Let's talk accent (Lancaster: living in, food, roommates)

[LASNP]

I grew up in North Jersey, in the suburbs of NYC (Bergen County). When I moved to South Jersey and got a job in Philly, I felt like I was hearing people from another planet. The pronunciation of "home" and "hoagie" just about made my ears roll up. How could "home" have 2 syllables? And what was with that "attytood" word? And where was "Markit Shtreet?".

To be fair, my North Jersey accent probably made my co-workers wish they could roll up their ears up, too. I said "tawk" and "cawffee", but they weren't pronounced like I heard anyone in Philly pronounce them. And I said "bad" in that awful way. You know, the way that requires you to tighten up the muscles in one cheek and show some teeth as you pull your lip toward your cheek?

Eventually, I lost a lot of my Nawth Jersey accent and picked up some Philadelphia-isms. 30 years on, I guess my speech is now some strange hybrid. When I am tired, though, I sometimes slip back into tawkin' about bad chawklit.

[Truth11]

Originally Posted by LASNP

I grew up in North Jersey, in the suburbs of NYC (Bergen County). When I moved to South Jersey and got a job in Philly, I felt like I was hearing people from another planet. The pronunciation of "home" and "hoagie" just about made my ears roll up. How could "home" have 2 syllables? And what was with that "attytood" word? And where was "Markit Shtreet?".

To be fair, my North Jersey accent probably made my co-workers wish they could roll up their ears up, too. I said "tawk" and "cawffee", but they weren't pronounced like I heard anyone in Philly pronounce them. And I said "bad" in that awful way. You know, the way that requires you to tighten up the muscles in one cheek and show some teeth as you pull your lip toward your cheek?

Eventually, I lost a lot of my Nawth Jersey accent and picked up some Philadelphia-isms. 30 years on, I guess my speech is now some strange hybrid. When I am tired, though, I sometimes slip back into tawkin' about bad chawklit.

Never cave in I've been in Philly too long but sometimes I even start slipping into a Brooklyn accent when they especially get on my nerves

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by LASNP

I grew up in North Jersey, in the suburbs of NYC (Bergen County). When I moved to South Jersey and got a job in Philly, I felt like I was hearing people from another planet. The pronunciation of "home" and "hoagie" just about made my ears roll up. How could "home" have 2 syllables? And what was with that "attytood" word? And where was "Markit Shtreet?".

To be fair, my North Jersey accent probably made my co-workers wish they could roll up their ears up, too. I said "tawk" and "cawffee", but they weren't pronounced like I heard anyone in Philly pronounce them. And I said "bad" in that awful way. You know, the way that requires you to tighten up the muscles in one cheek and show some teeth as you pull your lip toward your cheek?

Eventually, I lost a lot of my Nawth Jersey accent and picked up some Philadelphia-isms. 30 years on, I guess my speech is now some strange hybrid. When I am tired, though, I sometimes slip back into tawkin' about bad chawklit.

Yes, I do remember that the New Yorkers say "chawklit". Not sure what you mean by your pronunciation of "bad" -- what's it rhyme with? Not all Philly people say "atty-tood" or "Iggles" -- I do believe I pronounce them correctly...lol.

[LASNP]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Yes, I do remember that the New Yorkers say "chawklit". Not sure what you mean by your pronunciation of "bad" -- what's it rhyme with? Not all Philly people say "atty-tood" or "Iggles" -- I do believe I pronounce them correctly...lol.

Well, "bad" rhymes with sad, mad and glad. LOL The closest I can come to how the "a" in "bad" sounds is the way the "ai" sounds in "air".

No, not everyone said atty-tood, but enough did that I felt I had moved far, far away from my home turf.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by LASNP

Well, "bad" rhymes with sad, mad and glad. LOL The closest I can come to how the "a" in "bad" sounds is the way the "ai" sounds in "air".

No, not everyone said atty-tood, but enough did that I felt I had moved far, far away from my home turf.

in the NE in general accents can change rather dramatically in only a short distance

[BTA88]

Originally Posted by LASNP

Well, "bad" rhymes with sad, mad and glad. LOL

I say them all the same as well, but that still may not be the same way you say them.. I'm interested by this.

Have you been here long enough for anyone to wish you a "mary" Christmas?

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by BTA88

I say them all the same as well, but that still may not be the same way you say them.. I'm interested by this.

Have you been here long enough for anyone to wish you a "mary" Christmas?

No one in Philly says "Mary" Christmas -- it's "Murr-ey".

LASNP, yes, I know how we in Philly pronounce "bad", I thought you were referring to yourself and your NY accent....wasn't sure what you meant.

[BTA88]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

No one in Philly says "Mary" Christmas -- it's "Murr-ey".

Must have had my wires crossed when I wrote that. I spend so much time being careful about how I say things, sometimes I forget what I sounded like before I started my career.

[drive carephilly]

Whenever people tell me to have a "Mary Christmas" I just wanna say "no, I'm gonna go with Jesus".


Mary, marry, merry = not the same! - YouTube

[michgc]

How about not pronouncing the "t's" in words such as in mitten and kitten? When I went away to college, my roommates had a lot of fun with my prononciation of those words. I always thought it was my "Philly" accent. Do others do this?