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^ I think black people have an easier time distinguishing accents of other black people, while white people have an easier time distinguishing accents of white people. I know white people who don't even realize that there are different regional accents among African Americans. They think they all have the same accent, more or less
The reason why I find it surprising is that black northerners generally have southern family roots, whereas white northerners generally do not. For black America there is an obvious connection between North and South; for white America there is not.
Aside from the unique enclaves like New Orleans or Charleston, I can often make distinctions between the Upper South twang and the Lower South drawl.
You always hear people say that this person has a "(insert city/state) accent", but that never made sense to me because not every two people from the same city ever sound exactly alike. I know people who grew up on the same block as me, and we don't all have the same accent.
Another place that I thought of would be California. I really haven't heard an accent out there. There were ethnic accents of course in the cities, but were not exclusive to California. I would have to say that out of anywhere I can't really pick out much of an accent from Cali (especially SoCal)
Another place that I thought of would be California. I really haven't heard an accent out there. There were ethnic accents of course in the cities, but were not exclusive to California. I would have to say that out of anywhere I can't really pick out much of an accent from Cali (especially SoCal)
I agree, but some people get hung up on the lack of distinction between "cot" and "caught". I think Pittsburgh is the same as Cali in this respect, though, so that's probably why you don't hear it.
south philly italians sound a lot like the jersey/bronx/brooklyn/ct italians
As a whole the Philly accent (especially Northeast/Port Richmond/Kensington/Fishtown and outlying suburbs) stands out of me A LOT, so strange! I think people expect a Northeastern accent like NYC/north jersey, and they get some strange midatlantic hybrid. The first time I heard someone say "Can I have a can"(of soda) I just stared at them blankly because I didn't understand. Now I find myself doing that weird things with vowels(especially 'Oh' sounds, like in Poke.)
As a whole, accents on the upper half of the East Coast are very distinct to my ear - Maine is very different from Mass/Boston which is very different from NYC/North Jersey, which is very different from Philly/South Jersey. I've lived on the east coast my entire life though and have a very neutral accent and ear though - For the life of me I can't discern any accents in the midwest, and I just love hearing Southerners talk so much that I'm too smitten to identify the finer points of it's origins. I'm a city girl, but those soft-spoken boys with a hint of a southern drawl just make me melt lol.
I am not even aware of regional difference in accents on the West Coast - I always thought of people out there having very neutral accents, much like my own.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I can distinguish between most accents but I find the so-called Philly accent not all that distinctive. To me Boston is pretty much the same as Eastern New England as well.
I can distinguish between most accents but I find the so-called Philly accent not all that distinctive. To me Boston is pretty much the same as Eastern New England as well.
So you telling me this does not sound distinctive. The Philly accent
Are Italian philadelphians they only people with an accent? They seems to be the only nationality used when talking about a philly accent.
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