Hollywood has succeeded in convincing most of the world that there is a single, unified “Southern” accent, but anyone who was raised in or lived in “the South,” or even been a frequent visitor, knows that this isn’t accurate. A multitude of speech patterns or accents can be found throughout this geographic region, and each has distinctive characteristics particular to the demographic groups in its locale. In twenty-first century Charleston, the debates about the character of the local accents—used by both black and white Charlestonians—typically invoke the influence of African, West Indian, and British speech patterns. Immigrants from those locales certainly left their mark on traditional accents in the South Carolina lowcountry, but this isn’t new information at all. Looking back at the written record of early Charleston, there are many clues—such as common misspellings, runaway slave advertisements, and parodies—that can help us re-imagine the sound of conversations long past. Here’s just one fun example that I found while perusing the Charleston City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 27 June 1800, transcribed faithfully with all of its purposeful mistakes intact:
The following notes were sent [to] us for publication, by an unknown hand; we give each a place for their whimsical contents.
Mr. To noah Wabster
Sur,
by rading all ovur the nushpaper I find you are after meaking a nue Merrykin Dikshunary; your rite, Sur; for ofter look in all over the anglish Books, you wont find a bit of Shillaly big enuf to beat a dog wid. so I hope you’ll take a hint, and put enuff of rem in yours, for Och ’tis a nate little bit of furniture for any Man’s house so it ’tis—Pat. O’Dogerty.
As I find der ish no Donder and Blicksum in de English Dikshonere I hope youl put both in yours to oblige a Subscrybur—Hans Bubbleblower.
Massa Webser plese put sum Hommany and sum good Possum Fat and sum two tree good Banjoe in your new what-you-call-um Book for your fello Cytzen—Cuffee.
