These two articles show the vast amount of sayings that are used in Indiana. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of different sayings that were recorded by Brewster during his fieldwork within the state. Many of the sayings relate humans to animals or to something in nature. This could be why sayings can become regional and not spread. The sayings are developed as a response to ones environment. Many of them are ways to describe people by the certain traits. These traits can be physical, mental, or social.
These sayings are almost like a secret language known only to the people living in a certain geographical area. They can be ways to bond community members together through common speech. They are also a way to spice up language and make it more fun. You could say, "wow that guy is really tall!" or you could say, "he is long for this world if he dies tomorrow!" It is just a more fun way to talk.
Discucssion Questions:
What is your favorite saying from the articles?
Why are so many of the sayings ways to demean people without outright saying it?
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