MovieChat Forums > Longmire (2012) Discussion > Why does Henry speak the way he does?

Why does Henry speak the way he does?

posted 8 years ago by william-520
22 replies | jump to latest

This is one thing that has been driving me crazy - He uses no contractions. instead of "I'm", he says "I am". Instead of "I haven't", he says "I have not".

If he's doing this to sound more "Native America", it's not (or "it is not") really needed. None of the other Native American characters do this. It seems to be only Henry.

It's a minor thing for me, and not driving me away from the show. It just drives me a little crazy every time I hear him talk like that.

[–] Farts_Upwind 7 years ago

Tom Chaney(Josh Brolin) talks like that in the newer True Grit movie

[–] Fledgling (9) 7 years ago

In the early part of the 20th century, most reservations had an 'Indian School", usually run by missionaries. The idea was to "Kill the Indian, save the man" as Henry says in season 1. The indian schools were trying to eradicate native culture and americanize the indians, so they could assimilate. The Indian Schools discouraged the use of contractions, mostly for character building reasons. The time line of the show is a bit confused. In the first book, Henry and Walt served together in Vietnam, which would make them much older than they are, but does sort of explain the TransAm and Bronco, in an Archer type of time line. Anyway, I believe that Henry is a product of an indian School, and that is why he has the contractionless speech pattern.
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[–] Dalovlee (40) 7 years ago

I will say for sure it's the demands of the screenwriter/script. Actors aren't allowed to deviate from the script so the screenwriters/producers decided beforehand this is Henry's speech pattern. But it does highlight Henry's wit and introspective side.

[–] redban (5480) 2 years ago

To drill the point that he’s philosophical / erudite

[–] snepts (11123) 2 years ago

I caught an episode where Henry is talking to the Denver detective (played by Charles Dutton) and I'm sure he said "...I'm ..."
They were at the Red Pony and Dutton was there unexpectedly. Must have been early in the 2nd season (?).
No idea if it was intentional that Henry was trying to give off a friendly impression or some other explanation, or just a very minor goof, but I thought of this thread when I heard it.

[–] PinbackWiggly (383) 2 years ago

I thought maybe he was part Vulcan or Android or something.