Carolina Gal

By Jan Todd

Southern Twang

Over my six decades of life, I’ve lived in eight different Southeastern states — in small towns and cities, rural areas and suburbs. I’ve dined at fine restaurants in Savannah and eaten at deep dives along the backroads. I’ve cheered at high school football games — cow bell in hand — and listened to bluegrass music on the lawn of The Jones House on sweet summer nights in Boone. I’ve been to parties in fields and have eaten fried chicken at a Nascar race. I’d say I’m well versed in Southern culture.

Sometimes, Southerners can be misunderstood. I remember one time I was working with a group of folks from all over the country. One lady was a bit rude and impatient with me, and I just figured she was having a bad day, bless her heart. Later she confessed that she thought I wasn’t too bright, because compared to others in the group, I spoke more slowly than most — and with an accent, to boot.

Well gracious daisies. I’ve always considered an accent — Southern or otherwise — the seasoning in spicy conversation. Add in some regional phraseology, and you’ve got yourself a story.

Once I went to a football game in Clover, South Carolina, and casually asked the ticket taker how he was doing that fine evening. “I’m hangin’ in thar like a har in a biscuit,” he replied.

Lawsa mercy! I’m still trying to figure out if that was good or bad. The game that night was mighty exciting, with teams exchanging score for score. The announcer, who may or may not have been related to the ticket taker, exclaimed, “This game is on like a pot of chicken necks!” He went on to say they’d be taking up a collection in an offering plate as we left the stadium, because we’d done seen ourselves a ball game that night!

Women folk from Up North and other places sometimes are taken aback by Southerners saying, “Yes, ma’am.” Some are even offended, thinking we’re being sarcastic or implying they’re older. (Not that being considered older is an offense, for goodness sakes.)

I was taught to say “ma’am” from an early age. If I answered with a simple, “Yes,” my mama would invariably respond, “Yes, what?” until I got the ma’am in there.

Now over the past few years, the phrase “Bless her heart” has taken a lot of heat. There is some truth to the fact we use it to make a little fun of folks or soften a tale that might not be exactly complimentary of someone. However, we also use it most genuinely when lamenting about someone’s troubles or admiring their resilience in a situation. You just have to pay attention to the context to know whether to chuckle or sympathetically shake your head in agreement.

Over the years I’ve come to love listening to the accents from folks all over the world. The words we use — and how we use them — convey a lot about where we grew up and who we are. So remember: Next time someone says “Yes ma’am” (or “Yes sir”) to you, just smile, bless their heart, and go on with your day. t