Travis Responds to Dialectic Discourse
- Posted by Travis Beaty <atora at EMAIL.COM> Dec 20, 2000
- 461 views
Howdy y'all: Look, I can't help it if y'all can't speak English! (Can't pronounced to rhyme with "paint.") Alright, I'll give you a few simple grammatical rules for Redneck 101. Rule #1: NO single word can have less the three syllables. For instance, the word hairball: although in Standard English this word has two syllables, it is properly pronounced Hay-er-baall, which CLEARLY has three syllables. Rule #2: Any word which has less than three syllables is a phrase compressed using the special Redneck compression algorithm. Take for instance the phrase "Do you want to?" According to Standard English, this phrase contains 4 words, each with one syllable. However, when properly compressed, it is one word with two syllables: "yohn-to". This compression can get even better. "Gee, that was quite an outstanding performance" becomes "YEEEHHAH!" One word, two syllables, not bad. Let's see you do *that* with Huffman compression! Rule #3: NEVER, EVER, try to speak Redneck fast, like the northern US dialects. You'll end up sounding like Boomhauser on "King of the Hill." Like a fine wine, it's designed to be sipped, not gulped. (Hence the need for the Redneck compression algorithm, so that we can get a thought out before the next one hits.) To George Henry: actually, there is a pronounced difference between Texas and southeastern dialects. I can easily tell when folks are from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, etc., because they sound so different. Because I live in the Panhandle, my accent is closer to that of Oklahoma and southern Kansas (Reba MacEntire's accent). As for the Yankees, a lot of times I've got to have them write down what they're saying to understand it. My sister moved to Rhode Island last year, and already ... well, I don't want to talk about it! Tony: John Wayne was from Iowa. Whole different accent. (My beautiful wife and soulmate is from Northern Iowa, and she still gets funny looks from people.) And the "Beverly Hillbillies" are from Tennessee. Although intertwined historically, the dialects have diverged quite a bit. That, and I've only run over possums, never put them in a stew. I'm sure that Australia's got its own regional dialects. Derek, being in Melbourne, you could tell if Mr. X was from Darwin, couldn't you? And don't worry, Tony, I've watched the "Crocodile Dundee" movies plenty enough times to understand you! :-> Mike Hurley: Yah, ya'betcha, don't cha know? Ah goodness, Helga left my Lutefisk in de car all night. Dat's gonta smell, don't cha know? (Got good friends in Moorhead, MN.) Point taken though, and I'll attempt to do a little better job at translation. Happy Hunting, God Bless and Blessed Be, Merry Christmas/Channukah/Winter Solstice/<insert holiday here> Travis Beaty Claude, Texas ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com