Today, our flame war parody deals with language, and how we use it. And more to the point, Southerners. Today’s question revolves around the phrase:
I’m Fixin’ To
Is it the language of the South: a Non-Standard English Dialect, or just a bunch of uneducated Rednecks blabbering incoherently?
Discuss.
2004–2009
17 responses so far ↓
1
Fiar
// Nov 23, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I would just like to point out that this question was asked by Les. The last thing I need is a bunch of angry southerners in my backyard, howling and swinging from the trees by their tails. So y’all don’t be offended now, y’here.
2
Les James
// Nov 23, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Don’t blame this one on me! It was JumpOut’s idea. He said it would be fun to jab at the South (using my name)… and he said he’d hurt me if I didn’t go along.
3
JumpOut
// Nov 23, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Oh, don’t back out now, yankee-boy! I’ll be back, though, I’m fixin’ to plug my Christmas lights in. I hope they all still work since they’ve been up all year.
4
RT
// Nov 23, 2008 at 7:37 pm
After spending the summer in the southern part of our country, I’d have to say that they economize syllables, letters, and words; thus, they have the ability to save their energy on language.
Non-standard use works for me.
5
Eileen
// Nov 23, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Non standard English Dialect.
My Christmas lights are fixin to turn themselves on, as they do every night, all year round, as soon as the sensor senses that it is getting dark.
6
Alex L.
// Nov 23, 2008 at 10:23 pm
If it has been said by Larry the Cable guy, it no longer passes as recognised english. Thats gibberish my friends… now excuse me I have to go and turn on my easter lights.
7
Chris C
// Nov 24, 2008 at 12:03 am
‘Fixing to’ is a passive verb. I love coincidences especially in language.
8
Jr
// Nov 24, 2008 at 7:06 am
Y’all figurin on startin’ a hootenanny with this here kind of talk. But I reckon ya ain’t so tough when ya hear that there banjo playing theme song from “Deliverence”.
9
Chris C
// Nov 24, 2008 at 8:18 am
Squeal like a pig!
10
Les James
// Nov 24, 2008 at 9:22 am
Chris- not only is fixin’ to passive but the past tense is irregular - done did.
They be about non-English talkers.
11
Fiar
// Nov 24, 2008 at 10:10 am
If it has been said by Larry the Cable guy, it no longer passes as recognised english. Thats gibberish my friends
Are you going to let an Australian call your language gibberish? Holy crap! Australians invented some of the most heinous words I can imagine.
12
JumpOut
// Nov 24, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Nobody takes anything an aussie says seriously anyway. I mean, Australia’s biggest claim to fame is the guy that liked to kiss crocodiles on the lips, but got killed by a stingray, and Paul Hogan. Every word ever uttered in the country of Australia is gibberish.
I bet none of you blue-scum-bellies can pronounce jambalaya correctly. Y’all say stupid things like “you guys” and “pop”. Your college football is crap. Hockey is good, but you yankees can’t get it on any network that actually has viewers. VS. Network? WTF? At least they have huntin’ on VS. Huntin’ and hockey, woo-hoo, I bet Sarah Palin watches the shit outta that. Plus, Slim Pickens talks like us, and he’d kick all your asses ridin’ on his atom bomb.
Besides all that, fixin’ to is not uneducated Rednecks blabbering incoherently. If you want uneducated Rednecks blabbering incoherently, go to a NASCAR race, or watch somebody try to interview Dale Jr.
13
David
// Nov 24, 2008 at 2:24 pm
People who can’t communicate in Southern English are just stupid and a big waste of space….god bless ‘em, y’all.
14
Alex L.
// Nov 24, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Fiar- Its true we did. And we’re very proud of it.
Jump out- At least our language doesnt sound like a coked out hooker getting donkey punched!
15
JumpOut
// Nov 25, 2008 at 1:12 am
No, Alex, I’m pretty sure it does.
16
Alex L.
// Nov 25, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Jumpout- You put up a convincing arguement…
17
JumpOut
// Nov 26, 2008 at 3:50 am
I prefer to put up a convincing argument, but that’s close enough.
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