Bless Your Heart
How and What Good Ole Southern Sayings Communicate
Communication is vital to society. Depending on where you come from people have a way of saying things to explain a concept or an idea. In the Southern part of the United States friends and family communicate through sayings. Short phrases that are designed to say what you mean by illustrating an image. In some cases, the images are not even directly related to the subject that is being discussed and yet still people understand it’s meaning. The ways that the Southern people live and talk are a world of its own. It is rich in metaphor and simile, while using hyperbole to create a dictionary of its own through these sayings.
In order to examine and clarify what these sayings mean to southerners’ verses others not a part of this community, this project/paper will exhibit the idea that sayings convey values of country people. The specific values covered in this project/paper will be etiquette or manners, strong work ethic but a slow simple lifestyle, and identifying hypocrisy. Based on the values that are derived from these sample of sayings it can be concluded that the meanings are universal to southern native speakers and this specific niche of people use it to show love and respect. Used for generations and passed down through the ages with an undeniable cohesive understanding that outsiders are not accustomed to and misinterpret. The project/ paper will show the miscommunication in comparison with the saying’s true intention being said and give an insightful look of the tough love mentality that breeds Southern morals.
I have decided to do a project. As I am studying to be a teacher it is important for me to have the practice of speaking and preforming in front of an audience. the best way to do this is to have my peers sub in as my students as I attempt to teach something new. It is my hope that in my lesson I will not only cover the Southern Values but the stereotypes that are placed on words of wisdom in the eyes of the “other”.