So what do you call these things in TN? (Memphis: sales, insurance)

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

New Englanders try to avoid all "r"s if at all possible.

Believe me. For 34 years I pahked my cah in Hahvahd yahd.

Well, when I was in New Hampshire and Maine, I thought those people sounded just like people I knew in Rochester and Syracuse meaning every er at the end of a word was pronounced, just like the way the word was spelled (you know, I was thinking they pronounce the words correctly). I've only been to Boston twice for work and about 100 years ago used to date someone from Mass, but used to vacation in NH every year and fish in the Syracuse, Watertown, Ithaca areas of NY. But, I think the people from Boston do not talk like the people in Maine or Upstate NY, for example, on the er at the end of a word issue, so I guess I shouldn't have lumped all of New England accents together. There is definitely a difference.

[hiknapster]

Well, there is a difference. Mainers say less "r"s than Mass, if that is possible. New Hampshire can be a mixed bag, mostly due to a few transplants. I guess it may have to do with where you were. Tourist areas may have some transplants in Maine, too. The few wealthy in Maine don't have a New England accent, either, but true Maine has a STRONG New England accent.

The only place that you will not hear a real New England accent is Vermont, western Mass. and a lot of Connecticut. There is a lot of bleed through from upper New York state to Vermont and western Mass. and Conn., too.

I guess that's the same reason you'll hear a lot of people from western New York that sound like they are from the mid-west.

Of course, this is generally speaking. I guess it is who you run into. You must have had the fortune of running into people that you could actually understand. After I moved out of New England, I had to change my accent so people could understand me.

[KC38506]

JMT, I've heard you talk about "Poke Sallet" festival in Gainesboro. Well, that's where the "poke" in "poke sallet" comes from. The "sallet" is Appalachian vernacular for "salad". You'd pick the wild greens ("sallet") and put them in a "poke" to carry home, hence the name "poke sallet".

And we ALWAYS call the shopping cart a buggy!

[chickadee]

Originally Posted by KC38506

JMT, I've heard you talk about "Poke Sallet" festival in Gainesboro. Well, that's where the "poke" in "poke sallet" comes from. The "sallet" is Appalachian vernacular for "salad". You'd pick the wild greens ("sallet") and put them in a "poke" to carry home, hence the name "poke sallet".

Actually, "poke" in poke salat refers to poke greens, or pokeweed, an old-time spring tonic. It is still picked and eaten in early spring in rural areas.

The plant is poisonous, but the young leaves can be eaten if cooked by changing the water twice.

Because I was curious, I once bought a can of poke greens to try. Once was enough!

For more information, do a search on "poke greens" or "pokeweed".

[surgteam]

Originally Posted by akm4

I order an unsweet. Iced tea , no sugar. If you like it hot, specify, even at breakfast! Soon you'll be drinking fruit tea. Trust me, go get one.

A grocery cart is a buggy.

Yes sir, no ma'am; VERY important! Don't worry, it quickly beomes habit.

"Bless your heart" has many meanings, much like aloha in Hawai'i.

Dumplings where I'm from were more like biscuits, but here they're more like homemade noodles. Intoxicating when done well, which is often.

Turnovers are fried pies.

Never heard of hot chicken until I moved here. Me like.

Instead of of asking, "Can you give me a ride?", my neighbor asked, "Can you carry me?" I was absolutely baffled

When school lets out at lunchtime, it was called a minimum day. No one here calls it that. It's early dismissal.

There are cheerleaders here with no teams. They cheer for the sake of cheering, a sport unto itself. These girls are not playing!! Serious business.

Did you know you can chicken-fry steak, chicken, venison, oh, lots of things! All with gravy, of course!

The YMCAs are some of the nicest gyms around, in stark contrast to their image on the West Coast.

Try the grits. Go on, try it!

Plural of y'all? ALL y'all!

Welcome!

One must also remember to have the proper pronunciation, espicially when asking directions:

Most cities ending in "VILLE" are pronounced "VUL", as in Knoxvul or Nashvul. There are exceptions, {Hendersonville, Andersonville} but go with VUL if not sure.

MARYVILLE is "mur-vul" {worked with a guy from CA that argued Maryville is named after a lady, and he said her name wasn't mury, well, it is here}.

Loo-e-vul is in Kentucky, loo-iss-vul is in TN (Louisville).

