How We Talked and Common Folks

by Verna Mae Slone, Michael Montgomery (Foreword by), Len Slone (Illustrator), Sidney Saylor Reynolds (Foreword by)

Overview

Two of Verna Mae Slone's most beloved books—How We Talked and Common Folks—are now available in a single edition. How We Talked is a timeless piece of literature, a free-form combination of glossary and memoir that uses native expressions to depict everyday life in Caney Creek, Kentucky. In addition to phrases and their meanings, the book contains sections on the customs and wisdom of Slone's community, a collection of children's rhymes, and stories and superstitions unique to Appalachia. More than just a dictionary, How We Talked is a rich compendium of life "on Caney," offering an understanding of the culture through the distinctive speech of its people. Originally published in 1979, Common Folks documents Slone's way of life in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, and expands on such diverse topics as family pets, coal mining, education, and marriage. Slone's firsthand account of this unique heritage draws readers into her hill-circled community and allows them to experience a lifestyle that is nearly forgotten. Whether she is writing about traditional Appalachian customs like folk medicine or about universal aspects of life such as a mother's yearning for the little girl she never had, Slone's instinctive sense of what matters most makes Common Folks a compelling meditation on a legacy worth remembering. Published together for the first time, How We Talked and Common Folks celebrate the spirit of an acclaimed Appalachian writer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813192093
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	06/26/2009
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Verna Mae Slone, a native of Knott County, Kentucky, is the author of several books, including the bestselling memoir, What My Heart Wants to Tell, and the novel, Rennie's Way.

Table of Contents

How We Talked 1

Foreword Michael B. Montgomery 5

Our Old Sayings 9

Words and Their Meanings as Used by Us 43

Descriptive Phrases 59

Names of People, Places, and Things 67

Chimney Corner Laws: Customs of the Hills 76

Food--Grub or Vittles 80

Whiskey--Likker, Mountain Dew, Moonshine, White Lightnin' 100

Religion 105

School 117

Children's Rhymes 121

Children's Toys, Snacks, and Games 132

Weather Signs and Seasons 144

Medical Terms: Cures and Superstitions 149

Superstitions 177

Terms of Work and Names of Tools 188

Common Folks 197

Foreword Sidney Saylor Farr 201

Editorial Reviews

"How We Talked is really about community, interaction, social relations, and the like. It has more insights into the functions of language use in traditional Appalachia than any other book."—Michael B. Montgomery, Professor Emeritus of English and Linguistics, University of South Carolina

From the Publisher