The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-07-06
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Bpecinaens of Fast DISAPPEARING enu
Peculiar Form Of Negro Speech.
There is one kind Of Negro dialect
which is becoming very rare IN TINS
country, and, in fact, ID seldom heard
beyond the sea islands of the coast OF
South Carolina. This Is the dialect OF
the descendants of the Guinena Ne
groes, and it contains many pecuiiar1-
ties of expression. Ambrose Gonzales
Of South Caroline, who was raised on
tide water plantation. has made
study of this dialect and renders IT
with close imitation of the real.
Here is one of his stories, published in
the Columbia State:
Alfred was lanlxy, loose-jointed
youth, with the shambling gait OF 9
raccoon, and more than his share OF
Afro American laziness. In color he
was . chinquapin brown, or. as the
hands on the plantation called 1t, "a
bay kind of nigguh, sub" With the
arrogance of the copper-alloyed negro.
he looked down upon the darker-hueo
members of his race.
He was employed in doing odd jobs
about the plantation, and one day was
coming over the railroad crossing on his
way from the big spring" balancing .
bucket of water upon the hatless crown
Of his woolly head, when, as he paused
| to look up and down the lines OF gilt
tering steel rails, ostensibly to see
..wedder de shoo-fy train dey on time"
he caught sight of rival and enemy.
Paul Youngblood, thick-set, bullet
headed black, a year or two older ana
many pounds heavier than our hero.
Putting down his bucket and lounging
toward the newcomer, who had paused
at the crossing, Alfred demanded:
paul, wat you tell Pink bout me tode
settin' up las Sattyday nite?"
"Tell which Pink?'
"Aun' Sarah grandfather Pink. You
know nm berry wellr'
ssWho tell you know she?"
EFF you ain know UNI you quaint
an wild 'um"
ssWcll, eft is 'quaintan' wild 'um l
nebher tell 'um nutt'n."
'sYou tell 'um dat I could'n' specify"
| "Who tell you tell Jump"
| "'Lizzybet' tell me-"
(Which 'Lizzybet' dat?'
"Same 'Lizzybet'; you mus be :
fool"
Don't you cuss me a fool"
i 81 cuss you q fool. yaas, en- cuss
you a lie. en- cuss you nigguhl''
"Ef you cuss me = nigguh. YOURSELF is
. nigguhr'
s.Who-me?"
"Yaas, you"
"Bippr' Alfred took heavy light
wood knot from pile of ei gine-wood
near by and brought it down with q
whack on the thick skull of his oppon.
emit. The blow didn't seem to trouble
! | the recipient much, and he stcys5ool
{ ing daxedly at his assailant until the
, sight of his own blood trickling dowr
: on the planks reminded him that he had
!, been despitefully used. Seizing AL
| fred suddenly by the ears he buttet
. him full in the forehead and the two
skulls crashed together with SOUND
! like the coupling of freight cars will
: automatic bumpers. The battle was I
!, short one. Alfred fell to earth ant
!, was soundly belabored before coul'
! make the now thoroughly arouset
: Paul abandon the fight
..Now, Alfud," said his conqueror
: ~ done bruk 30 mout, You is satisfy
. enty?"
Alfred rose from the fray with tri
: umphant face, his head bloody bu
: lunbowed." MINNIE" said he through
: his swollen lips as he took up his bur
den and moved slowly away. Amy
: how, git cen the fuss lickr-Wash
: ington Star.