How Much Northeasterners Pick up the Southern Attitude and Southern Accent (Charlotte: transplants, school) - City-Data Forum

NomadicRaider · 05-30-2007, 01:40 AM

I've got a quick question with all the people from NYand NorthEast moving down south,how many of them pick up the accent and the traditional down south customs.In other words can people tell you from up north just by talking to them.

mcmartian · 05-30-2007, 02:55 AM

probably depends on how long you've been southern and how far south you went.

I have a SIL in virginia for 6 years and I haven't noticed a change in her voice. But my SIL in texas who's been there for 15 years has a slight southern accent and when she says certain words a strong accent.

but that's a northern perception of their voices. you'd have to ask a southerner if they can still detect the "yankee" voice. lol

I can tell you that the longer you stay in an area, unless you cut yourself off from people, the more you'll pick up local customs.

NC man · 05-30-2007, 04:43 AM

I would say that adults that have moved here do not pickup the accent even some that have been here 25 plus years. It seems this is picked up in early ages in school but not in older people. They will pick up catch phrases though like ya all but its with a northern accent. The transplants children will get our southern draw some quicker depending on the areas they live in(rural verses metro). It is very easy to tell who is from here and who is not.The boston and NY, nj accents. midwest ect.

DaBears · 05-30-2007, 04:50 AM

hubby is from NY and the only time I can hear his accent is on the phone...in person i do not hear it...he has been here since 99....i moved from WI to FLA in 97 and got it more then....(now i get asked from other wisconsinites where I am from....)

groove1 · 05-30-2007, 07:26 AM

I work with a woman who has lived in Lancaster Co. for 30+ years (long before everyone else moved there) and she moved from NJ. She still has a very strong NJ accent. I haven't picked up the accent, but some of the customs. Like eating fried pickles at the Penguin in Charlotte.

Wanna Leave Penciltucky · 05-30-2007, 07:47 AM

I never picked up an accent in NC. I always had manners so that was no change. But I did start saying yall. It is just the local colloquialism.

MaimounaKande · 05-30-2007, 08:25 AM

I think the only adults who pick up the accent are trying really hard to pick it up...and they probably don't get it right.

Ever notice how adults from abroad (even places wehre English is spoken--Australia, New Zealand, UK, etc) have their accents 30+ years after moving to the US? What you get as a child is what you keep.

NYer · 05-30-2007, 08:52 AM

My 12, 8 year old & 5 year old kids still sound northern but it has softened. They say yes & no ma'am... picked that up in school.
My cousins who moved here 15 years ago, as adults, still sound northern but speak more slowly. They both married southerners! My kids may, too... I guess it will depend a lot on where they go to college.

lodilynn · 05-31-2007, 12:33 AM

god yes you can tell someone from NY in the South. That's not bad, but come on people, you can tell.

DaBears · 05-31-2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaimounaKande

Ever notice how adults from abroad (even places wehre English is spoken--Australia, New Zealand, UK, etc) have their accents 30+ years after moving to the US? What you get as a child is what you keep.

i second that too...have an english friend who has been here 10+ years & she still has her strong accent(same goes for 2 other english people i know)