankees have quite as many
ridiculous figures of speech as those
have mentioned as peculiarly Southern
and it will be reserved for another paper
to present the oddities of Yankee con
versation. In the meantime every true
hearted Southerner who reads these lines
will declare that he never used any O
these Southcrnisms, and will be just al
honest in his belief rs the Charlestoniar
when he vows that he never says "dis,a
way" for "this way" and "dat-a-way'
for "that Ways Pardee, IN "Di:sie."
@@r..z.<.s.z.....-A @@rE.<.szszz
"A Disgusted Soldier.