Is D.C. really the Northeast? (neighborhood, area, cities)

[jp646]

Do you think Washington, D.C. is really the northeast or is it too "borderline South" to be considered a "Northeastern city"?

[jp646]

In my opinion, its not in the Northeast. Maybe its not officially "the south" by location, climate, or culture, but if you ask anyone in NYC or Boston if D.C. is considered a Northeastern city, they'll look at you like your crazy. The culture is just much different than what you see up year. The accents start to become more "southern" in the D.C. area and the winters are significantly shorter than NY, NJ, CT, MA, etc. a.k.a. the "real northeast states".

[Infamous92]

I don't really use the term "Northeast", I divide it into New England & Mid-Atlantic.


DC is a Mid-Atlantic city, so is Baltimore, Philadelphia & New York City.

The Mid-Atlantic is a little Southern but the majority of it is Northern.

You could even hear it in the speech in Mid-Atlantic cities that it draws influence from both the North & South.

[jp646]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

DC is a Mid-Atlantic city, so is Baltimore, Philadelphia & New York City.

The Mid-Atlantic is a little Southern but the majority is Northern.

You could even hear it in the speech in Mid-Atlantic cities that it draws influence from both the North & South.

Although New Yorkers and people from NJ don't seem to have a trace of "the south" in their accents. I feel that once you hit MD your in the process of crossing the border, and anything below that is SOUTH. Atleast speaking from someone from the North.

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by jp646

Although New Yorkers and people from NJ don't seem to have a trace of "the south" in their accents. I feel that once you hit MD your in the process of crossing the border, and anything below that is SOUTH. Atleast speaking from someone from the North.

I agree, even in NY/NJ you can hear the Southern a little (not in everybody though), I hear words like "ain't", "gon" (gonna), etc. but in a different accent or a mixed New York/Southern accent.

[jp646]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

I agree, even in NY/NJ you can hear the Southern a little (not in everybody though), I hear words like "ain't", "gon" (gonna), etc. but in a different accent or a mixed New York/Southern accent.

"ain't" isnt southern, its slang. people from Mass. say "aint" too (loads of people). Its just poor english, not a regional thing.

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by jp646

"ain't" isnt southern, its slang. people from Mass. say "aint" too (loads of people). Its just poor english, not a regional thing.

I was just listing stuff, as someone who has family in both the South and the North I could hear it in the way people in the Mid-Atlantic talk (DC/MD/VA is more extreme and NY/NJ/PA is less extreme), a lot of people can't really pick it up though, its different from people out West talk.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Infamous92

I agree, even in NY/NJ you can hear the Southern a little (not in everybody though), I hear words like "ain't", "gon" (gonna), etc. but in a different accent or a mixed New York/Southern accent.

My parents said those things and they were born in 1920. It has many origins in the Irish, Italian, etc., immigrant communities of NYC. My family, and those I knew in the neighborhood, were 1st and 2nd generation Americans. The had absolutely NO history with the South. If you want me to blunt about, it is more BROOKLYN slang than anything else.

It AIN'T the South. It has more to do with immigrant cultures and ok, EDUCATION. No, DC isn't the South. What is next? Maine and Alaska will have southern influences too?

[Boston14]

I thought it was always Mid Atlantic I said no

[Infamous92]

Originally Posted by TANaples

My parents said those things and they were born in 1920. It has many origins in the Irish, Italian, etc., immigrant communities of NYC. My family, and those I knew in the neighborhood, were 1st and 2nd generation Americans. The had absolutely NO history with the South. If you want me to blunt about, it is more BROOKLYN slang than anything else.

It AIN'T the South. It has more to do with immigrant cultures and ok, EDUCATION. No, DC isn't the South. What is next? Maine and Alaska will have southern influences too?

Its not even really that its how some sentences are put together, then not everyone in NY talks like that, I could hear the Southern influence in some NYers speech.