Like Accents?

[digitS']

I've used this database for something before but I've forgotten what it was. There was no internet when I was in school but I "hung out" a little with the linguists.

Anyway, I guess the full database on a 50 state study is just now available. It might be fun for those with better hearing. You can read along on this webpage - the story of Arthur the Rat, meant to differentiate accents (LINK).

All 50 states! @Larisa would have fun with this .

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I searched for Oklahoma and no wonder people think I talk funny. I moved away when I was 12 and I still talk like that, but I was in a house with my parents who were born there too.

 

[seedcorn]

IMO, everyone has an accent. For me, it is a cross between southern (family environment) and northern (some family and some location environment). Along with accent, there are words used that are local that amplify accents. Prime example is youall as it comes out southern even with northern diction.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When I was living in the immediate New Orleans area there were people that could tell which part of the New Orleans area you were raised in based on your accent. The way the city was settled different groups would come in and sort of live in one part. Each area developed their own accent. it wasn't just the Spanish, French, and Americans but include Germans, Irish, Italians, Portuguese, Creole, Cajuns, and others.

I wonder how they decided which accents to include per state. For example, would you use the mountain twang of East Tennessee or the southern drawl of West Tennessee if you had to choose one to represent Tennessee? There can be some pretty big differences within the state.

What's the old joke, Seed? Everybody has an accent except me. I talk normal.

 

[digitS']

vive la différence

 

[Nyboy]

My fair lady whole play about where someone from based on accent. @Carol Dee called me once and said I have a NY accent

 

[digitS']

Professor Henry Higgins: There even are places where English completely disappears; in America they haven't used it for years.



Steve

 

[Nyboy]

South Bronx

 

[Carol Dee]

My fair lady whole play about where someone from based on accent. @Carol Dee called me once and said I have a NY accent

Well you do !!!! I bet I have a mid-west one (Whatever that is!) LOL

 

[Collector]

I had a high school buddy move to Mich. just after graduation. We fell out of touch for about 25yrs until I got his phone number from his brother who I ran into a few years ago. When I called him on the phone he had a real Midwestern accent. He said no one ever told him that,probably because he sounds like everyone around him lol. My DW had a friend who moved here from Kentucky in early 90s when we met her she did not really have a southern accent. She moved back to Kentucky about 10 years ago and a month or so ago I talked to her on the phone. Holy moly her accent is back lol, I barely recognized her voice.