Topic starter
19/12/2009 10:58 am
How many of us have picked up the phone to hear, "Ay'll bayut yew don't know hew this ee-is."
Those who have not are missing conversations with one of the most delightful steamboaters in the land. I refer to Captain Charles H. Stone (his family name is pronounced "Stay-own" in his pure West Virginia-ese). In addition to an interesting accent, he always has something interesting to say.
We should listen more to characters of his kind. We'd learn a lot.
19/12/2009 1:31 pm
Kinda like the Cajuns Alan "Poosh you spaw lat on thet lil rad boy capn, izz rat up thar offn tham lil dykes thar". And I'm not making fun its just the accent and dialect. I had a friend that lived in Morganza La. up around New Roads that was pure Cajun and his name, first and last, was Richard David, pronounced Reeshard Dahveed.
19/12/2009 6:29 pm
One oft remembered Pure Oil and DQ employee here is quite famous for saying, "Ize livin' with three, no foura killahs; diabeeteez, loukeemia, high blood preshah, an de bow thrustah's out!"
19/12/2009 10:20 pm
Good one Frank, I can see him leaning back in that chair and saying that. Capt. C.S. Rip Ware. "I dont care if ya'll git mad cuz I'm jest tryin to hep ya'll"
21/12/2009 12:59 am
Good tidings from the steamboat mail
Yesterday a welcome item arrived via mail packet...(no, it wasn't the fall Reflector issue, which isn't at the printers yet)... it was my copy of Capt. Charlie's River Lexicon. Coincidentally this definitive tome of river terms arrived at the same time this discussion of different dialects was ongoing on .org. The lexicon is going to go right up there with the packet and towboat directories, the steamboat cyclopedium and the engine room cyclopedium as essential and oft-perused references. Facts enriched with Capt. Charlie's observations make this a treasured tome.
21/12/2009 1:45 pm
And, appropriate for this season of peace on earth goodwill to all is Capt. Ware's oft repeated admonition to "LOVE EVAHBODY!" This was usually followed by, "Now hand me a bananah!"
21/12/2009 2:02 pm
Great one Keith! Its just like yesterday. Anybody want to share christmas memories on the Steamboats? I think my first christmas on the MQ was 1977 and the one person that I remember that was there too was Sharon Shrake, Mrs. Robert Reynolds now, and a christmas party that Dave Rainbolt threw in the crew mess.
21/12/2009 2:03 pm
My appologies as Christmas on the Steamboats should be a new thread.
22/12/2009 2:56 pm
I remember one time between sets in the Paddlewheel Lounge going over to say hello to a lady sitting by herself. "Hello, Ma'am, I'm Jazzou Jones." "Why, how do you do Mr. Jones, my name is Mrs. Wire." "Nice to meet you Mrs. Wire. I hope you're enjoying your trip. Are you traveling by yourself?" "No, I'm with my husband, Captain Wire. He's piloting the boat right now."
22/12/2009 4:16 pm
Where y'at?
When I first started working in the NATCHEZ dining room, I was greeted with a Where y'at? I looked around and said, In the dining room, which of course was greeted with guffaws. Jazzou, did anyone ever accuse you of having a 'northern accent'? I heard that one on the NATCHEZ too.
22/12/2009 5:27 pm
Yes, Judy, and I always thought a northern accent, if there was such a thing, was nothing more than the absence of a southern drawl. Come to find out, there are people that think New England Yankees talk kinda funny too!
22/12/2009 9:22 pm
LOL Judy I grew up sayin Where y'at, eatin burled shrimp, going to the terlet, calling any elders miss Judy and mista Bob and paying 15 cents to ride the Trolley and getting a transfer that would take you all over the city. Eating red beans and rice on mondays and potato sandwichs, working at Sidneys News Stand and the Cafe' Du Monde. Going to Ponchartrain Beach and the lakefront to hang out. The Flea Market on the lower end of the French Market. I even remember when Morning Call was down there.
22/12/2009 10:05 pm
nint ward
...and you put erl on your salad and in your car! People assume NOLA is pure southern drawl, but no way. Down in da nint ward you'd think you were in Brooklyn. You worked at Sidney's? Must have gotten in some interesting reading on your breaks...
Topic starter
23/12/2009 10:35 am
Bell Telephone used to have an entertainer who had such a good "ear" he could ask a person a few questions on general topics, then tell the person where he lived within twenty miles.
New Orleans and Brooklyn really DO speak the same language in many respects. So do the people of Virginia and the state of Washington. Then there is "Pummerowey, Ohio, where the whole town speaks Welsh! The correct spelling for the town name is Pomeroy.
When I was a boy we could easily identify the neighborhood a person came from in Louisville. Radio changed that.
Even television, with its Fort Wayne, Indiana, accent can't rub out these dialects.
23/12/2009 2:40 pm
Jazzou Jones;19744 wrote: Yes, Judy, and I always thought a northern accent, if there was such a thing, was nothing more than the absence of a southern drawl. Come to find out, there are people that think New England Yankees talk kinda funny too!
Yes, deeyah. I've huuuurrrrrd that also. Especially on Thuuuuurrrrrrrzzzzzzdays.
Paul
23/12/2009 2:49 pm
Well I knew and hung out with Mista Sidneys kids so I was kinda part of the family. he had a paperbox route and we did that every sat nite sunday morn. And yeah you are so right about people thinking of NOLA as southern as well as there really isnt much Cajun stuff in NOLA either, its all the areas south and west and between Nola and Baton Rouge. Thats where the Cajun culture is. LOL nint wawd. Yeah and when a guy would introduce a friend to another friend you said "where y'at bruh, this is my boy Danny" or when pointing out someone on the street " hey man look at yer boy Mel". Now here in Va. its things like pointing at something 10 feet away and saying Looky Yonder or "he aint nuthin but right" meaning hes a good guy. and the word mountain pronounced Motin or south soth, pronouncing the O.
23/12/2009 2:49 pm
Ayuh, deeyah. Fuh shoah we talk strange up heeyah.
23/12/2009 3:02 pm
I heard or read somewhere the reason Brooklynites and New Orleanians speak the same is because one time long ago a nun from Brooklyn went to teach in NOLA. Not sure if that's a legend, but it seems plausible.
Though they're less prevalent now because of modern mobility and media, regional dialects will probably never completely disappear. Up here in New England the difference among Vermont farmers, Maine lobstermen, and Bostonians is quite striking.
23/12/2009 6:10 pm
Yeah, that Maine accent is something different. Jazzou, I'm sure you've heard the Bangor Car Care commercials. That guy kills me. Come Join The Paaarhhhty!! hahaha
Topic starter
23/12/2009 8:56 pm
Never make the mistake of thinking a person is stupid because of his/her dialect. He/she will whup you down!
23/12/2009 10:40 pm
oh and hey Judy how about "Hey Dawlin how awww ya"
23/12/2009 10:51 pm
Well Jazzou it makes sense if you think about it. Like the Cajuns. the word Cajun was derived from Acadia because thats where they originally came from after leaving France. They landed at Acadia and then sailed around the coast. In La. they people would say wheres he from and the answer would be "oh hes an acadian" well after saying that hundred times it evolved into oh He's acadian" then eventually into hes a cajun. say He's acadian a few times and you'll see.