Scarlett Doesn’t Live Here | 25 Days of Me

Every single person I meet asks how come I don’t sound more like Scarlett O’Hara when I talk. After all I’m from Georgia and they have all seen Gone with the Wind. You know due to the fact that we all must sound like her and Ashley Wilkes. I did once go to school with a boy named Ashley who, I kid you not, sounded just like the afore mentioned Mr. Wilkes. I had the hardest time talking to him because all I ever wanted to do was go “Oh Ashley!” Back to why I don’t sound like Scarlett, there are a couple of reasons.

Region

Georgia is like any other state or even area in the world in that we have different regions. One thing I have discovered is that the thickness of your accent depends on the region you live and work in. For example in Savannah you are more likely to hear a Scarlett sort of accent. I’m not sure why but their accents tend to be thicker than anywhere else in the state. I live in west central Georgia so ours is not as thick for whatever reason. Of course my sister and I grew up in the same region yet she talks like a redneck hick rather than someone who has any sense. I’m not joking either. Until she was an adult I never heard anyone use the word holler when describing a hollow in my life. She also uses slang words like it is her mission in life. If she tells me she is having mash taters one more time I’m gonna rip her tongue out of her mouth.

Lifestyle

I was raised by a Yankee father who worked hard at correcting many of my southern quirks. Granted it didn’t work with all of them. For example when I was younger I pronounced library like lie-berry. My father almost died and after a full afternoon of properly pronouncing it lie-brary I learned my lesson. There were plenty of words growing up he made sure I pronounced correctly. He also stopped some slang from creaking in. That being said, no matter how hard he tried he could never break me from y’all and ain’t.

Sounds & Emotions

Certain sounds such as “Anna” make my accent thicker. I used to joke I could never name my child Savanah because yelling for her would make sound like such a hick. I mean can you just imagine. That’s true when I get excited or upset too. The more emotional I am the thicker my accent becomes. To the point that sometimes you can’t understand me. If I spend time around someone who has a thick accent mine will thicken as well.

Oh Hello, Scarlett

That’s not to say I can’t sound like Scarlett if the mood strikes. I can “fiddle dee dee” with the best of them. I think it is just something southern women are born with. We are taught from a young age how to act, things to say, and how to be proper ladies. However, we also know how to cut you down to size without you realizing it. After all, “Bless your heart” is code for “You’re getting on my last nerve” or “I can’t believe you’re that much of an idiot.” Not to mention “That’s nice” (said with thickest southern accent ever) means “Go straight to hades” and that’s the nicest it can mean. We, southern women will use those phrases with a smile on our face .