Hmmm...I never really understood it to be honest..I've lived in IN for ten years now (boooooo!!
) and I STILL get told I have an accent ... Not heavy or real pronunced, but I guess certain words just come out different. I'm originally from Upstate NY so it's not like I ever had some crazy thick accent going on. I do, however, firmly believe that there are New England ways of saying things.
I guess that's where I get it.