Do you have a regional accent?

wonkatalia · June 2012

I live in the deep South, in the same town in which I was born. I have lived here for all but about seven of my 32 years. I went to college in Alabama as well. But apparently I have no accent.

I did an internship in NYC when I was in college and people that found out I was from the Unviersity of Alabama would always ask me why I would chose Alabama, assuming I was from somewhere else. A coworker just asked me this morning where I am from originally since I don't have a Southern accent.

Everyone in my family has a strong Southern accent. I think maybe it's because I watched a lot of TV growing up?

Do you have a regional accent? If so, what region? If not, why?

LovesMM · June 2012

I say no, simply because I've gone away to Military Training and people never guessed I was from the south. However, when I get mad or passionate about something, the accent comes out and they would snicker.

So I vote sometimes yes, sometimes no?

TunaTown · June 2012

I was raised all over the country, so I have these skitzo accents.

Sometimes I'll sound all east coast.

When I'm tipsy, the twang comes out.

Most of the time, a northern accent is prevelant because I live in MN. Aboooot.

Qtlplegs · June 2012

I have an upstate New York accent. We love our long vowels! Mine is semi strong and noticeable mostly on words with "a"s in them. However I have the strongest accent in my family and have always been mocked for it. Being contrary, I made sure to retain my accent through college and grad school just to torture my family. Now my DD is developing the accent and I am starting to see why it drove my family crazy!

wonkatalia · June 2012

LovesMM:

I say no, simply because I've gone away to Military Training and people never guessed I was from the south. However, when I get mad or passionate about something, the accent comes out and they would snicker.

So I vote sometimes yes, sometimes no?

LOL. I know what you mean. I think mine comes out when I'm upset too. Honestly, I think I do have an accent. I feel like I can hear it but maybe it's not very strong or it only comes out at certain times like yours. I definitely say "y'all" a lot!

chach916 · June 2012

I think at times I have a little midwestern nasal.

And sorry Wonka, but I can't and won't read your posts with a Southern accent. It must be a Wonka accent.

wonkatalia · June 2012

chach916:

I think at times I have a little midwestern nasal.

And sorry Wonka, but I can't and won't read your posts with a Southern accent. It must be a Wonka accent.

As long as it's the Gene Wilder Wonka and not the Johnny Depp Wonka, that's fine with me!

MissNikki007 · June 2012

twatley:
People tell me I have a southern accent.

It's adorable.

I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC. I don't have an accent.

thatgrrrrl · June 2012

SoCa non-accent accent. Living in NY now it drives me crazy to hear people say "Flarida," "Arange," and "far-head"

Manateearmz · June 2012

People always ask me why I don't sound Southern. It only comes out if I am really excited or angry. I work in a professional environment and I believe that a strong accent will make me sound unprofessional, and will cause people to not take me seriously. I don't want my "cute" twang to distract from my real message.

Wufroggy79 · June 2012

I don't think that I do, but when I visit my friends that live out of town (and out of region), they all think I have an accent.

michaels_girl · June 2012

I don't think so. I was born and lived up until age 18 in Southern Illinois. We have no accents, nor anything else special. Except corn. I've lived in KY since, and I will definitely twang up now and then, especially if I have had beverages, but my voice is pretty boring midwestern. DD will totally rock a southern accent now and then on certain words, and it cracks me up.

jandy09 · June 2012

I lived in OK for 8 years and I used to have a real bad twang. A few words still get the accent but overall, no.

scoutkate · June 2012

I have a slight Southern accent. Since I grew up in coastal NC it's more of a drawl than a twang. It's not super pronounced, though, and I do blame TV. I'd say it's most obvious when I say words with a long "i" or a soft "a" or "o." And of course the colloquialisms I use give me away as a southerner.

Also--weirdly--I sound more Southern if I'm smiling while I talk.

Rhenna · June 2012

I'm from Colorado and moved to Pennsylvania a few years ago and everyone here says I have an accent. I never knew Coloradans had their own accents but apparently I draw out my O's in words or something. It still makes me scratch my head a little.

synchrosally · June 2012

Probably. I'm Canadian Eh! I'm not a newfy though, so it's not distinct. Or is it?

mrebecca · June 2012

I do. Southern.

wonkatalia · June 2012

I worked with a guy once that had a strong Southern accent. He told me that he was married so I asked him why he didn't wear a wedding ring. He said "I just don't like jury." I had to make him repeat it four times before I realized he was saying "jewelry". lol

seahorse102410 · June 2012

Yes I do and it's bad and embarrassing. I grew up in western NC.

scoutkate · June 2012

seahorse102410:
Yes I do and it's bad and embarrassing. I grew up in western NC.

It's so crazy how different eastern and western NC accents are. I remember in college being able to tell where all the girls were from just from hearing them talk.

chetrick · June 2012

I grew up in RI (basically a Boston accent) and when I went to college I was the girl at parties that everyone asked to repeat a phrase to see how I said it. I quickly tried to lose my accent and did a pretty good job of it. However, there are certain words that I still can't pronounce without my accent. "Mirrors" will forever be "mirras" and any form of the word "picture/ pitcher" all sounds like "pitcha".

My CA students call me on it whenever they hear those words.

cvick612 · June 2012

I live in Alabama and I have all of my life. My southern accent is really strong. Its even worse when I get mad.

schnappycat · June 2012

Rhenna:
I'm from Colorado and moved to Pennsylvania a few years ago and everyone here says I have an accent. I never knew Coloradans had their own accents but apparently I draw out my O's in words or something. It still makes me scratch my head a little.

