David's Spot

In the book I am reading Bill Bryson has just "stumbled" into the South.  Specifically Mississippi and Alabama.  It is humorous to read about his experiences in Mississippi since I grew up there and lived in some of the cities he visited.  It is especially fun to me to read about Bill's quest to understand the Southern language.

In a conversation with a Mississippi town police.

He said, "How yew doin?"
This so surprised me that I answered, in a cracking voice, 'Pardon?'
'I said how yew doin?'
'I'm fine,' I said.  And then added, having lived some years in Britain, 'Thank you.'
'Y'on vacation?'
'Hah doo  lack Miss Hippy?'
'Pardon?'
'I say, Hah doo  lack Miss Hippy?'
I was quietly distressed.  The man was armed and Southern and I couldn't understand a word he was saying to me. 'I'm sorry,' I said, 'I'm kind of slow, and I don't understand what you're saying.'
'I say, -and he repeated it more carefully - 'how doo yew lack Mississippi?'
It dawned on me. 'Oh! I like it fine! I like it heaps!  I think its wonderful.  The people are so friendly and helpful.'  I wanted to add that I had been there for an hour and hadn't been shot at once, but the light changed and he was gone, and I sighed and thought, "Thank you, Jesus."

I used to talk like that. Living in Arizona for 11 years has mostly cured me of my Southern drawl.  People say they can hear my drawl when I am excited or mad.  Go figure.  They call that "getting redneck with you."

Posted by: David R. / 6/26/2004 03:38:00 PM