New York Accent (Yonkers, Erin: rating, areas, cities)

[robertpolyglot]

I grew up in LA in an Italian household. Half of our friends were from Italy and the other half from the "tri-state" area. In less than 10 seconds after the "tri-state" people opened their mouths, you knew they were from within 75 miles of NYC. Even if they didn't use any of the "give away" words (water, daughter, swear, thought, Florida, etc.), the inflection and tone also say N-E-W Y-O-R-K. But, you know what, it's my favorite accent because it's the most "real" - it says "salt of the earth," no sugarcoating here.

[scatman]

Yes, I have a New York accent. Brooklynese, at that, since I grew up in BK. If you are born and raised, people can spot it a mile away.

For example, I can tell if an African-American is originally from New York or not. Nine times out of 10, the accent would be a dead giveaway. I was watching the Salt-N-Pepa show, and their NYC voices, especially Pep's, was heavy!

Also, I went to college and met Puerto Ricans from Puerto Rico. That's the first time I ever distinguished someone who lived on the Island v. a Nuyorican.

I've also been to Italy, and Italians in Rome and Italians in New York are like night and day when it comes to accents!

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by scatman

Yes, I have a New York accent. Brooklynese, at that, since I grew up in BK. If you are born and raised, people can spot it a mile away.
I've also been to Italy, and Italians in Rome and Italians in New York are like night and day when it comes to accents!

What's hilarious is that my uncle in Teaneck, NJ, a Sicilian immigrant, speaks broken English like an Italian would.... and with a NY accent. It's pretty funny, but he's a mess to begin with.

[JiminCT]

Which New York? The New Yawk? or the Labaaayt Blue of Buffalo and Rotfester?

[SilkCity0416]

Originally Posted by Ogden Assassin

What accent does Charles Rangel have? What accent does Floyd Patterson have? What accent does Dominic Adams have? What accent does Wendy Williams have?

P.S. I'm sorry if the truth gets in the way of your narrative about the Great Migration, the Color Purple and the minister

Oh, God. I had to go back to this. Ogden, people like you all too PC and hypersensative on this forum. Face it: Blacks in NYC don't have the classic "New York Accent" Rangel doesn't sound like Joe Pesci, Floyd Patterson doesn't sound like Robert De Niro, Wendy Williams sure as hell doesn't sound like Marisa Tomei. THESE people (I named) have an NY accent.

As for the second part: What are you talking about???

[Carbro]

Charlie Rangel's speech is not typical of black New Yorkers. He grew up in what was then a primarily Jewish section of Harlem, and he sounds it. Yikes! Sometimes when he's on tv, close your eyes and just listen. Listen.

[JiminCT]

Rangel sounds like someones Uncle Mort or Mel..lol..

[CNG]

Originally Posted by SilkCity0416

Ogden, people like you all too PC and hypersensative on this forum.

Can someone tell me where the [-] Rate this post negatively button is?

[Carbro]

Just noticed something slightly amiss in the poll. Shouldn't our options be "Yeah" and "Nah"?

[Ogden Assassin]

Originally Posted by SilkCity0416

Oh, God. I had to go back to this. Ogden, people like you all too PC and hypersensative on this forum. Face it: Blacks in NYC don't have the classic "New York Accent" Rangel doesn't sound like Joe Pesci, Floyd Patterson doesn't sound like Robert De Niro, Wendy Williams sure as hell doesn't sound like Marisa Tomei. THESE people (I named) have an NY accent.

As for the second part: What are you talking about???

Silk, would be nice if your comparisons were analgous. Rangel was born in 1930, Patterson in 1934. Patterson was raised in Brooklyn, Rangel in St. Thomas Parish, Harlem.

Joe Pesci, on the other hand, was born and raised in Newark's North Ward. Bob DeNiro was raised by a Bohemian mother in what was then the Lower West Side. Both were born in 1943.

Fairer comparisons would have been to compare Rangel's accent with Richie Guerin or to compare Patterson's with Billy Cunningham's or Gus Alferi's.