The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 162
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
reference to only one person except by outsiders who think they
are using Southern speech).
Within the territory surveyed it is not possible in most cases
to indicate the precise western limit of Southern words, but this
study proves that the Southern vocabulary extends further west-
ward than had been previously supposed, covering most of Texas,
but declining consistently in the Trans-Pecos area and coming to
an end "somewhere on the slopes of the southern Rockies."
Professor Atwood has been able to indicate the eastern limit of
a number of Southwestern terms by means of isoglosses (lines on
a map beyond which certain words occur but rarely if at all). For
instance, some common Texas words have not spread to Louisiana
except along the Texas border. On the other hand, some terms
that first gained currency in southern Louisiana have spread to
adjoining parts of Texas, such as banquette (sidewalk), piroque
(a river boat), lagniappe (something extra), and bayou (a
stream). A few have spread throughout Texas, such as praline and
gumbo.
Among the most interesting words in Texas speech are those
which were not imported but which originated there. South and
Southwest Texas, the cradle of the range-cattle industry, is an area
of radiation of many words, mostly of Spanish origin, pertaining
to topography or to the raising of livestock. Some of the words
which still have a noticeable concentration in this area are resaca
(tank), vaquero (cowboy), llano (plain), hacienda (the main
ranch house), reata (rope), chaparral (brush country), arroyo
(dry creek bed), frijoles (pinto beans), and remuda (group of
horses). Many others have spread more widely, such as corral,
bronc, lariat, dogie, burro, norther, pinto, and chaps.
In conclusion, the regional vocabulary of Texas and an inde-
terminate portion of the surrounding states is a major branch
of General Southern, which Professor Atwood labels South-
western. It includes a large number of Southern usages, a smaller
number of Midland words, and many words which originated in
the Southwest. This study will appeal not merely to specialists
in speech but to all readers interested in the Southwest. Texans
should be proud of this book and of its author, a native speaker
who still prefers roasting ears to corn on the cob (just as this162
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/184/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.