How to Talk Minnesotan is a book lampooning stereotypical Minnesotan speech and mannerisms by Howard Mohr, a former writer for A Prairie Home Companion. There are also a musical by Mohr and Drew Jansen (produced at Plymouth Playhouse by Troupe America, Inc.) and a television special (produced by KTCA) based on the book.
Some of the things the book covers:
- Useful phrases such as "You bet", "That's different", and "Whatever"
- Refusing food three times before accepting
- The art of waving
- Hotdish
- Lutefisk
- Talking about cars and starting cars in the winter
- The Minnesotan "long goodbye"
Much of the material for the book was originally performed as sketches on A Prairie Home Companion. The book also includes fictional ads for improbable businesses such as "Raw Bits Cereal", "Polka Pants", and "Walleye Phone Company".
Famous quotes containing the word talk:
“When Sir Robert Walpole was dying, he told Ranby his surgeon that he desired his body might be opened. Ranby acting great horror cried, “Good God, my Lord, don’t talk of that!” “Nay,” said Sir Robert, “it will not be till I am dead, and that I shall not feel it—nor you neither.””
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)