collage of photos of family

If you’re a regular viewer of my videos or reader of my blog you already know I’m plumb foolish about the way we talk in the mountains of Appalachia. It’s a subject I never tire of discussing or highlighting.

A few days ago I received a fascinating email from a student, named Lena, in Germany who is currently working towards a masters degree in education. A class “Grammars of Englishes” influenced Lena to do her thesis on…you guessed it Appalachian grammar. Lena is focusing on the a-prefix usage that can be found in the mountains of Appalachia.

Lena stumbled onto my videos while researching and reached out to ask me a few questions about our way of speaking.

Of course I’m pleased someone asked me a question about our language, but I am mostly fascinated that a student from Germany chose an unusual grammar usage from the mountains of Appalachia to focus on.

The a-prefix usages that immediately come to mind for me are things like:

  • I’m a-fixing to go to the store, do you need anything?
  • She’s a-gonna be sorry if she don’t straighten up and act like somebody!
  • It came down off that hill a-running and a-hollering like something had a hold of it’s tail!
  • I said I’m a-coming! You’ve got to give me a minute to get my clothes on.
  • I’ve been a-working all day and can’t tell I’ve got nothing done.

I’m sure you could add other usages to the list, so please leave a comment and share any you think of.

Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of a very small pocket book A Dictionary of The Queen’s English. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends December 4, 2022.

I still have a few giveaways left to share, so even though November ends today, the thankfulness will continue for a few more days.

Last night’s video: The BEST Croutons Made with Light Bread & Matt Got a Deer!

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68 Comments

  1. Born and raised in Ohio, I didn’t develop my parents’ strong, spirited eastern Tennessee accent. Instead my accent echoed the steady, shortened speech of my Midwestern classmates and neighbors. My mother’s twang was a place to linger, its extended vowels and doubled syllables full of warmth and good humor.
    I miss my mother’s voice telling me to put my shoes “own” and come “snay-up” beans with her on the porch or just “set a spell.”
    I hope Lee Smith’s concern about the vanishing mountain dialects is a ways away.

  2. Congrats to Matt on his deer; an awful nice 8 pointer was a-killed jus’ behind the house on opening day here on the farm. Great basket rack ….

  3. I heard the a-prefix used all of my a-growing up life, especially when I was a-spending time with my Grandparents down South. Congratulations to Matt for a-getting his deer!! I haven’t looked at your vlog yet but I love croutons. I so enjoy a-reading your blog, Tipper!

  4. Good morning,
    I see a lot of good reading material here for the winter!
    I would enjoy a copy of the dictionary if I’m blessed enough to get picked.
    It’s snowing like crazy here. We got 5 “ on the ground this morning and another 5 today. The highway to the west in the lowland is closed with 3 feet of blowing snow drifts. We’re snug with the wood stove a gowin’. . A good day to bake bread I’m a thinkin’.
    TeresaSue

    1. That sounds wonderful, TeresaSue. I wished we could get a good snow like that here in my neck of the woods. I love snow! 🙂 It’s good reading weather that’s for sure.

  5. Todays blog took me back to my youth. I spent my early years in eastern Pa. My Mom would tell us often to speak the Queens language and actually much later in years too. I’d love to hear her say that now. We moved to eastern Ohio in my teens and it was a different language. I never gave thought to the origins as a teen and by my 20’s and 30’s it became my way of speaking. I now know through your blogs and videos so much more of the language and area. Thanks for the November give a ways. Congratulations to Matt on his deer and what an honor that a student in Germany is seeking your knowledge of Appalachia. Everyone take care

  6. I think it’s wonderful that a young lady from another country is interested in the Appalachian grammar. That’s a real honor to be able to help her Tipper! Enjoyed the video last night. I will be trying Matt’s croutons for sure and send him our congratulations on harvesting a deer! Great job!!

  7. First Tipper, I’d love to have a copy of A Dictionary of The Queen’s English.
    Second, I really enjoyed watching Matt make light bread croutons. I’m going to try them myself.
    I especially enjoyed seeing the Sunbeam bread you use. When I was growing up the little Clover Farm store across from our home only sold Wonder Bread. But when we went down state to see my Grandparents and Great Aunts and Uncles they always had Sunbeam Bread. It just tasted so much better than any other light bread I ever tasted. My great Aunt Alice Shuman would make a big bowl of Oats for breakfast with Sunbeam bread toasted with creamery butter and to this day I still think they were the best breakfasts I ever had. We also loved to stop for a loaf of Sunbeam and a chunk of bologna and eat sandwiches in the car on the way to Grandpa’s. I’ve even got an antique Sunbeam Bread screen door push a-hanging in my kitchen.
    And although it may be a little off color to say how about “My neighbor was here and he was a-bitchin and a-moanin the whole time”.

  8. Ich bin ein dumkopf, aber . . .I’m of a mind to add a bit. I just used two examples of an “a” preceding a word where there’s some uncertainty about usage. You could say “don’t be a-mindin’ my business” with the hyphen needed but in the preceding sentence the hyphen isn’t needed. It’s just one little linguistic complication your German “understudy” might want to be a-mindin’ if you see fit to share these words of highly questionable wisdom with her.

