The appalachian language

It’s time for this month’s Appalachian Vocabulary Test-take it and see how you do!

  1. Name
  2. Natured
  3. Neumony fever
  4. Notion
  5. Nowheres

 

 

  1. Name: mention. “Did he tell you he quit his job?” “No he didn’t name it to me.”
  2. Natured: disposition; naturally inclined. “She is the most ill natured woman I have ever come in contact with!”
  3. Neumony fever: pneumonia. “Doll don’t go outside with your hair wet you’re liable to get neumony fever.”
  4. Notion: inclination. “The other day I took a notion and drove across the mountain to see Aunt Bertha. I’m sure glad I went she’s doing pretty poorly.”
  5. Nowheres: nowhere; anywhere. “That little rat is nowheres to be found! I bet he’s slipped off to the fishing hole or down to the store.”

I hear all of this month’s words on a regular basis in my part of Appalachia. How did you do?

Tipper

 

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33 Comments

  1. I’ve heard and hear all these from time to time,, Funny how I can hear my Grandparents in these words, talking in my head.. Words I would hear them say…

  2. Reckon I’m pure hillbilly, but I use all of them plus a lot more! These terms don’t die out in the WV hills!

  3. Tipper,
    I’ve heard all these and used most
    of ’em. Heard my daddy and mama
    say “he didn’t name it to me” many
    times. And daddy use to say “North
    Caliner” for North Carolina.
    Git your bowl ready and a “small”
    spoon! We’re gonna get some Snow
    Saturday nite and Monday…Ken

  4. Ill natured is a wonderful description of such a person & I’ve heard it all my life. Never heard neumony fever but my grandpa had a bunch of names for sickness–one was getting the “spanquell”. Don’t know what the symptoms were!

  5. Have you heerd about Granny Riddle? They say she took sumpthin like newmony fever and died yisterdee. They named what it wuz she had but I cant speak it back to you. I got a notion it wuz that eboler stuff that’s goin around but she haint been nowhirs to have got that. She wuz just the sweetest natured soul I’ve ever knowed. It’s a many a time she has hope us when she didn’t have enough fer herownself. You know a body never knows!

  6. Tip, I’ve heard all of these. Natured and notion are words I use frequently.
    In fact I get notions all the time. Here a while back I got a notion to move to Murphy, and here I am!

  7. Tipper, I’ve practiced medicine for 40 years and have heard some old times use the term neumony, but don’t recall it being use with the word fever. Also, I’m unfamiliar with that usage for the word ‘name.’
    Bobby Dale

  8. I hear all the words from my family and use all of them myself. It’s hard to believe the other readers haven’t heard name used like that, it’s so common around here and usually associated with secrets. Sometimes words are so commonly used by family and friends, we just don’t think about saying them when we are in the presence of non-Appalachian speaking folks. My cousin repeated something she said while lobbying an issue in Washington. I wonder if anyone in the group knew what she meant when she told them about something that happened ‘yisterd’.

  9. I am familiar with all the words today I don’t hear name , or neumony fever much any more but a lot of the older generation used them when I was growing up.

  10. Because Ida was so good-natured and didn’t want her family or friends to worry, she didn’t name all the trials she was enduring. For example, her husband got neumony fever because of overexposure in the bad weather as he worked to get in wood for the fire. They had no notion atall to go to the doctor in town for medicine for his ailments. To them, there wasn’t nowheres else to go except over to Sarah Eveline’s house. She was the herb medicine doctor for Choestoe, and she knowed ’bout more then the doctor about treating neumony fever. And if you don’t believe me, jest axe Nancy. She keeps up with how everybody’s doing in these parts. She knows who’s ailin’ and who’s over the mully-grubs and back to work.

  11. I have heard and used them all. I had to laugh when I saw neumony fever because it was usually used in a sentence like “if you sit on the cold ground you will get neumony fever or piles”. Piles being hemmorhoids. I never did get either.

  12. Grew up here in middle of WEST TENNESSEE hearing them all. Family been here since 1840’s and family trail from the general area of Wake County, N.C. I am 65 and still used Notion, nowheres and natured. I think they are just fine!

  13. Natured, notion, nowheres – I have heard a lot. That use of “name”, I used to hear years ago but not much anymore.

  14. I was able to follow the words and understand them. I really don’t use them cause I’m a mixed up transplant from the North, then South FL fo a few decades and now part time NC. Thanks for teaching me this morning.

  15. Tipper,
    I used the term “neumony fever” yesterday directed at my grandchildren.
    Todays post is the first time I have seen the words in print. I thought that I was the only one that said “neumony fever”. I thought I made it up but I guess I must have heard it from my granny years ago. Most of the time when they hear me say it, laugh and ask, “What, did you say?” I usually just say, “See there it got your attention, now put on that coat!”
    Hear all the others fairly regular except “name” for some reason! Unless of course we are playing, “Name that tune” ! LOL
    Thanks Tipper,
    PS…Had a few flurries early yesterday and very cold here again this morning. With it being this cold it might just kill the “neumony fever” germs!

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