[Between the Lines]

Colloquial language, accents and spellings used to be what made each area of our country unique and gave it flavor. That ended after the Civil War when public schooling became popular and a certain group of Americans decided exactly what is and is not proper American English. Students were instructed in this new English and were taught to be ashamed of their own local colloquialisms, spellings and pronunciations. This has led to our more bland language of today and the vilification of those who still do not comply.

Sadly, today the only celebrated colloquial language is that of urban blacks.

[jay1949]

Ironically, there is an historical link between the culture and lingo of urban blacks and the culture and lingo of deep south rednecks. The paths have diverged since the migration post WWII, but the linkage is there.

For example: if you want to see men drinking beer sitting on a cloth upholstered sofa on the front porch in the city, where do you go? If you want to see men drinking beer sitting on a cloth upholstered sofa on the front porch in the Southern Piedmont, where do you go?