    She’ll possibly throw her hands up in sheer dismay, but if she does a bit of a-pausin’ and a-ponderin’ she’ll realize that the English language is wonderfully complex and endlessly fascinating.

    1. I well remember that cartoon. I remember thinking “I don’t know anyone like that!” Maybe there were in other parts of Appalachia but none anywhere near where I live.
      Snuffy Smith is just one example of blatant mischaracterization of Appalachian people that for decades, in newspapers, magazines, movies and on television, led the rest of the world to believe we are just a bunch of bumbling inbred imbeciles.

    2. I read Snuffy every day in our paper, but I’m a-feared Lil’ Abner, like John Brown’s body, is
      a-moulderin’ in the grave.

  9. Amazing how one can travel around the world without getting out of his/her seat. So wonderful that you have aroused the curiosity and learning of English from another continent. Been reading and learning from your site for many years, from about 1999. Have shared your site with many others. So enjoy your down to earth writings.

  10. I’m glad Debbie said a-mind. My granny would say, I’m a-mind to start dinner early.
    NC Mountains across the mountain from Nantahala in Needmore NC

    1. Needmore NC? That sounds like home to me! Would Granny be Nora Florence wife of Moses Andrew or is she Tiny Morgan, your great granny?

      1. My granny is Nora Florence, I never knew her full name and stumbled on it one day. Gola, Mose’s son is my daddy, I’m the oldest daughter. Tiny is great granny. I carried many a bucket of milk from Pappy’s down the bank to her. Loved going up in her attic.

  11. I absolutely love the fact that someone from another country would like to know about these. One I remember and say to this day is I’m a-fixin to.

  12. What an honor to have someone from Germany ask for your assistance in her studies. She couldn’t have asked for anyone more knowledgeable. Congratulations!

  13. I’ll be a-hoping to win the copy I’m of the Queen’s English. Been a-looking for the Southern Appalachians book by Jerome Doolittle. YOUR blog brings me so close to home that I’m a-feelin that I’m there.

  14. Leave me out of the Dictionary of the Queens’ English. I have a copy already that was gifted to me by a friend. But I’m still in for Corie’s pumpkins if that hasn’t ended. I was thinking that contest went through November 30 which would be today. If I’m too late then so be it! Having grown up in southern rural Appalachia I’m sure there are things that I say that are fittin’ to her end. I’ll just have to think on it for a while.

    E

  15. Youa tellin me Iva beena talkin wrong all these years? Iva beena puttin the a at the end of the previous word for lo these 70 years and you’ra tellin me I gotta starta puttin it at the beginin of the nextun?
    I made strait A’s in grammer and spellun all threw school. I musta tooka bad turn atter grajewation.

  16. Haven’t heard much of this in awhile. Guess folks moving around has changed speech. Miss it! Would love a copy of it

  17. He’s a-going to the mailbox. She’s a-gonna go pick some turnip greens. It’s a-gonna be a pretty day today.

  18. Golly, what can’t we add an”a” to just because we like the sound better? I draw a complete blank on any “rules” of when to or when not to (unless maybe it be to stick an “a” in front of any action verb?). Honestly, I think it may well be that we just make up language as we go along and don’t think that odd because 99% of the time home folks understand just fine and we expect they will. Is that it maybe, that we by mutual unspoken consent have license to be creative with words?

  19. Lena found you the same way I did and I hope she will continue to learn from your writings and videos as much as I have. Tipper, I am older than you and I grew up in an Appalachia area just across the mountain, yet I never stop learning something new from your blog.
    I am an everyday user of the a-prefix. It was so widely used in older country music about the time I was trying to talk ‘proper’ for my new position at work that involved speaking to folks from all over the country. Where I grew up, speaking proper might mean a person simply had an accent. Some of those fake northern accents could be detected in an instant.
    Loretta’s “Don’t Come Home A Drinkin” will be playing in my head all day now that I tried to think of songs that include the a-prefix.

  20. Hi Tipper, I can understand Lena’s interest in the language, it fascinates me. I’ve always felt it’s such a soft sounding, expressiveness language. I love listening and learning from you and your vlog, it always takes my mind a-wondering. Have a blessed day!

  21. Love this blog and your YouTube channel!! I recently purchased the Dictionary of Smokey Mountain English and absolutely love the language! Hope to be moving to the Smoky’s in the not too distant future! Keep doing what you do!!

  22. I’m a-feeling kinda poorly this morning. I’m a-thinking it might be the Covid. If it is I’m a-feerd I might’ve given it to family over the weekend.

  23. I see that the common ‘a’ used in front of a noun is common everywhere (I see a dog.) but the more uncommon ‘a’ used in front of an adverb (I’m a-trying to see the dog.) is used much less commonly. I also have learned that the word ‘the’ was used in the Greek language but not in Latin so that it was lost when the Bible was translated from original Greek to Latin. The doesn’t seem very important but that little article can cause a lot of confusion. Have you seen a fire? Yes, of course most everyone has seen a fire BUT have you seen the fire? Well then you must stop and ask what fire are you talking about? The word ‘the’ becomes a descriptor and it can be extremely important!

