When it comes to Southern drawls, twangs, and everything in between, it’s hard to top Sheila Kennedy from Big Brother 9. However, leave it to NPR’s All Things Considered, champion of the rural human interest story, to dig up quite simply the twangiest dialect this side of Tammy Wynette. In fact, it’s so twangy that it’s hard not to think that we’re listening to some sort of flaming back-country dandy farce.
But we’re not. No, the verging-on-cartoony voice comes from Gary Linderman, a resident of Picher, Oklahoma. He believes his town is still worth living in, despite the “mountains” of toxic lead that litter the horizon and the hazardous underground mines that threaten to collapse at any minute. Making things worse, a recent tornado devastated over a hundred homes in the town, leaving most of Picher in utter ruin. The situation is so bad, the government is paying people to simply move out. But that won’t be happening anytime soon, not if Gary Linderman has anything to say about it. Hearing his town pride in the face of tornados, sinkholes, and poisonous waste is hilariously amazing. I’m shocked the anchor is able to get through the entire interview without laughing. I know I can’t, especially after Gary first says “tayowwwwn” and “sawftbaaawwwwls.” Classic.
The full, twangy interview (replete with several charmingly yokel observations) can be found here (Click on the “Listen Now” link once you reach the page). It’s worth it.