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Speaking 'Southern' is a cherished tradition
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Published: July 17, 2009
As with the growth and development of anything beautiful, bringing up properly born and reared G.R.I.T.S. is hard work. Teaching good manners and the art of polite conversation is a large part of it, but integral to the development of all G.R.I.T.S. is making sure that they learn and never lose that sweet Southern drawl that so softly drifts across the ether. Sadly, these days, that can be a problem.
For some reason, many folks with Southern accents seem to want to be shed of them. To some degree, I can understand this. Every now and again, I'll get a smirk from non-Southerners when they hear me speak. And my Southern accent isn't particularly pronounced — unless I'm asked, say, if I've ever been to the "libry in Adlanna on Saerdy." And you should see the looks I get when I correct the pronunciation of a well-meaning but ignorant soul trying to say the name of the mountains just to our west. When non-Southerners mistakenly say "App-a-LAY-shun," I gently point out the proper pronunciation is "App-uh-LAT-chun," and get looked at like I just brought out an albino with a banjo and offered them all some "pea-can pi."
As anyone with a pronounced accent can tell you, the stereotypes associated with having an accent of any kind can be tough to overcome. According to a 2008 study of British English dialects, people with accents typical of the Birmingham, England, area (Brummies) were considered less intelligent than those with accents found elsewhere in England. But they are not. It's misconceptions like these that lead too many people from too many places to try and neutralize distinctive accents. That's criminal.
Unless we all want to sound like some high-falutin', uptight, accent-neutral pod person, we should maintain our native accents and form our impressions based on what people say, not how they say it. But, I reckon there ain't much use kickin' up a ruckus about it.
I'm just gonna relax, and listen to my girls chatter away. Listen to the distinct Southern cadence and accent so pleasing to the ear. An accent that calls to mind hot July afternoons swimming and catching crawdads in the river, or snacking on boiled peanuts and reading Eudora Welty as the fireflies flicker around the magnolias.
All y'all'r welcome to mix y'up a mint julep an come set a spell.
Let's talk.
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