People who say Philadelphia is more like Jersey than it is like the rest of Pennsylvania (Lancaster: buy, taxes)

[Joe84323]

Originally Posted by austin2359

I don't know much about Jersey, but is their argument at all legitimate?

It seems to me that people in Philadelphia have the regular Pennsylvania accent (not the New York influenced Jersey accent) but metro Philadelphia of course is more dense.

"The regular Pennsylvania accent" WTH? What are you talking about? The typical PA accent is almost midwestern. And the "Jersey" accent is in your mind. Half of New Jersey sounds different from the other half.

No offense, but I don't think you know either state's accents well enough to have a concept on what you asked.

[cpomp]

There really is no such thing as a pennsylvania accent anyway.

[PhillyViaBoston]

James Carville was right when he said that Pennsylvania is two cities separated by Alabama.

So, yes, I'd say the greater Philadelphia area is more like New Jersey than it is like the huge Alabama-esque area you hit driving west before you reach greater Pittsburgh.

[Wisertime]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

How many of us even know what Pennsylvania is like? I don't meet many people in Philly who have ever been west of King of Prussia.

haha...that is so true...in some cases, never heard of surrounding towns and lived here all their life.

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

How many of us even know what Pennsylvania is like? I don't meet many people in Philly who have ever been west of King of Prussia.

Yep... 6hr drives to the " Burgh" are usually not on the menu unless you're visiting someone or going to school.. In 6hrs north or south you can hit VA, Del, B-More, DC, NYC, CN, Bos, & Allof Jersey. So why bother going west youngman??

[PhillyViaBoston]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

How many of us even know what Pennsylvania is like? I don't meet many people in Philly who have ever been west of King of Prussia.

I've had the "pleasure" of exploring Potter County in Pennsylvania (dubbed "God's Country. Untouched. Unspoiled. Untamed" by their Chamber of Commerce).

It's like a whole different country. Not necessarily bad, just not for me, and not at all like the greater Philadelphia area.

[WVUPharm2007]

Originally Posted by PhillyViaBoston

James Carville was right when he said that Pennsylvania is two cities separated by Alabama.

So, yes, I'd say the greater Philadelphia area is more like New Jersey than it is like the huge Alabama-esque area you hit driving west before you reach greater Pittsburgh.

Nothing in between the two cities is anything like Alabama. Carville needs to show me where the Amish of Alabama are. Or where I could get some great Cajun cuisine in Altoona. There is real, honest to God Americana in between the two cities you are missing.

[nybbler]

The suburbs of Philadelphia have a basically flat midwestern accent (but not word choice; no one says "pop" east of Harrisburg), but Philly itself has a distinctive accent. Philadelphia is its own thing, neither like central PA nor Pittsburgh nor North Jersey. It has more in common with North Jersey than, say, Lancaster, but that isn't saying much. Philadelphia also shares (some would say more than its share) the conservatism -- resistance to change, not the D vs. R meaning -- of the rest of PA.

[killakoolaide]

Originally Posted by nybbler

The suburbs of Philadelphia have a basically flat midwestern accent (but not word choice; no one says "pop" east of Harrisburg), but Philly itself has a distinctive accent. Philadelphia is its own thing, neither like central PA nor Pittsburgh nor North Jersey. It has more in common with North Jersey than, say, Lancaster, but that isn't saying much. Philadelphia also shares (some would say more than its share) the conservatism -- resistance to change, not the D vs. R meaning -- of the rest of PA.

Actually I've noticed that the accent is far more prominent in the suburbs these days than in the city itself, since the city is inhabited by immigrants and families that haven't lived in the region all that long relatively speaking. The exception is Northeast Philly, which is ground zero for the accent. When you go to places like the mainline, south Jersey, Delco there's a much higher percentage of people with a much longer lineage in the region, then say southwest or north philly, they are the descendents of the original inhabitants. Think about the Celebs with Philly accents, Bam margera( west Chester), Chris Matthews (Oreland, Somerton), Jimmy Pop of the bloodhoundgang(collegeville). Its an accent that is very distinct that originated in Philly and developed over hundreds of years. Most of the people living in Philly today are at most only a generation or two removed from some foreign country or the south. So in the suburbs its actually more prevalent than in the city and is anything but flat. The more educated people in general are better at masking it, Tina fey is a perfect example this. South Jersey has a very Philly accent as does suburban Philly, I can't speak for the rest of PA, because I don't know, but as far as accents go Philly and South Jersey are one in the same, doesn't really sound like the new yorkish north Jersey accent.

[Finger Laker]

I think it's more like south jersey is closer to Philly than it is to the rest of PA and north jersey is closer to NYC than it is the rest of NY or PA

some parts of south jersey could be a little more comparable to the more open areas immediately outside philly or even down into DE

however, it's hard to deny the influence that those 2 cities have on that state ..... you have a lot of people who either live in jersey & work in philly or vice versa

they are also really close to each other - you can reach most of NJ within 2 hours from philly ... that same two hours can get you to wilkes-barre/scanton or harrisburg