Southern Talk: A Disappearing Language

Rating:
Summary: Ah...the memories!
Review: I'm a native of South Carolina who lives in North Carolina presently, and I've traveled all over the southeastern United States studying the history and culture. For years as I was growing up I tried hard to lose my southern accent. These days I am just so pleased and proud of my southern accent and heritage. This book brought back so many words and phrases I had long forgotten that I heard so frequently when I was growing up. The author presents "southern talk" with a sense of humor, but does not mock or put down those who speak it. In fact, the reader can tell that he has much respect for the folks whose speech patterns and colorful vocabularies inspired him to write this book. He's right--- Because of television, etc., we are all sounding more and more alike. It's sad to think that someday we could no longer have areas with distinct ways of speaking. The U.S. will be much more bland if we lose the phrases and accents that add spice to our lives. It's sad that the younger people on Ocracoke Island have lost their brogue. We should treasure Louisiana Cajun French/English, the Gullah of the Georgia and South Carolina sea islands, the Texas drawl, the Appalachian Mountain twang and all of the different ways people speak. It's beautiful!!!! I am grateful to Ray Cunningham for his efforts to preserve the colorful speech of the South.