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 such
a degree of perfection that no exceptions
can be taken by "carping critics" to theiI
utterances. In the matter Of pronuncla
tion, the times are changing, and one
can scarcely keep pace with the innova
tions being introduced by the leading
orthcopists.
The purpose of this paper is, however
to present, in succiuct way, few OF
the quaintnesses Of pronunciation and
construction held 10 by the Southern
people as class. Among these the first
that comes to mind is the custom of
emitting the last two letters in such
words as more" "store," "four"-which
are "mo," "sto," and "fo." "What
o'clock is it?" you ask the Carolinian,
and ten to one he tells you it is "half
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 a common expression, or
"she looked like as sne'd die" This is
very common in Washington, and in all
the States south of Mason and Dixon's
line.
The word funny" is frequently used,
instead of strange, aud sometimes with
startling effects. A young Southern girl
was visiting us once, and caller was
telling of the death of her mother
through swallowing fish bone. "Oh !!
wasn't it Junny9" exclaimed our visitor,
at the close of the narrative. II 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
"rye cheer" you may know it is intended
to mean right here.'' For instance: /:
A South Carolinian will say: "Where
was he at last night?" and his fellow
citizen will say, "He staid rye cheer with
me-" Djear-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: "You, Jim! Bring in that wood,
Gear ?"
"To get to go" is essentially Georgia
expression. They say, "Do, don't fail to
come to night" and the reply is, Give
tried to get to go three weeks, now, SO I
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
adaout-pronounced very quickly in
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 II
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 in
Dixie, and too many people sacrifice
sense for sound.
Low-country peopleI aud the residents
of middle South Carolina say "gee,
arden" for garden" "gee-yard" for
"guard"-with the hard sound of "g."
So, too, with such words as "card,"
scar" and "cart," into which is intro
duced the sound of "kee," to take the
place of the first consonant, thus: "kee-
ard," "kee-ar," "kee.art."
The use of delightful for delicious, in
such sentence as: 'The ice cream is
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.
"Nu aN," or, as it is abbreviated,
"y'aN," is one Of the most ridiculous of
all the Southernisms I can call to mind.
It usually means two or more persons,
but is some times used when only one
pcTSOu Is uledHt. TOT IUStauCS u CdilcI,
on taking her departure, says: "Y'all
must come to see us" She means tie
lady, upon whom she is calling, aud her
husband may call.
The Yankees have quite as many
ridiculous figures of speech as those 1
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 of
these Southcrnisms, and will be just as
honest in his belief as the Charlestonian
when he VOWS that he never says "dis a
way" for "lhis way" ard "dat-a,way'
for "tha: ways Pardec, IN "Di.eie."
"A DiSgusted Soldier.
An Irishman serving in the United
States army in Texas and belonging to
Al. Al