Comments | dawnd: Ozark English, or, how not to be rude when your neighbors' cows are in your yard

dawnd

Ozark English, or, how not to be rude when your neighbors' cows are in your yard

Dec 02, 2005 10:42

This very interesting entry by the estimable ozarque has shed light on some of my interactions with some folks from that general area of the country. Highly recommended reading.

communication, ozarkcows, articles

Comments 5

klrmn December 2 2005, 22:30:27 UTC

you know, i'm from st. louis, and i just don't get it.

dawnd December 3 2005, 05:52:13 UTC

Not Ozark enough, I guess. :^) I find it somewhat incomprehensible myself.

redhawke December 6 2005, 18:57:57 UTC

If I may, the divide is both Ozark/non-Ozark (and to my understanding, St. Louis is not Ozark-influenced) and urban/rural. I have found that urben-trained speakers are far more direct, and rural speakers are generally less so, but, IME, Ozark speakers combine southern politeness with rural radical independence, with folksy faux-charm. It's a mess that few but the best can actually speak fluently. :-,

brian1789 December 3 2005, 02:45:37 UTC

(nods) I use that approach frequently... the entry was completely understandable and mimics how I'll speak to you or Akien at times.

dawnd December 3 2005, 05:53:43 UTC

LOL. See, I have a very hard time grasping it. :^) But I DO see stuff about my interactions with you, Pat, and Tenacious_snail in this. :^)