West Virginians have a unique way of speaking unlike any other dialect in the South, especially the Southern West Virginians. It's sort of a nasal, twangy type of accent. Some don't like it and try to avoid letting it show itself, while other Mountaineers "Let it all hang out!"

Below is some "Hillbonic - ese" that my husband and I came up with. Are they true? What do you think? If you can add to the list, be sure to let me know!

1. Modem - Thet thar's whut yuh did to th' hayfields.
2. Keyboard - Whar yuh hang up th' keys tuh th' tractor at night.
3. Hard drive - Gettin' tuh town when yer down tuh yer last fav-or-rite drink.
4. Micro chip - Thet's whut's left in the bottom-o-th' bag when alla th' big chips er gone.
5. Downloading - Gettin' th' firewood offen th' back-o-th' farm truck.
6. Megahertz - Whatcha git when yer not careful downloading.
7. Windows - Whatcha shut when yuh git cold.
8. Processor - Thet's whut yuh make cole slaw in.
9. Motherboard - Whut ma uses when yer naughty. Some call it th' board of education.
10. Megabytes - Thet's whut yuh git when yuh leave the window open an' fergit to use bug spray.
11. Monitor - Thet's whut you war 'round yer ankle when th' judge sez yuh hafta stay by th' 'phone...(after a hard drive!)
12. Disc - Thet's whut yuh shoot after yuh holler - "Pull!"
13. Mousepad - Thet's whut's inside thet thar hole in yer wall.
14. Mouse - Evenin' meal fer th' cat iffen he don' git back to his pad.
15. Bill gates - Thet's whut yuh do when yer best girl's pa builds a fence 'round th' yard whar her bedroom winder is.
16. Log on - Thet's whut yuh do when yer fireplace needs more fuel.
17. Microsoft - How ma's biscuits turn out.
18. Java - A good cup of joe!
19. Midis - The length of ma's skirts.
20. gif - Whut yuh git at Christmas time.
21. Floppy - What happens when you run out of Polygrip. (From Ellen Pritchett)



If you would like to read some more "Hillbonics" there is a wealth of information at:
Hillbonics - Learn to Speak Southern West Virginian.