South Shore town with least chance of picking up Accent (Boston: hotel, school)

[HS_DUDE]

Originally Posted by Bublegum

I'm amazed by the types of things people are offended by.

Anyway, HS_DUDE, you are completely wrong. Children can pick up local accents all the way up until their teens. After the age of 15-16, it is impossible to pick up a perfect local accent. Here is my source: http://inet.dpb.dpu.dk/infodok/sprog...6/Lund-eng.PDF

Is "South Shore" a new language? Did you even read the first sentence of your "source"?

Perhaps it was my bad assuming that your kids already spoke english.

Assuming that they don't speak english, then yes I could see that they could pick up a "south shore" accent.

[Bublegum]

Originally Posted by HS_DUDE

Is "South Shore" a new language? Did you even read the first sentence of your "source"?

Perhaps it was my bad assuming that your kids already spoke english.

Assuming that they don't speak english, then yes I could see that they could pick up a "south shore" accent.

HS_DUDE, what are you talking about? The abstract of my source deals with learning a second language, not the first.

[Bublegum]

Originally Posted by jfitt

Bublegum (? spelling typo usually bubble has two b's-- well at least in MA) I totally agree with Holden 125. If you don't want your kids to have an accent perhaps you can home school them or send them to one of the local prep schools. For what it is worth, I have a degree from "Hah-vid", and I love my Boston accent!

Home schooling is not an option, and prep schools are way to expensive. Hence, we are trying to find a town with decent schools where hopefully the accent isn't prevalent.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Bublegum

HS_DUDE, what are you talking about? The abstract of my source deals with learning a second language, not the first.

Precisely. That's why it's not a relevant source for whether native English speakers will pick up a local accent, in English, at 15.

[Bublegum]

Originally Posted by NEOhioBound

I think picking up an accent would be the least of my concerns. How about worrying about learning to get along with others, listening to the teachers, completing homework on time, getting good grades and staying out of fights. If they "worst" they do is pick up an accent, then you have good kids and good parenting skills

I'm not worried about any of that. I'm a good parent, so I can control much of that to an extent. Friends are a big influence on the manner of speaking that kids have.

[Beachcomber4]

Hingham is a good choice as is Duxbury or Cohasset. Good schools, less prevalent accent. The less your kids hear it, the less likely they are to pick it up. You kids might still "catch" it so be sure to correct them. You can also send them to a speech therapist if you find it becomes a problem, too big for you to deal with.

In all honesty, many people I knew growing up have lost their accent- well at least until they have a few drinks and then it resurfaces. I'm not sure if the change was made conciously or they just adapted as they were educated or employed with people who did not have it. I find that people with a Boston accent are able to turn it off easily where as people who try to mimic the Boston accent come across sounding like idiots and totally overdo it. I don't mind the accent except the really heavy ones ala "Boston Rob" from Survivor, which I agree, is grating.

[Bublegum]

Originally Posted by holden125

Precisely. That's why it's not a relevant source for whether native English speakers will pick up a local accent, in English, at 15.

Maybe I was a little hasty in picking sources, but it's a well known fact that various sources influence a child's way of speaking. Parents and friends influence the way a child speaks. After a certain age (but not before 5 as HS_DUDE suggested), it is much harder to lose an accent, and your way of speaking has pretty much been set. I'll try to find a better source if I have time.

[Beachcomber4]

Bublegum- where are you originally from and where do you currently live. Maybe you have an accent and the Boston accent is amplified to you because it sounds so different from what you are accustomed to?

[baystater]

AActually my sister and I don't have the "south shore accent" which is a lighter version of the Boston/Holbrook/Quincy accent but my brother does. I don't know why that is, but it is.

I can say that I really don't hear the accent that much in Cohassett, Hingham, Duxbury, Scituate and a lot of the parts of Plymouth. I do hear more of the accent in my hometown of Marshfield. As well as Hull, Rockland, Hanson/Halifax, and Whitman. At least that is my observation.

As for accents in general. As far as I'm concerned the Boston accent is about 100 better than the Staten Island accent. Every time I hear it is just drives me crazy. But that's just me.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by baystater

A

I can say that I really don't hear the accent that much in Cohassett, Hingham, Duxbury, Scituate and a lot of the parts of Plymouth. I do hear more of the accent in my hometown of Marshfield. As well as Hull, Rockland, Hanson/Halifax, and Whitman. At least that is my observation.

As for accents in general. As far as I'm concerned the Boston accent is about 100 better than the Staten Island accent. Every time I hear it is just drives me crazy. But that's just me.

Great observations The accent is definitely more prevalent in blue collar communities.

My only disagreement is Plymouth as in some parts, it's really really strong. My husband worked in Plymouth at one time and he would come home with "Plymouthisms" - his favorite is when he asked a young woman in his office to do something, her response was "On it like a hawnet" (hornet). Pretty funny.