Thread: Local Vernacular

The recent thread on overuse and abuse of words got me thinking about words that seem to be used only in certain regions. For example, when I was a youth, way back in the sixties, a very common word that I heard in my age group was mohaunchus [who knows if it even has a correct spelling, but it's pronounced: mu -HON-chus]. It meant massive, such as the Hulk. I never heard the word outside of my home town of Manchester, NH and I haven't heard it in many years. Are others familiar with words that seem to be common only in certain areas? I'm also curious to know if anyone else has ever heard of this word.

I've never heard of it... It could be a generational thing though too.

There are no words or phrases that are uniquely Minnesotan, dontcha know?

"Local vernacular" is repetitive and redundant.

My brother went to college in Boston, and I picked up "wicked" while visiting. Every now and then someone assumes I am a Red Sox fan.

On my college freshman hall, there was a guy from... actually I don't remember where but I want to say New Hampshire or Vermont. He used to pronounce the word "both" as "bolth." I thought it was hilarious and began to say it intentionally. It still slips out now and then. When it does, people assume I'm crazy.

I don't know where I picked up this last one, but my brother does it too. We both pronounce the word "drawer" as "draw." It didn't come to my attention that this was strange till I got to college, where I was constantly reminded it was strange. Maybe it's a Westchester, NY thing?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

We both pronounce the word "drawer" as "draw." It didn't come to my attention that this was strange till I got to college, where I was constantly reminded it was strange. Maybe it's a Westchester, NY thing?

It sounds kind of Scarlett O'hara to me... I envision people on a plantation saying "draw".

Northern California has "hella". "Dude that was hella funny!"

[QUOTE=holli4pirating;542303]"Local vernacular" is repetitive and redundant.

Yes, brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Dept.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't know where I picked up this last one, but my brother does it too. We both pronounce the word "drawer" as "draw." It didn't come to my attention that this was strange till I got to college, where I was constantly reminded it was strange. Maybe it's a Westchester, NY thing?

That's the general British pronunciation of drawer! Well it is where I live.

Winter drawers on...

Gareth

Upon moving to San Diego some years back, I noticed that many of the people I was around used the work "Richter". As in, "That party was Richter." Exchangeable, at will, with "Burly". It never really caught on with me.

Being here in PA Amish country a lot of the German( PA Dutch) has made its way into the local dialect. I'D post examples but spelling them would be a problem

sha i dont know what you sayin we from south west louisiana have a language all our owne.