Friday, April 16, 2010

Morning Coffee

This is a typical weekday morning at home. I usually drink my coffee and attempt to read the sports page while my dad tries to engage me in esoteric conversation. Today, the topic of choice was a James Brown song. This is an actual transcription of our interaction.

(Dad singing)
"Get up offa that thang,
and dance 'til you feel bettah!
Get up offa that thang,
and try to release that pressha!"

"'Get up offa that thang' means get off your ass." My dad looked pointedly at me.

"I know that, Dad." I went back to reading my paper.

(Dad continues singing)
"Get up offa that thang
and shake 'til you feel bettah!
Get up offa that thang,
and try to release that pressha!"

"Notice how he doesn't say 'presSURE', but 'presSHA'.

I put the paper down. "Yeah, Dad. I did notice that."

"That's called ebonics," he declared.

"That's not ebonics Dad, that's just dialect."

"Oh. Do you think dancing really relieves pressure, or is he just making that up?"

"Dad, I think you're reading too much into it."

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