If You Openly Mock the Way Locals Pronounce "DeBordieu"...

...then call me and I'll help you remove your foot from your mouth!
But if you openly mock the local pronunciation of designer Etienne Aigner, then I'll so be there to back you up. (see bottom of post)

Hey, I'm just trying to help you...to keep you from making a bona fide ass of yourself in public.  

Here's the thing about visiting or moving to a part of the Country with vastly different cultural roots than your own:

They Are Not Like You!!!

and really...

Why would you want them to be?

Why would you want everyone else to sort of  look like you? talk like you? eat like you? drive like you? dress like you? and heaven forbid...think like you?

We could get into the psychology of it all and come up with a myriad of reasons why people behave that way...and most of it is probably based in their insecurities. (IMHO)   Most people are uncomfortable interacting socially outside of their own environment and they cover this by mocking those who are different. 
Remember the playground in grade school?  Same-same. 

I'm not one of those people who has ever been socially awkward, but I have found myself irritated when visiting or living in other states and other countries.  I think that's normal.  Years ago my Anthropology teacher told me it's perfectly normal and I believe it.  


I entered the Air Force in my mid-20's and was stationed in the Philippines for just over three years.   While there I was able to travel all around Asia.  Also while there, I found that I moved through three distinct phases:


At first I was totally enamored with the idea of being overseas and living among those of a vastly different culture.


At second I was totally irritated with being overseas and living among those of a vastly different culture. I hated just about everything...the corruption, the immaturity, the nasty food, the humidity, their inability to speak MY language...etc.


At third...I fell in love with the Philippines and the people and immersed myself in the culture and loved everything about being overseas and living among those of a vastly different culture.


I've come through the same evolution since moving to Myrtle Beach.


At first I loved the place...
...the year-round temperate climate, the ocean being a stone's throw away, the niceness of the people, etc.


At second, I wondered what the hell I was doing in such a two-bit hick town which has nothing going for it but the ocean and a temperate climate.  I hated the humidity, the driving, the politics, the way there seems to be no urgency in getting things done, etc.


At third...the phase in which I now find myself...I've come to love being here.   Will I remain here the rest of my life?  Very doubtful, but while I'm here, I'm going to immerse myself in the Myrtle Beach way of life and experience all it has to offer...the good, the bad and the ugly.  
For me, this is my home and I refuse to live as so many transplants do...as an annoyed visitor who happens to live here all year...every year.


I balked when I first heard my sister-in-law (native S.Carolinian) utter the word...DeBordieu...especially when I saw how it was written.  Um...Hello? it's a French word.


She said "debbydoo" in her charming accent and I had to ask her to repeat it three times.  It sounded so ridiculous.


Rather than mock; I Googled DeBordeiu and if you click on the link you'll see that it's believed this is the Gullah dialect pronunciation.
Ever heard of Uncle Remus and his stories of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox?   They speak Gullah.

South Carolinians get a pass on DeBordieu, but... 

...if you openly mock the local pronunciation of designer Etienne Aigner, then I'll so be there to back you up.  It's not "Agner".  It's Et-tea-en On-yay.  My mom used to wear this brand in the 70s and that's the only reason I know. 

I used to sell shoes in a local department store here in Myrtle Beach and I cringed everytime a woman came into my department all haughty asking to see whatever "Agner" I had available.  I had to bite my tongue in order to keep from correcting a customer.  I don't think that one can be blamed on the Gullah dialect!!!

So, lesson here is to be sure you know what the heck you're talking about before you openly mock and deride local pronunciation of words. 

Class dismissed...