Yankee Girl Survives First Year at Southern University

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by naraht

I found one map where I can actually explain the *really* odd geography for it:

#3. How do you pronounce the first syllable in "Bowie Knife". The areas of the country that pronounce the first syllable like "Boo" are either in
Texas (James Bowie who the knife is named for died at the Alamo and he pronounced is own name "Boo-ie")
or around Washington DC. (there is a large suburb of Washington DC (Bowie, Maryland) pronounced "Boo-ie")

I thought that one was interesting, too. I'm from a Bow-ie state, but I pronounce it Boo-ie, because I remember from history class that this is how he pronounced his name, and I did live in Maryland for 4 years.

[limegreen]

I can explain why Wisconsinites call it a "bubbler." Bubbler is a brand name for a type of drinking fountain manufactured by the Kohler Company headquartered in... Kohler, WI.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I was hoping to find a map regarding the word "both" - for some reason, I throw an L in the middle of it so it sounds more like the word "bowl" with a -th at the end.

Apparently I'm just weird

That reminds me of people who pronounce "wash" as "warsh." I don't do it, personally, but I know several people who do.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by limegreen

I can explain why Wisconsinites call it a "bubbler." Bubbler is a brand name for a type of drinking fountain manufactured by the Kohler Company headquartered in... Kohler, WI.

Interesting. People all over New England say it, and I've said it my whole life - I never knew there was an actual Bubbler brand name!

[limegreen]

Yeah, I have no idea why New England uses the term. It sure is interesting how there is such a gap in states between usage.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And if you have a really practiced ear, you can pin down the part of the state. I knew someone once who could peg where in North Carolina someone was from to within about 30 miles. Even today, with more mobility and the neutralizing effects of television, a western NC accent sounds nothing like an eastern NC one.

My Mother, who is from Pitt County NC, calls eastern NC coastal a "tidewater" accent, and she says it goes on up to Virginia.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlum

My Mother, who is from Pitt County NC, calls eastern NC coastal a "tidewater" accent, and she says it goes on up to Virginia.

Yep. Tidewater would be southeastern Virginia and northeastern NC.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Yep. Tidewater would be southeastern Virginia and northeastern NC.

And it sounds very English like the counties south of London and on westwards. Not a hard accent like Londoners have.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I was hoping to find a map regarding the word "both" - for some reason, I throw an L in the middle of it so it sounds more like the word "bowl" with a -th at the end.

Apparently I'm just weird

I do this too!! And when I went to Clemson people asked me why I put an L in both, when I'd never noticed it before in my life because everyone where I live does it. Southerners pronounce it more like "bowth", which sounds really weird to me; my Georgian boyfriend and I have gotten in bolth versus bowth arguments before. My mom and I also once had a solid minute during a car ride of trying to pronounce both with no L in it, and we ended up sounding wicked silly.

In short, it's not just you!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

I do this too!! And when I went to Clemson people asked me why I put an L in both, when I'd never noticed it before in my life because everyone where I live does it. Southerners pronounce it more like "bowth", which sounds really weird to me; my Georgian boyfriend and I have gotten in bolth versus bowth arguments before. My mom and I also once had a solid minute during a car ride of trying to pronounce both with no L in it, and we ended up sounding wicked silly.

In short, it's not just you!

Haha, good to know!

I also was completely unaware of this until I moved out of New England and had it pointed out to me.

Actually, quite a few of these maps (#1, 5, 6, 21, 26, 63, 73, 78, 86, 84, 103...) explain why I get weird looks when I speak

[ASTalumna06]

Also, with #117, I was hoping the question would be, "What do you say when you're going into the level of a building that's partially or entirely underground?"

My answer totally would have been "I'm going down cellar."

(and for those of you thinking I missed a word or two in that sentence... I didn't.)