unSocialized - Maine iacs Language Arts on the Road

When my family and I visited Maine, we came across a little article in a local newspaper that suggested some words and expressions that visitors should use if they wanted to fit in with the natives and speak like “Mainahs”. My children ended up taking the list and writing a little story, and they thought it was fun. I guess it made a good writing prompt. It occurred to me that the same idea could be used to do a larger study of vernacular in other regions or states, especially if you're on the road. Add some recordings of people speaking in the various accents, (which can probably be found on the Internet), and it could make a fun multimedia project.

Maine-iacs

Ayuh. We were on our way to look at a prospective property that was located down the road apiece. When we got there, we all got out of the cah, went up to the dooryard, and were startled by a large, menacing-looking crittah, which turned out to be a bug. Trying to avoid the cunnin’ crustacean, gawmy James tripped over a pot and fell, skinning his prayer handle. At that moment, an old salt swung open the steel, basement doors, ascending the stairs rapidly, and giving us all a start.

"Ayuh. There's the bug!" With a swift, deft movement that belied his ancient look, the man scooped it up, and plopped it into a steaming cauldron. "My, won't that taste wicked good with some steamers and a scrid of crusty bread!"

The man looked up then, as if he finally realized we were all standing there. "Oh, hello. Come to see my house, have you? Well, why don't you stay awhile and have some supper?" He proceeded to offer Leah a scrid of the bug. "Ewww," she responded, with a look of distaste. "We were on our way to I-Hop, and now you've totally chowdahed up my appetite."

The old man shook his head, laughing. "Maine is a state of the finest kind. But people from away really seem kinda numb."