Chicago Accents

[linicx]

If you look at the history of language we learn the Mongol, Gael, Pict, Latin, Greek, Norse, German, and Hebrew languages came before the language we understand is English. Much of our American English words are rooted in Latin and Greek. I have friends who are Canadian, Scot, Swiss, Irish, Aussie and Kiwi. They all speak the Queen's English but they do not sound alike and to a man they all think the way American's speak and spell is funny (hopefully in a good way). Lonmg before the 16th century the Dutch, German and BI were dominate players on the world stage. It is entirely possible that if the New World had been devoloped by the Swedes, Finns, and Dutch instead of the English, French and German, America might be a country where American English is taught as a second language.

[linicx]

I think after 200+ years we should not continue to defend nor apologize for our national language. It is American English. It is as distinct as the language of the peoples from the Low Countries, the Norse countries, the European countries and the Middle-Eastern countries that influenced the development of the American language, the architectural designs and grand structures, and our many religions.

No! America is not a country of one monarch, one language and one church. As such we owe no man nor crown allegiance nor any apology for who we are. We did not "adapt, hybridize or bastardize anything. We created our own from the melting pot of tongues that began with our native Indian and continues unto today. It was written in the 18th century that by the year 1700 there were more than 50 languages heard on Long Island. The King's English was only 1 of those languages.

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Exactly. I grew up like many others in the Nort Seit being a bit snobby about the southside accent, only to find to my chagrin that once I left Chicago everyone could tell where I was from in seconds. I'd be like "but I don't have an accent!"

So it really depends - waves of immigrants have all contributed different words and different ways of adapting to the hybrid/bastardized form of English that the USA has created.

[odannyboi]

Originally Posted by jman07

Why is it that some people in Chicago have thick Chicago accents like cops and others dont? Is it because a lot of people mover there from other areas?

They are faking it. They also grow thick mustaches to further perpetuate the stereotype.

[quigboto]

Berlitz offers a language class in Chicago-ese.
Comes with a Bears sweater vest for free.