A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation. They are generally geographic in nature in that a colloquial expression often belongs to a region or local dialect.
The region we're speaking of is the podunk area, the boonies of southeastern Okrahoma. I use those two colloquialisms with pride. Podunk generally refers to a hypothetical out-of-the-way small town regarded as typically dull or insignificant. Boonies (short for boondocks) refers to a thinly settled area. Some of that is partly true. I never thought of where I grew up as dull or insignificant, but it was certainly thinly settled around Kellond. Just a few neighbors hither and yon.
The colloquialism that comes to mind first are the names for that sweet, carbonated beverage that I try really hard not to drink:
Do you call it 'soda pop,' 'soda,' 'pop,' 'soft drink,' or 'Coke?' Regardless if it's a Pepsi, Sprite, or Dr. Pepper . . . some people use one of these colloquialisms to describe any or all of these.
Here's another one: Cattywampus. I didn't sleep well because my dogs were sleeping cattywampus in the bed. Shouldn't that be "doggywampus?"
This is one that's like fingernails on a chalkboard for me: Ain't If this is a contraction, what two words is it a contraction for: ai not ?
I write it this way: I want to so I'm going to. but I say it this way: I wanna, so I'm gonna.
Translate this one: We are going to load up the kinfoke (formal is kinfolk) in the turtle hull, let Billy Bob ride shot gun, and go to the drive-in movie show. Perhaps drive-in movie show is a bit redundant, but why not cover all your bases to make something perfectly clear?
Sup? or Wazz-up? are two shortened versions of "What's happening with you? or What's going on?" Kinda or sorta like, "Hey, how's it going? "
As far as local dialect goes, for years I referred to hickory nuts and acorns as hicker nuts and akurns. Truth be known, I still do.
Or course, there's always lots of warshin' and arnin' to do.
When I first moved to Grand Junction, the most asked question of me was, "Where are you from?"
Here's how I answered that:
I'm from Okrahoma, but from a special part of Okrahoma. Just visualize Okrahoma without the Panhandle. You're left with somewhat of a rectangle. Divide that rectangle into equal fourths.
Okies from one quadrant will say, "Yous all cow is in my garden."
Okies from another quadrant will say, "Ya'lls cow is in my garden."
Okies from another quadrant will say, "Youenzees cow is in my garden." (Youenzees is ya'll plus 3.)
The part of Okrahoma I'm from (southeastern) will call their neighbor and say, "HEY, your cow is in my garden. I just shot it. Come on over for BarBeeCue.
