Tales from a Carolina Porch Swing

Episode 2: Learning the Local Lingo

Hi, it’s Brenda..

Welcome to the second newsletter in this three-part series that leads up to the final Episode 3 on Friday.

If you’ve arrived to this party late, start with the previous Episode 1: Confessions of a Cast-Iron Coward. The context is important in framing today’s email.

Episode 1: Confessions of a Cast Iron Coward

Now let’s dive into Episode 2: Learning the Local Lingo

How does a fast-paced New Yorker turned savvy Californian find herV.I.B.E. in North Carolina? Simple - one chapter at a time!

In this newsletter, I’m capturing the cultural soundtrack of southern living. Think anthropologist-meets-humorist documenting the daily discoveries and delightful surprises of my new south.

Now, in all fairness, this is the South, but it was a brisk 17 degrees this morning. NO, FORGET BRISK, IT WAS JUST COLD! And now after living in California for 30 years, I’ve gotta develop a thicker-skin. But that’s not what we’re here to discuss.

I’m celebrating my fourth year living here in North Carolina, YAY! and I’m training my ear to hear the local language. Just like when I travel abroad and learn a few greetings or phrases in whatever the country I’m visiting, I’m studying the dialect of my new home. And let me tell you - this isn’t just vocabulary. It’s a rich tapestry of expression - there’s nothing bland about it! The local speech is peppered with, I don’t know - a tang — a spice, that creates an entrancing southern sound.

Come on with me and let’s dig into sixteen essential southern phrases that I've been trying to work into my daily vocabulary...

LEARNING THE LOCAL LINGO - SOUTHERN PHRASES and their meanings:

1. You could have bought me with a penny. (feeling worthless because you just said something you shouldn’t have)

2. Tore Up. (pronounced ‘toe up’ - someone upset about something)

3. Might Could. (it’s possible - it might just happen)

4. Bless your heart. (this one’s a double-entendre - because they’re not usually offering you a blessing)

5. Fixin’ to. (it’s gonna happen - we just don’t know when)

6. Over Yonder. (any distant direction - north, south, east, west - makes no difference)

7. Let me, let you go. (ending a conversation respectfully and in a timely manner)

8. Carry me to. (that’s just asking for transportation)

9. Plumb. (an extreme condition - you could be plumb tired or someone might be plumb crazy)

10. Fit to be tied. (upset or very angry)

11. Gussied Up. (wearing your Sunday best)

12. Hug yo neck. (a show of affection for someone)

13. Funny as all get out. (a story you just gotta tell)

14. Toboggan (a beanie)

15. Quit being ugly. (in other words, mind your manners)

16. Scoop you up. (love this one - someone’s gonna come pick you up)

And then there’s the strange pronunciations of Cities and Counties that - to be honest - I’m still working on these! I’ll pronounce it the way it appears on paper and then follow up with the southern pronunciation..

• Salisbury (SAULS-berry - not pronounced like the steak)

• Lenoir County ( I gave a french pronunciation Le-Noir - my boss said (La-Nor)

• Pfafftown (POFF-town)

• Mebane (MEB-un)

• Hiddenite (HID-nite)

• Corolla (Ka-RAW-la)

• Chinquapin (CHINK-a-pin)

• Cherryville (CHAIR-ee-vil

• Buncombe County (BUNK-um)

• Bodie Island (BODY Island)

• Iredell County (EYE-ur-dell)

• Robeson (ROB-uh-sun - Remember, there’s no robe in Robeson)

In case you want to know more: North Carolina Museum of History shared a series of videos about how to pronounce places throughout the state. Search for #PronouncingNC on Facebook or Twitter to hear or see more pronunciations.

Personally, when I don’t understand, I just ask folks to spell stuff! 😄 -B

Coming up: Episode 3 - Taste Testing the Tar Heel State.