I grew up right outside Boston, and go to school in Chicago. I don't have that classic Boston accent - I have more of a MA accent (people from NH sometimes have the same accent) it basically entails too much accent on the "a"s - so you say something smells "baaaaad" or you want a "saaaaample" - its almost a nasal-ness on the a. I can't explain it.

There's also the "wicked" thing - "It's wicked f***ing good doode" (we say dude kind of weird too), "I was wicked trashed last night"

Oh, and up in NE, its SODA!

I have lived in Ohio most of my life. So any accent I have is a midwest one. (Similar to Chicago.. with the nasal-y "a"'s) When I was about 3 years old I had a Boston accent, even though I had never been there and we didn't know anyone from there. I guess I just outgrew that?

In Columbus the locals tend to have a slight southern accent (the W. VA- Kentucky kind, not deep south) which I don't understand. But they can all tell I'm from "up north".

I've called pop "POP" my entire life. That's just what it is. If you say "soda" to me, I think you mean that ice cream drink with SODA water & flavored syrup.

My boyfriend, who is from DETROIT originally, says coke. We have been out to eat and he asks the waitress "What flavor of coke do you have?" And since we're in OHIO she stares at him for second before she realizes he means "What kind of POP". http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

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SilverTurtle

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

I was born and raised in Atlanta GA and had a thick accent when I moved to AZ...
I really didn't know that I talked differently until everyone started asking me why I talked that way (I thought that was rude, by the way).

Anyway, being male and having a southern accent people look at you like your ignorant just because you have a drawl... I could be totally explaining the procedures of brain surgery and they would still think that I was ignorant... I hate stereotypes.

Hey, what about "sody" for soda?

Given the fact the only other Canadian who responded what Siobhan, and she's a westerner, I felt the need to give my educated opinion on the matter. Being from Toronto, 4 provinces away from B.C., you'd think there would be a bigger difference in accents. However, I'm pretty sure we sound just about the same as the Westerners do, here in Toronto.

My entire family is from the States, so I hear ALL about how funny I sound when I'm visiting them. My incredibly hilarious grandparents *sarcasm* always ask me to say 'ABOUT' when I'm on the phone. I don't hear it but they try to convince me that I say 'ABOOT'. 'Have you been OOT and ABOOT Leslie?' http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif. I also apparantly say dauler as opposed to the New York accented 'DAHLER' which they are so used to. So now I just call it money or bucks to alleviate the potential grief I'll get from the fam.

I know precious few Candians who say 'eh' at the end of every sentence. I use it every once in a while. For example, my friend might say 'Wow. I can't get over how busy this bar is!', to which I might very well reply 'I know eh!!!'.

I also call pop 'pop'. Soda seems so damn formal to me. But again, all my relatives laugh at me when I'm visiting and I say pop. Soda is that clear bubbly stuff you add gin to here. It's called Tonic water (yes, I am aware there is a difference between soda water and tonic water. what that difference is however, I have NO clue).

I don't think I have an accent. It's everyone who sounds different than I do who does http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif .

[This message has been edited by gphi2k (edited June 17, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by gphi2k (edited June 17, 2001).]

funny story: i was in target the other day and the cashier said pop, and i was like you're not from Ohio are you? and she was like, yeah?(weird puzzled look) how did you know. I was like 'cause you siad pop.
i never thought i had an accent until i moved to the south and then everyone all the time is like you're not from around here huh? I think I'll get a sign.......

SigTauJake:
When did you live in OC--what road did you live on? I lived there the summer of 97 and 98 and I know most of the BP in Delaware (or at least I used to)

Actually . . . baltimore has its own little thing, known as "Baltimoron" according to my pledge father (from towson area) . . . A guy in our house has it and strong. It's sort of southern-meets-DC skater talk. it's weird.

Anyway - i'm from iowa (no accents in midwest, dude - like tom freaking brokaw, it's all on the level) but live in boston . . . i think EVERYONE has an accent, it's great.

I think it's funny when I hear people say "pop" instead of soda too. But I know people from Wisconsin and Michigan who say that, so I wouldn't always assume someone is from Ohio if they say it http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

As for the Baltimore thing, I've noticed it too... they definitely have this weird accent going on.

I live in southern Virginia (I grew up here) and I do not have an accent! Even people from New York have said I don't have one. Weird, huh?

I am from Long Island so I have always been plagued by my accent. Everyone has a accent. u just dont notice it bc it is the way everyone around u talks.

Well, marylanders don't really have an accent except for balitmore (balmore as they say it). Kinda like a southern accent. I have moved alot, and I have encountered alot of different accents. What I have noticed:
1.)Down south, you can't ask for soda or pop, its all coke. You say "can I have a coke?" and they ask what kind. weird.
2.) Upstate NY has a very nasal accent and they say pop, which is annoying.
3.) Boston is the most annoying one. Who in the hell calls a water fountain a bubbler? or calls soda "tonic"? They are all weird.

Is it true that the Boston accent is like "pahk the cah"....?

That's what my sister says. Sorry, not to offend any Bostonians on here! Just wondering http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Every person has an accent - it's called dialect
there is no national standard, only a regional, thus accents exist,

I'm from Ky, but you would never know it...I have been asked if I am from Boston.....Central Kentucky, in the heart of the woods, born and raised, asked if I am from Boston, Mass.

Funny, to be rather honest
Nevertheless....every person has an accent...because your reference ear is always your own...

...some of the best words to show accent are:
ten
sprite
kindergarden
ball
fries
ice
oil

that's the dialect test, I'm telling you
Anyone you believe has hint of a different dialect, Try this test on them

Cory

Sorry to say, but that is no overexaggeration. I have met many people in Boston with an accent that bad. The college kids from the area don't have it that bad, but my old roommate's accent would sneak out every once in awhile.

it's very true

lotsa people speak like that up north
but it's strange, when i go up north, i don't hear people talk like that...here's what i mean...i think alot of people that move away from the north accentuate their accepted accent...they speak very contrived, i guess

I'm from West Virginia, most WVians have a slight accent--not exactly that southern drawl, but a tad bit different. I, on the other hand, lack that WV accent. Most people think I'm from the north. I lived on the border of WV and Ohio--so I didn't grow up in the areas of WV where the accent was common. I, personally, think I'm void of any accent.