Whistlin' Dixie: A Dictionary of Southern Expressions (Facts on File Dictionary of American Regional Expressions)

At once lyrical and humorous, often gritty band always to the point, Southern speech has been elevated to an art form by those who live below the Mason-Dixon line. Where else would a beautiful woman be told she's burnin' a river or an idle person be referred to as born tired and raised lazy? Southern dialect springs from a variety of sources: Cajun, Creole, Gumbo, Gullah and Conch, to name a few. All converge to form a uniquely Southern mode of expression. Of the over 3,500 Southern-fried words and expressions contained in Whistlin' Dixie, many have become familiar as they have slipped into the American vocabulary, but many more remain exclusive to the South. All are explored here, with special emphasis on usage, pronunciation, historical and literary references, variations, etymology and locale of use. Whistlin' Dixie is the first of five dictionaries comprising the Facts On File Encyclopedia of American Regionalisms. Each volume begins with an introduction to the region and its different dialects. The heart of the book defines words and regional expressions in a carefully documented, yet anecdotal fashion. Written by renowned language expert and writer Robert Hendrickson, Whistlin' Dixie is an important reference for writers and researchers, an invaluable resource for students and teachers and an irresistible treat for word buffs.