Southern-ness 101 : They Law or They Lawd

I was born and raised in the south.  That's not a bad thing.  It doesn't mean I'm an uneducated hillbilly in overalls, barefoot and pregnant in the dirt floor kitchen grinding wheat for flour.  However, we do have a colorful language that most people, those not raised here, understand.

I've decided to throw in some gems.  Lynita may, as well.  These are not specific to any race but are things that I've heard time and time again.  Mostly when I was young, so bare with me.  Definitions are relative because that's another thing we're good at down here, creating a whole other definition of a word no one else understood to begin with.

They Law or They Lawd:  This is a phrase used when you are shocked by an incident. Similar to "I never".

Also has been heard as "laaaaaw" or "they laaaaw".  The amount of a's and a-emphasis depends on how shocking the event was. 

Used in a sentence: (To do this properly in a southern way, you must do this with a drawl and pronounce the name Loretta=lO-retta, police=pO-lees and garage=gare-aj.

Mama 1: Did you hear about Loretta?
Mama 2: Why, no! I sure didn't.
Mama 1: Lord, honey, she's done called the police on that nephew of hers for taking a rake out of her garage.
Mama 2: THEY LAAAW! She's done lost her mind.  Now, that sweet baby just wanted to rake some leave; ain't nothing wrong with that.

This is the first in my series of Southern-ness 101. If you like it, comment.  If you have questions or suggestions, comment about that too. :)