Straight from The Horse’s Mouth

"Howdy. How'r y'all doin'? We're finer'n frog's hair split four ways. Lord a'mercy, we had fun at the singin' party on Fridey! There was a mess of pickin' and grinnin' goin' on. We'da scoot-a-boot if itwernt fer the chairs in the way." (For those of you who are from out of state that was a reference to the entertaining Open Mic Nite we hosted last week.) Our dialect is descriptive and creative. It's a true Southern Art that could be mastered.

Though I live in the woods, I grew up citified. Back in the day I spoke with a typical Houstonian accent, but at the farm my language has become even more relaxed. There are more y'alls and gonna's, a few ain'ts and fixin' to's. Now that I been plumb country-fied and have the honor of jawwin' with so many folks at the coffee shop I've taken a likin' to our regional dialects.

People who were raised in Buffalo have a particular vernacular unto themselves. I can tell them apart from those who grew up in nearby towns. It's heart warming to know that those who I hold close to my heart are so unique.

We streamline words and phrases. "Jeet yet?" asks if you've had a meal recently. "Nawjew?" is the response in the negative. Then there is the mellow: "Uh-huh" is yes and "nu-uh" is no. It's not a dumbing down; I think it's 'down-home comfort foods' for words.

Our colloquialisms are often regarded as ignert soundin' and unejucated by those unaccustomed to hearing it. I'd call it sincere, 'Innocent English'. We tell it like it is, not like folks who're all hat and no cattle.

If the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise y'all can come on over to THM and have some coffee. It done been saucered and blowed. Bye fer now, y'all. Ah'mo get back to work.