abbync2001: blog 
abbync2001's blog
two eastern phrases
Published Jul. 8, 2009Views: 1461
I moved to the Triangle seven years ago from a small town named Mocksville in the mid-western part of the state. There, our accents, colloquialisms and slang are greatly influenced by the people of the Appalachian Foothills since many of our ancestors migrated from those areas. So, I did not grow-up hearing everything spoken in what scholars would call Standard English. ;-)
We spent quite a bit of time in Durham when we first moved here. It amazed me that 100 miles away from home people talked so differently. Heck, we were in the same state, just right down I-40 from one another; yet I quickly realized that many from the Eastern part of the state are so dissimilar to those native to my area in their speech. To wit: Many omit the word “for” when speaking of being in search of something. Say an Eastern NC person is in the process of going to car dealerships to buy a new car, that person would say, “I’m looking a new car.” One of the sheriffs on G105 says, “Today, we’re looking Wayne Lee Smith because he…” Where is the word “for”??? He’s LOOKING FOR a new car! They’re LOOKING FOR Wayne Lee Smith!
Another that I hear frequently is using the word “won’t” in place of the correct “wasn’t”. “Won’t” is a contraction for “will not”. “Wasn’t” is a contraction for “was not”. Pick the phrases used by Eastern NC’ers:
a) I wasn’t going to the mall today.
b) I won’t going to the mall today.
c) It wasn’t my turn to do the dishes.
d) It won’t my turn to do the dishes.
The correct answers - yet incorrect usages – are “b” and “d”. The way they say it translates to:
b) I will not going to the mall today.
d) It will not my turn to do the dishes.
Hmmm....
This blog is in no way intended to offend anyone. It just reflects an observation I've made. Believe me, there are many things people say in Mocksville and surrounding area that make me want to scream, "You're saying it wrong!" However, I am not perfect so I will go on smiling while enjoying our diversity.
Filed under: Personal
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GOLO member since January 19, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:02 p.m.
"I passed my driving test and and got 'em last week!"
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:05 p.m.
You're looking a fight here bub.
;)
GOLO member since April 1, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:05 p.m.
GOLO member since April 1, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:07 p.m.
GOLO member since November 6, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:08 p.m.
GOLO member since May 2, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:09 p.m.
Nope...but if you don't step away from they keyboard and leave 'fixin' alone, something's gonna be broke a'ight! lol JK!!!!
GOLO member since September 7, 2007
July 8, 2009 3:11 p.m.
GOLO member since April 1, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:11 p.m.
"Y'all Come!" (said to the people leaving after a visit)
Translation: We really enjoyed your visit. Please feel free to come by and see us again anytime! :-)
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
July 8, 2009 3:11 p.m.
GOLO member since July 7, 2007
July 8, 2009 3:12 p.m.
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