Oh, yes, there is a CO accent! We have lived here 10 years now, but noticed it immediately when we moved. There is a definite difference in the vowels, particularly the o's. I have noticed my DS talks that way, even though DH and I are Midwesterners.

I have a Midwestern accent, I guess. From Michigan, but I've been told I sound like I'm from Chicago with my vowel sounds.

DragonflyBelle · June 2012

Born and raised in NE Louisiana and yes, I have a horrible accent. My mom, however, does not despite also being born and raised here. I do have a "radio voice" I can turn on when need-be though and I am also told I could make lots of money as a phone sex operator, whatevertheeffthatmeans.

seahorse102410 · June 2012

scoutkate:

seahorse102410:
Yes I do and it's bad and embarrassing. I grew up in western NC.

It's so crazy how different eastern and western NC accents are. I remember in college being able to tell where all the girls were from just from hearing them talk.

I know it really is. My college roommate is from Rocky Mount area and sometimes it takes me a minute to understand what her dad is saying when he talks to me.

LadyXaverian · June 2012

synchrosally:
Probably. I'm Canadian Eh! I'm not a newfy though, so it's not distinct. Or is it?

Yes, it is. :-P (ETA: Not that I have actually spoken to you- this is just from my experience. Keep reading, and I'll explain...)

I'm from Nova Scotia, but I've lived in the southern U.S. for 9 years, so my "accent" is a hodge podge. When I first moved here, I would get asked where I'm from all the time. I don't get asked any more, so my accent must have lost its Canadian edge, and when I go home to NS, I get mocked for my "southern accent".

Since I've lived away from Canada for so long now, I can pick out a Canadian accent on tv like nobody's business. I'm always so proud when I look the actor/actress up and find out I was right. (And these are non-Newfs, synch! lol)

ETA2: I talk too much.

ktshoff · June 2012

I have a southern accent but not like folks around my parts!! Some of these people being interviewed on the local news you can't even understand. Cracks me up!! I think the reporters try to find the most back woods people to interview. Hilarious!

EVA116 · June 2012

I never thought I did until my college roommate made a comment about how I was from "sh KA go"

But still I don't think I do.

MarSamWhitney · June 2012

Yes, people have commented on my accent- which I find very weird.

JoJoMama730 · June 2012

When I travel to other areas of the US, people immediately know I'm from the Midwest. So I guess I do have an accent, but I don't think I do. Does everybody feel that way?

hmp1 · June 2012

No but I moved around a lot growing up. DH sometimes slips into his Chicago accent but for the most part we are pretty neutral.

I'm wondering if we stay in TN if the boys will grow up with a southern accent.

gymnst1013 · June 2012

I don't but I can pick out a Pittsburgh accent anywhere.

ATMmom324 · June 2012

SarahL77:
synchrosally:
Probably. I'm Canadian Eh! I'm not a newfy though, so it's not distinct. Or is it?
Yes, it is. :-P (ETA: Not that I have actually spoken to you- this is just from my experience. Keep reading, and I'll explain...)
I'm from Nova Scotia, but I've lived in the southern U.S. for 9 years, so my "accent" is a hodge podge. When I first moved here, I would get asked where I'm from all the time. I don't get asked any more, so my accent must have lost its Canadian edge, and when I go home to NS, I get mocked for my "southern accent".
Since I've lived away from Canada for so long now, I can pick out a Canadian accent on tv like nobody's business. I'm always so proud when I look the actor/actress up and find out I was right. (And these are non-Newfs, synch! lol)
ETA2: I talk too much.

I live in WNY and don't believe I have an accent but I probably do. As soon as I get farther north then Niagara Falls I can pick up the Canadian accent.

cvick612 · June 2012

ktshoff:
I have a southern accent but not like folks around my parts!! Some of these people being interviewed on the local news you can't even understand. Cracks me up!! I think the reporters try to find the most back woods people to interview. Hilarious!

I agree... I live around the same area as Antoine Dodson.. so when Hide Yo kids, Hide Yo wifes came on the local news I about died. Then when the tornadoes hit in April 2011 they found the most back woods people they could find to interview.

Unknown · June 2012

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gnomemom · June 2012

No, but I have a tendency to sort of mimic people's accents when I talk to them. Not in a mocking sort of way or anything. But I talk to people all over the U.S. for my job, and the way I speak will change depending on how my client speaks. With southerners, I definitely get a little twang in my voice. With New Yorkers, I speak much faster and I'm all business. I'm from Indiana, but I still speak a little differently when speaking with other Midwesterners. I feel like I am most myself when speaking with people in the Pacific Northwest.

FirstBabyMomma · June 2012

synchrosally:
Probably. I'm Canadian Eh! I'm not a newfy though, so it's not distinct. Or is it?

This, except I'm about as close to being a Newfie as you can get. People always know I'm from the Maritimes.

IrishEyes0530 · June 2012

I lived in upstate NY, near Buffalo, until I was 19. Now I live near Atlanta. I kind of have a mixture of the upstate accent and the southern. When I get mad I definitely sound more northern.

synchrosally · June 2012

FirstBabyMomma:
synchrosally:
Probably. I'm Canadian Eh! I'm not a newfy though, so it's not distinct. Or is it?

This, except I'm about as close to being a Newfie as you can get. People always know I'm from the Maritimes.

My friend lived in NL for 3 years and started to pick up some Newfy. Whenever I talk to her I just want to say "yees bye".