Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianH1970
And many southerners do? How many times do you hear a southerner pronounce something that leaves out a consonant or misprounces the sounds of two vowels strung together (how many times have I heard the word "oil" sound like "ole" or "spoil" sound like "spole"..)... That's proper english? With all due respect to the southerners here, please...
There's a reason why newscasters who hail from the south take vocal lessons to rid themselves of the accent.
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I guess my contention is that b/c Southerners have a Southern accent, there seems to be a stereotype that we are also uneducated and lack sophistication. That is what bugs me. There are many Southern accents, and I have my own labels for every one of them, LOL. We have quite a few different accents here in NC alone. Some are more charming than others. Then there is the Savannah accent, wh/ differs a bit from the Charleston accent - and both differ from all the NC accents. Elizabeth Dole is a good example of the Piedmont accent. And, she is a good example of a Southerner who indeed has an accent, but is certainly not uneducated or unsophisticated.
My aggravation comes in when people assume that everyone who has an accent is uneducated, and this equates to the school systems, as well.
I love my Southern accent (wh/ is nearly identical to Elizabeth Dole's). I have made a concentrated effort to "change" the way I pronounce some words, but most of my accent remains local as I have chosen to retain it. I like it. My yankee H likes it, too, and I find people from other regions like it - and find it rather charming.
My point is - do not come here and equate accents w/ education. And for all of you newcomers, believe me, nothing is more grating to the WHOLE WORLD than that Fran Drescher kind of grating Yankee accent (even tho I think Fran is a doll!!!) Of course, she exaggerates her accent, but you get the point. I find it very disingenuous when Nor'easters come here and make fun of my Southern accent when they sometimes screech like a bow drawn across a violin at the wrong angle.
I won't disparage you (but I can do a helluva good Bronx accent imitation, LOL!!!) if you don't equate my accent w/ ignorance.
Our schools here have kids who are local as well as kids who have moved in from other areas. We are getting newcomers as teachers on a monthly basis. We are trying to put together a melting pot here - and as a parent, you will most likely find that schools differ from school to school here. But for heaven's sake, don't just assume that b/c you have "come South," your kids are gonna get an inferior education! And please, do not equate our Southern accents w/ stupidity - and we won't equate yours w/ being an uncouth Yankee.
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