  24. I’ve been a-hearing all lots of these all my life and have used some myself. I guess I will be using them as I get older as it seems so natural to say. Enjoy a-looking and reading your posts every day.

  25. Only thing is, there’s usually also “in” instead of “ing” on the end of most of those words.
    When my parents and brother moved to Ohio the year he started first grade; he couldn’t understand getting the spelling of apple wrong on his phonics paper; he spelled it, “alpple” – I can still hear my Mommy saying alpple; adding that “l” sound with that first “a.” Oh, how I’d love to hear her today!! I love our language and our people and you Tipper! Thank you for helping us Celebrate our wonderful heritage!!

  26. My late Momma sometimes worked 3 jobs at a time to make ends meet. She had to at times because of my late father’s health. Sometimes she would say she was gonna meet herself a-commin or a-goin….
    I’m not a crouton fan myself but my daughter would love these for sure. Congrats to Mr. Matt on his deer!!! What a prize!

  27. I love reading your blog each morning. I would love a copy of your dictionary. I’m a-gettin’ ready to start my day.

  28. Tipper, maybe these folks are surprised a master’s grad in Germany chose the a- prefix of Appy Vocabulary, but I’m not surprised nary a bit! I’m certain people all over the world find our way of life fascinating. I used to hear in the military all the time MORE TOP SECRET clearances are granted to mountain folk because you guessed it- we are the most honest of all Americans with the exception of the Amish possibly. I’ve had many a patient in Nashville especially tell how us Mountain folk are the very salt of the earth! Even in Mexico, my daughters are well trusted and respected because of their honesty, humility and genuineness of spirit. It’s in all we do. I’ve been trusted to account for drugs when no one else could be trusted. I’ve aided the state police in missing facility drugs all the way back to the manufacturer. Hey fraulein, I hope you get an A!!!!

  29. How wonderful that Lena found YOU! I hear the a- language here in Southeast Ohio. I think I might just use it some myself.

  30. This was very interesting. I don’t talk like this, but totally understand a-language and can appreciate it and what the German scholar what finding.

  31. I don’t know that I ever spoke that way but I’ve heard others use it. I had teachers that stressed proper grammar and read a lot.
    Your last example is another one that I hear often ‘”can’t tell I’ve got nothing done” – I hear that often and ask, “Do you really mean there’s nothing you haven’t accomplished?” or “Are you trying to say that you’ve accomplished nothing?” The double negative is common around here.

  32. Wow! That’s awesome Miss Tipper that Lena reached out to you all the way from Germany, but I’m not surprised because if I were doing a study or needing to know anything about Appalachian Language/Talk I would look to you (The Queen Of Appalachia) for help and advice as well.

    I heard this a LOT growing up:
    I’m a-tan your hide boy if you do that one more time!!! Lol

    If you keep a-playing with that fire, you’re gonna get burnt!!

    Hope you have a blessed day!

  33. I would love a copy of this! Never heard of it. Definitely always heard “I’m a-fixin’ to do so and so” growing up

  34. Oh my goodness! I have been a-talkin like that all my life…so interesting. Getting ready for Christmas. My daughter has our house turned into a cozy Christmas Cottage that I just want to snuggle in & sip hot chocolate as I watch a fire crackle on the TV playing Christmas music!

  35. I never thought about it being called a-language, it is just the way to talk. Your teachings and readings and explanations of ‘Appalachian’ things have gone far and wide. Congrats, you well deserve your praise. And you have to tell the ‘Deer Hunter’ his croutons are a hit. Made them, with less garlic cause my hubby is not a garlic fan, but he loved these. I won’t be buying them from the store any longer and will be buyin’ Light Bread to make them. And as always, God Bless you and your ‘gang’.

  36. Congratulations on the deer Matt!! Deer stew, backstrap, deer spaghetti, deer sausage, deer steaks, such good eating! Tipper, you had me at plumb foolish and I so enjoyed the other sayings, because we say them too. Even though we are all different, we are so alike. I am so thankful for the day I found your blog, you have no idea how much I look forward to every day and reading your blog. I am thankful for all the new friends I have made in the readers and responders to the blog. We feel like family. Have a blessed day y’all!

    1. My Granny said I’m a mind to…(whatever she was going to do). But by far the most common a prefix usage here in Northwest NC is “I’m a fixing to go to town”.

  37. I would love to be entered in that giveaway, Tipper. That’s so very kind of you! Isn’t that fascinating that a student would focus on that subset of Appalachian speech to study? Did she say how she got interested in that? Being that I’m so far north, I don’t hear the a- prefix unless it’s in a movie. The movie “Deliverance” seems to come to mind, but I can’t think of a specific, real world example for the life of me. Oh, and the song “Time’s A Wasting” by Carl Smith and June Carter. I love that song! Anyway, I hope you have a happy Wednesday. Much love and many hugs!

  38. Thank you for your tireless work on this blog it is a daily reminder of my roots in southeast KY. And a very nice reminder it is! may God continue to bless you efforts.

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