Lehigh Valley Accent.. how would you describe it? (Allentown, Lancaster: employment, to buy)

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by Jonnno

To me, the LV accent for those born and raised there is heavily patterned on the Pa. Dutch accent found in rural Lehigh, Berks and Lancaster Counties, Lebanon, etc. It is nothing like a NYC or Philly accent. Over time however, I suspect the native LV accent will slowly fade away due to the heavy migration of people into the LV from New York, New Jersey, even Puerto Rico.

I agree with this. There's a PA dutch accent, but that's not especially a Lehigh Valley accent. I know very few people under age 80 that have that anymore. I doubt a unique accent will evolve, even with the influx of people from NYC/NJ or Puerto Rico. Most people that I know that move here lose their accent, or at least their kids never pick it up.

[PacoMartin]

It is amazing how much traditional accents are under assault. I remember reading that Canadian English is the sole first language, of approximately 57% of Canadians.

I think , wow, there are almost 43% of Canadians that did not grow up speaking Canadian Englsh. Now about half of them speak Canadian French. but the other half grew up speaking something else.

[SarasotaBound1]

Not to spoil the fun for the Puerto Ricans, but I bet there are more Dominicans in Allentown now days. I agree with the assessment is pretty generic here, probably due to the mix of cultures. I'd say you can't tell the difference between New York and Philly.

[simshar73]

I am not originally from the LV but I have lived here for years. My accent does not seem to have become diluted in any way since I came here (I am always told I have an accent - it is basically East End London and NYC). I used to hear Pa Dutch in Allentown and Emmaus in the 1970s - but not any more. I can also remember hearing people in Bethlehem in the 70s using the term "youse" (as in "youse guys"). But I haven't heard anyone use that term since the 70s (possible NYC influence). Now the accent (with the exception of Hispanic accents and other minority groups) seems to be becoming increasingly "generic". Even in NYC and London only the older people have the accents that made those two cities dialect unique. Obviously I am one of the older people. My accent is not going anywhere.

[wharton]

Originally Posted by Jonnno

To me, the LV accent for those born and raised there is heavily patterned on the Pa. Dutch accent found in rural Lehigh, Berks and Lancaster Counties, Lebanon, etc. It is nothing like a NYC or Philly accent. Over time however, I suspect the native LV accent will slowly fade away due to the heavy migration of people into the LV from New York, New Jersey, even Puerto Rico.

I moved to the LV in the late 60s as a kid, then spent the next two decades living there, and an additional 25 years employed there, with hundreds of locals, mostly men, some with deep ties to the PA German culture.

IMHO, you comment is spot on for 40-50 years ago, but no longer true. The influence is long gone for 95% of LV residents, including the accent. My step father was born into a PA. Dutch speaking family that was so hard core that his mom only read her native language, and his parents only spoke PA. Dutch to each other. He left for the military in the early 1960s, had no interest in the dutch culture in the least, disdain perhaps. He never learned a word of it, and died sounding like he had for all his adult years, like a nondescript mid-westerner.

Many of the men I worked with in the LV building trades were much older than me, I would say that of these folks, all in the 60s to 90s by now, at least 80% lacked any overt accent as adults. OTOH, most of my family was centered on the Reading area, and many of the cousins I grew up with had a strong local accent, which was influenced by both the Philly and PA Dutch inputs. When it comes to the Philly region, I really find it interesting, as my observations have always been that the women tend to embrace the local accent far more that the men. I've know one family for decades, when the mom and one daughter sounded straight out of NE Philly, and the other daughter, dad, and son could of been from Des Moines, LOL.

[Kefir King]

I am long before the Puerto Rican invasion but the accent I remember from the 50's and 60's was a tendency to lilt every sentence upward with the final syllable.

And the ubiquitous "say?" meaning "I understand."

It took me a while to beat away this accent and it's accompanying Pennslyvania-Dutchisms from my speech.

[Kefir King]

I am long before the Puerto Rican invasion but the accent I remember from the 50's and 60's wqas a tendency to lilt every sentence upward with the final syllable.

And the ubiquitous "say?" meaning "I understand."

It took me a while to beat this accent and it's accompanying Pennslyvania-Dutchisms from my speech.

[jerseygone]

IDK, the last time I spoke to folks in the ABE area, the “accent” was heavily influenced by maybe the Bronx, Brooklyn or Paterson, NJ origins of the speakers.

[Tweb66]

Yeah, the influx of people has changed it. My parents though are OG LV and there isn't a strong accent but it does bend towards PA Dutch. Its specific phrasing that sets its apart. The over use of the word "anymore" is the tell.

[loose cannon]

Originally Posted by Tweb66

Yeah, the influx of people has changed it. My parents though are OG LV and there isn't a strong accent but it does bend towards PA Dutch. Its specific phrasing that sets its apart. The over use of the word "anymore" is the tell.

I agree about "anymore" and i cringe when i hear it or read on FB. Another one is "what not."