Dialects
「方言」- To Kill a Mockingbird|
The author, Harper Lee, writes many of the words the way the characters speak them. For example, she leaves the final "G" off words, as in nothin' and tellin'. |
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What is the standard English for the following expressions: |
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EXAMPLE EXAMPLE
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Dialect |
Standard English |
ain't |
is not, has not |
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hey [as a greeting] |
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wanta (p. 18) |
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hafta (p. 18) |
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yeb'm (p. 19) |
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ever' (p. 24) |
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an' (p. 24) |
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'em (p. 24) |
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yo' (p. 24) |
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yawl (p. 36) |
you all |
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'Smatter (p. 39) |
What's the matter? |
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caughtcha (p. 47) |
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yessum (p. 65) |
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'd (p. 97) |
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chillun (p. 119) |
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agin (p. 180) |
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suh (p. 192) |
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Some of the characters, particularly those who are less educated, speak with a strong dialect. You may have to translate some of the English into English! The following are examples. |
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p. 25 |
Walter |
Reckon I have. Almost died first year I come to school and et them pecans — folks say he pizened 'em and put 'em over on the school side of the fence. |
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Translation |
I guess I have. I almost died the first year I came to school and ate those pecans. People say he [Mr. Radley] poisoned them and put them over on the school side of the fence. |
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p. 119 |
Lula |
I wants to know why you bringing' white chillun to nigger church. |
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Translation |
I want to know why you are bringing white children to a church for Negroes. |
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p. |
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Translation |
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p. |
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Translation |
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p. |
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Translation |
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p. |
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Translation |
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Regional expressions that are probably not in your dictionary. |
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"hush your fussing" (p. 25) |
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"my stars" (p. 14) |
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"raveling a thread" (p. 46) |
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"sit a spell" (p. 47) |
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"What in the sam holy hill . . .?" (p.51) |
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"Beautiful my hind foot!" (p. 65) |
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"jim-dandy" (p. 67) |
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"He's right stove up." (p. 73) |
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"fess" |
Created by
CA Edington, Spring, 2005