My Southern Vernacular....Where did it go?

 I have often wondered where I lost my deep Southern accent and vernacular.

I grew up mainly in South Georgia.  I lived 5 1/2 years in the South Pacific on Saipan, in the Mariana Islands and on Majuro, in the Marshall Islands.  I know that from the ages of 5-10, I didn't have a Southern drawl.  When I was 10 we moved back to the US.  I was in the sixth grade and continued in my education and graduated from high school here in the South.  In the same school system.  Then went to college in my hometown.  I had a lovely southern accent, daily said things like, "Bless Your Heart", everyone was "Sugar", "Honey" or "Sweetie".  A hug was the way you greeted your friends.  

My first husband, Mike, made fun of my drawl and tried to correct the Southern in me....

I wrote his Grandmother a letter and remember that he and his Mother made fun of the number of times I used the word 'y'all' in the letter.  Even though they now lived in my town, they were the product of the military life.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it does tend to make a person lose their native accent and slang.  I'm not sure what accent Mike would have had, but his was Mid Western and his Mom was from Maryville, TN. Mike was a military brat all his life.  I think the only time they were stationed in the south was in Arkansas. They weren't even stationed at the Air Force Base in my home town.  It was an act of Faith that his parents decided to retire in our town.  

Mike never did get me to quit saying "y'all" or "aint".  I still say things like "over yonder", but much of my lovely drawl is gone to this day.  I have friends that have never left the South and there is a marked difference in my speech and theirs.  One of my favorite things to say was "s'hup".  Translated that means shut up! But in a nice way, like saying, "you are kidding me" , equivalent to say, Louisianans saying "talk about".  He kept after me until I quit saying it.  His was not the only influence in losing my Southern-isms.  He was in the Army and we moved around a good bit.   By the time I moved back to South Georgia, a good bit of my vernacular was gone.  Now, don't get me wrong, I can still put it on, Sugar!  Bless my heart!  But it's put on, no longer natural for me to say.  

My daughter, I've noticed is the same way.  Not only has she been a military brat all her life, but she is a military wife and adopts the accent and slang from wherever place her husband gets stationed.  Right now it's Boston, Bless Her Heart!  

It was interesting to be asked by a guy in a store we were in, where in the South I was from.  He was from Louisiana, not far actually, from where my husband is from, and said, 'Now that's an accent I don't hear everyday!' So maybe, it's not as lost as I thought it was.

By the way, Boston is a pretty 'Wicked' city! :)    

Have fun with my blog hops for today and the weekend!