Let's talk accent (Philadelphia, Montgomery: areas, kids, Jewish)

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by s1oozne

You can always, always tell somebody who grew up with it to somebody who copied it.

Why would anyone want to copy it? Only ones I know that do that are mimicking Rocky

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by s1oozne

Suburban people tend to put the emphasis on the exaggerated sounds, and their voices aren't as naturally deep as Philly people in general due to being softer, so they try to consciously talk a certain way and you can always tell.

Aside from deep,I've also noticed the city people's voices are more raspy...probably from talking so loud all the time and also all the pollution and everyone smoking...

[s1oozne]

Originally Posted by Truth11

Why would anyone want to copy it? Only ones I know that do that are mimicking Rocky

Locally, they copy it to sound "Philly". Nationally, they copy it to sound "urban". Most people who copy it don't even realize they're copying it. They're just trying to sound urban, sound tough, whatever, and so they intentionally do the same things that Philly people do naturally, and it comes out like a suburban, Montgomery County type of "Philly" accent.

Originally Posted by Truth11

Aside from deep,I've also noticed the city people's voices are more raspy...probably from talking so loud all the time and also all the pollution and everyone smoking...

Gravelly, yeah. It's not the same as the way somebody's voice gets from smoking. Smokers have weak vocal chords, whereas Philly people have very strong ones.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Truth11

Uhh no. I don't know what Kensington 'types' speak,but I'm referring more to south Philly,where I lived for 4 years.

Same principle applies.

[s1oozne]

He said they were from Delco, right? Well there's a ton of actually Irish people in Delco (though a lot moved back during the Celtic Tiger boom) and kids who are first generation Americans with Irish parents. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by s1oozne

Gravelly, yeah. It's not the same as the way somebody's voice gets from smoking. Smokers have weak vocal chords, whereas Philly people have very strong ones.

Oh they have strong ones alright...probably comes from yelling to each other down the street when they could just talk when they're next to each other like civil people But they do live on cigarettes,so they probably just defy genetics;

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

Same principle applies.

What principle? Are you implying I 'hang' around those types? Far from it,it couldn't be more apparent how standoffish I am to those people. But you can't completely avoid them and live in a bubble,unless that's what you do;

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Truth11

What principle? Are you implying I 'hang' around those types? Far from it,it couldn't be more apparent how standoffish I am to those people. But you can't completely avoid them and live in a bubble,unless that's what you do;

I don't know or care what you do. I don't live in a bubble, but I do mostly hang around educated, white collar professional types. The more working class/blue collar people I do spend time with have urban Philly accents, but not a one says "noight."

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

The more working class/blue collar people I do spend time with have urban Philly accents, but not a one says "noight."

Well go hang around 2nd St for awhile...and open your ears

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Truth11

Well go hang around 2nd St for awhile...and open your ears

That was around my (South Philly Jewish) grandfather's hood. Most definitely not a "noighter," nor were his South Philly Italian friends. The Fairmount Irish I know aren't noighters either, but South Philly is a special place, so maybe their residents of Irish descent buck the trend. I'll take a look and let you know.