I love languages. I think it began with my love of reading in elementary school, but it continues to this day. I loved English in school, easiest subject for me. Two years of Latin in high school, which I loved. (I was in the minority. Someone wrote in my Latin 2 book: “Latin is a dead language. It killed the Romans, and now it’s killing me.”) I majored in Spanish and minored in French in college.
You get the idea.
It is no surprise, then, that regional differences in English are interesting to me. Why do people from the North say “sneakers” and most people in the South say “tennis shoes?” Why do Southerners in rural areas say “supper” and city-dwellers say “dinner?” Or does it vary by family?
Writers need to understand these differences, which is why I always set books in regions with which I am most familiar. I would never set a book in New York, for instance, because I don’t know the area, don’t know the idioms and attitudes, don’t know the culture at all. I stick to books set in the South and West, the areas in which I’ve lived. Even doing that, I’ve made mistakes.
For years, well into adulthood and in spite of all my language studies, I called the stuff you see in the picture “rod iron.” It wasn’t until after my first book was published that ar reader pointed out to me that the correct term is “wrought iron.” She was right. “Rod iron” is a material used to cut nails (the kind used in construction, not the ones on your fingers). “Wrought iron” is the decorative stuff.
My husband makes fun of me for saying “loaf bread” in stead of “loaf of bread.” That’s the way my parents always said it, as in “I’ve got to buy some more loaf bread.”
In Arizona, where I spent my childhood years, my friends and I said “you guys” for the plural even when talking to a group of females. People out there drink soda. People in the South drink Cokes, even if you’re buying Dr. Pepper. It’s all Coke. in the North, I think it’s “pop.” Our daughter-in-law, who is from a few hours north of us, gets a kick out of us having our picture “made” instead of “taken.” And let’s not forget a phrase every Southerner understands only too well–fixing to. “Hey, Johnny, have you done your homework yet?” “No, Mom, but I’m fixing to.” Important side note: fixing is ALWAYS pronounced fixin’ in this situation.
I’m sure people who have studied language origins and trends could explain all of this and give us a very detailed explanation as to how various cultural influences affect our words and accents. As much as language interests me, however, I’m not going to do extensive research on it.
But I notice. I noticed when our waitress in a Cracker Barrel in Ohio called us “you’uns.” I notice when my mother eats dinner instead of lunch. I think dinner is a big midday meal and lunch is a light meal for her. I notice when I’m reading a book set in the South and it is obvious to me from the dialogue that the author of the book is not from the our region and has no idea how we talk.
Maybe this has been food for thought for you writers and even for those who aren’t. The words we use and the way we say them identify our heritage and upbringing as much as or more than anything else.
I’d love to know some expressions that are common to your area, so please comment on my “Pam Harris, author” Facebook page. I’ll look forward to reading them. Let’s celebrate our differences!
Life As I know it 