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I was quite disappointed to feel a sort of "lacking" of the southern people when our family visited there. Though I DID get a friendly greeting and enjoyed the atmosphere of the place, I was expecting to hear a LOT of distinctly different "southern" accent. Didn't really get that. Is it because of all of the transplants or have I just not seen enough of the place yet? Or is NC in a different "category" that is considered more "eastern" or ???? I know SO LITTLE of the place... and want to know as much as possible! Please forgive my ignorance.
I've lived all over the Southeast. NC is definitely less Southern-sounding than the more Southern states, but if you get out of the Triangle, you'll hear the accent.
come visit old Raleigh proper. I promise that you will hear plenty of classic north carolina accents. Most every person in my social circle grew up in Raleigh or in eastern NC if not the south. For better or worse, southerners stick together like a pig in ****. It is a complete myth that the natives are gone. There is still a southern Raleigh. You just have to know where to look.
I agree with Uncletupelo. Most natives still say y'all. What part of town did you visit? Because if it was western Cary or several of the newer areas in North Raleigh, I doubt you'd hear much of the true Raleigh accent, which differs significantly from what you hear in the mountains versus the outer Banks versus the southern NC coast.
Urban areas attract outsiders so this is why you didnt hear that many because you was in area that is high in transplants.
Go to Rodanthe to hear how the OBX carolinians speak go to Wilson to hear how eastern Carolinians speak. Head down to either Siler City , Greensboro, or Winston to hear how they speak.
Go Lincolnton to hear how the foothills speak.
Go to Maggie Valley to hear some Applachian. You will find pockets of it still in the triangle area though.
All the above have similar words just the diction of them is different.
As a newcomer, I hope it's okay that I've appropriated "y'all." It's very handy, and a lot less clunky than "you guys." English doesn't have a plural "you," such as "ustedes" in Spanish. "Y'all" is as close as it gets, and I like it.
There are very few native North Carolina's in the Raleigh area. I grew up in Harnett County, just south of here, and I have a strong accent! (no reason denying it). But I have several friends who grew up in Raleigh, and their accents are not as strong as mine, or maybe just different. If you venture out to Johnston County/Harnett County, you will hear strong Southern accents.
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