The South Speech Diet

Since coming to Nashville, I've noticed the presence of southern accents much more than I ever did growing up in Texas. Maybe I just wasn't looking for it then. People have asked me why I don't have one, and when I tell them why, I also mention that I wish I had one. Well...I think that wish is slowly coming to pass.

When people diet, they change the way they eat. I guess if you change the way you speak, you could call that a diet as well. I choose to call what I'm experiencing the South Speech Diet (not to be confused with South Beach, of course.) Instead of dropping a few pounds, you would drop a few words out of your speech. Instead of combining and condensing meals, you would combine and condense your words, creating a slur effect--a drawl. Instead of sneaking sugary sweets, you would sneak apostrophes in between random words.

I've noticed over the last few days that the way I speak has been affected by the people around me. A couple times words have come out of my mouth, and all I could think was, Did I really just say it that way? I wish I could remember what it was I said today at work that took me by surprise, but all I can remember is that it was something you would hear come out of a southerner's mouth. I remember feeling kind of happy about it as well as a little uncertain about these new changes in my speech.

Here are a few situations I've come across since coming here.

1) Nashville: I've heard it pronounced NashVILLE and NashVUL. I think the second way is indicative of someone who is a true southerner. I hope the day comes when I naturally say Nashvul.

2) Yesterday while assisting in a 4th grade class, the teacher, Mrs. Smith, praised a student for doing a good job on an informal assessment. Right afterward, another kid piped in earnestly, "I DONE GOOD, TOO!". As a teacher, maybe I should have been worried about this grammatical error, but instead I couldn't stop myself from smiling. It was so awesome. I made a mental note to write down that moment of happiness.

3) I have a cowgirl puppet that was given to me by my friend Amber. The puppet's name is Lou Etta, and she has a southern accent. When I told Randy about her, he laughed at the thought of me using a southern accent in a class full of children with the real deal. Would it be offensive to use her here? Would it seem like I'm making a mockery of the people here? Personally, I find the situation funny. I also can't stand the thought of making Lou Etta change her identity while we live here. :)

Lou Etta, keeping an eye on my students from her place on the bookshelf

4) Today I heard a student say those two special words-- "I ain't..."--and he said them with vehemence, too. "I could tell it was a regular part of his vocabulary. So classic...so wonderfully southern. I love it.


Well, that's all for now. I don't think you have to worry too much about me as I'm not an extreme South Speech dieter. I still sound mostly like me--my southern moments aren't extremely frequent yet. If there are any major developments with it, though, I'll be sure to keep you posted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm fixin'na go somewhar...