Competing Discourses: O Brother Where Art Thou

In this clip, taken from the movie O Brother Where Art Thou, I see two distinct Discourses showing up.  The three men share one Discourse: having broken out of a chain gang, they try to get away.  Their language is rough and improper, and they seem to share the unassuming southern drawl with which they speak.  However, the main character, Everett, displays two Discourses, switching between them.  His tone of voice seems to change as he switches to a more proper and educated Discourse.  Watch again from 0:33 to 0:47: he begins in a distinct southern drawl, saying, "Say, any o' you boys smithies?"  But then he continues: "Or if not smithies, per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wandering?"  And again, at 2:13, the southern speech of the blind man is starkly contrasted with Everett: "Well, that right there may be the reason you've had difficulty finding gainful employment.  You see, in the market of competitive commerce..."

The movie is full of such comments, contrasting rural speech with Everett's more sophisticated mannerisms.  This is used for humor throughout.  If you haven't seen the movie, make time to watch it all.  It'll be worth it.