When I was young, I was self-conscious about my accent, most acutely when I was among non-Southern relatives. They were erudite and polished, while I sounded like someone you’d meet in the laxative aisle at the Dollar General in Hahira, GA.
When my magnificent Great-Aunt Martha would call, I’d standardize my English to the point that family members would chide, “There goes Retta puttin’ on her Aunt Martha Voice again.”
What does that have to do with the price of sweet tea in Waffle House? Well, researchers have found that the Georgia accent is rapidly disappearing. In fact, they report that regional dialects across the country are being displaced by something quite horrifying. Listen to find out what it is.
What’s your favorite Southern expression, sound, or linguistic quirk?
Let me know, and I’ll share on my blog and Facebook page.