Field Notes on Country Linguistics
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Arts Entertainment -> subcategory Humor.
Field Notes on Country Linguistics
Exploring Rural Conversations
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Introduction
When you venture into the countryside, you're sure to encounter delightful regional expressions. Translating these into standard English can be challenging. Use these field notes to navigate the unique linguistics of rural America.
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An Unexpected Linguistic Journey
As Suzy hesitated, I found myself distracted. "Hey Kathy, put on another pot of coffee," I called out, trying to divert my attention. Suzy spoke again, and it was as if time slowed down. Her impending speech was a linguistic disaster waiting to unfold. Instinctively, I wanted to stop her. Yet, she needed to learn customer communication on her own. I silently pleaded, “Please, don’t say it.” But then, the moment came: "Well ma'am, I ain't fer sures on that."
English professors nationwide would be cringing. How could this happen again after four months with us? Holding onto hope, I wished she would follow up with, "If you wouldn't mind holding for a moment, I'll find the answer for you." Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
There was an uncomfortable pause, shared by both the caller and me. Suzy moved on to take the customer’s order, and neither gained much from the exchange. I stepped outside to reflect. Should I consider firing her? I wasn’t sure about that either.
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Endearing Expressions
In the countryside, you’ll hear many charming phrases. Take "a doins" for instance. When someone says, “There’s a doins at Bubba’s tonight,” it means a gathering or event will occur at Bubba's place.
Then there’s “pert near,” which means “almost.” For example: “Pert near everybody ceptin that cidiot been told bout the rodeo” translates to “Almost everyone, except the newcomer city idiot, knows about the upcoming rodeo.”
Unfortunately, telling a high-maintenance Dressage Equestrian, “Ya ain't fer sures on that,” translates to, “Hello, we lack literacy, so buy our product.” Without offering further information, it implies, “We may lack literacy, but we also fail to assist our customers. Thank you and have a nice day.”
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Misunderstood Phrases
Tourists often misinterpret the phrase “What chya doin?” as a casual “What’s up?” Instead, it literally means “What are you doing?” This confusion often arises in obvious situations?"for example, spreading cheese on dough. If asked, “What chya doin?” the literal interpretation can lead to confusion. Avoid clever responses like “Installing solar panels,” or you might find yourself explaining how ingredients relate to energy solutions.
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Linguistic Diversity in South Dakota
In South Dakota, low wages have attracted numerous customer service call centers. Airlines, finance companies, and catalog sales flock to Rapid City. Recently, there’s been concern over competition from India. The irony of Black Hills residents losing roles to Indians isn’t lost on many, considering historical contexts. How many will this offend? I ain’t fer sures on that.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Field Notes on Country Linguistics.
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