Oddly, Scout does not seem to have any specific catch
phrases or oft-repeated quotes. She uses many Southern colloquial terms ("ain't,"
"reckon," "yonder"); is too young yet to understand the bigotry behind the word
"nigger;" and, like many young Southern children, she drops the "g" on many of her "ing"
words ("tryin'," "runnin' "). She also uses combined words such as "wanta" and "outa;"
abbreviated words, like " 'em" ("them"), and "c'n" ("can"); and non-abbreviated
combinations, like "nome" ("no ma'am") and "yessum" ("yes
ma'am").
A few examples of "Scoutisms"
are:
- "... if you don't hush, I'll knock you
bowlegged." (to Dill) - "Calpurnia says that's
nigger-talk." (to Miss Maudie) - "But what in the sam holy
hill did you wait till tonight?" (to Jem) - "You can just
take that back, boy!" (to Cecil Jacobs) - "Pass the damn
ham, please." (to Uncle Jack) - "... you better cut it out
this red hot minute." (to Cousin Francis) - "What's a
whore-lady?" (to Uncle Jack) - "Cecil Jacobs is a big fat
hen." (to Cecil and Sheriff Tate) - "Well, it'd be sort of
like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" (to
Atticus)
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