Sevierville is NOT see-ver-vil, it is sa-veer-vul.

Oh, yeah, don't forget the bless your (his, her) heart. One lady was sent to southern charm school, and was taught this rather than "D___ B____" {darn female dog}. Sir and ma'am are used for most people, but especially elders, and people you do (or should respect.

man, it's great to be back

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by surgteam

One must also remember to have the proper pronunciation, espicially when asking directions:

Most cities ending in "VILLE" are pronounced "VUL", as in Knoxvul or Nashvul. There are exceptions, {Hendersonville, Andersonville} but go with VUL if not sure.

MARYVILLE is "mur-vul" {worked with a guy from CA that argued Maryville is named after a lady, and he said her name wasn't mury, well, it is here}.

Loo-e-vul is in Kentucky, loo-iss-vul is in TN (Louisville).

Sevierville is NOT see-ver-vil, it is sa-veer-vul.

Oh, yeah, don't forget the bless your (his, her) heart. One lady was sent to southern charm school, and was taught this rather than "D___ B____" {darn female dog}. Sir and ma'am are used for most people, but especially elders, and people you do (or should respect.

man, it's great to be back

This is excellent! Before I moved I had the pronunciations all wrong, except that someone on the internet explained the Maryville pronunciation so I was good with that right out of the gate. Took me awhile to break the Sevier (it's Suhveer) habit.

It is also Oak RIDGE, not OAK Ridge. I just love it, too!

[AppalachianAngler]

Originally Posted by surgteam

One must also remember to have the proper pronunciation, espicially when asking directions:

Most cities ending in "VILLE" are pronounced "VUL", as in Knoxvul or Nashvul. There are exceptions, {Hendersonville, Andersonville} but go with VUL if not sure.

MARYVILLE is "mur-vul" {worked with a guy from CA that argued Maryville is named after a lady, and he said her name wasn't mury, well, it is here}.

Loo-e-vul is in Kentucky, loo-iss-vul is in TN (Louisville).

Sevierville is NOT see-ver-vil, it is sa-veer-vul.

Oh, yeah, don't forget the bless your (his, her) heart. One lady was sent to southern charm school, and was taught this rather than "D___ B____" {darn female dog}. Sir and ma'am are used for most people, but especially elders, and people you do (or should respect.

man, it's great to be back

Yep, I grew up in Greeneville (always pronounced it Green-vul). Well, out in the county (Greene county) there is a little place named Baileyton, but most of the locals pronounce it "Bell-ton"

[GatorMB]

I love this thread! When I first moved out of Florida (never had been out)about 15 years ago to Iowa It took me FOREVER to get used to *pop* It had always been soda to me. Then a few years later when we relocated again it took awhile to get used to *soda * again. It's funny, cause the other day I asked my hubby what he thought Tenn said. We are excited about the move comming up!!!!

[rubytue]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

It is also Oak RIDGE, not OAK Ridge. I just love it, too!

So THATS why it sounds so funny when outsiders pronounce the name of my home town. LOL I've always thought something seemed weird about it, but I couldn't put a finger on it.

Oh, and I grew up saying coke for everything. "Do you want a coke?" "Sure, what do you have?" "We have Sprite, Coke, and Mountain Dew."

Not so much linguistics, but since ya'll got into accents - When I went to school in VA, the northerners mostly picked on me about my a's, cause they were aye's. Gayme (game), sayme (same), etc. Another one is there is no pronuciation difference between pin and pen, tin and ten. And, when I say it, "what" rhymes with "squat" not "but."

Back to sayings, does anyone else say "do what?" (or, more accuratly "duwhut?") when asking someone to repeat themselves?

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by GatorMB

I love this thread! When I first moved out of Florida (never had been out)about 15 years ago to Iowa It took me FOREVER to get used to *pop* It had always been soda to me. Then a few years later when we relocated again it took awhile to get used to *soda * again. It's funny, cause the other day I asked my hubby what he thought Tenn said. We are excited about the move comming up!!!!

We miss you in Iowa today and will miss you more tomorrow.

Started late yesterday with rain, then thunderstorms (in Feb: This is Iowa!), then rain/sleet mix. Rain again this am, then heavy sleet. Back to rain (freezing now) and small, stinging sleet. Will turn to snow with 5-8" in central IA. Up to 11" up North.

Got a new client because of it. Someone had a lightning strike and their PC got zapped. On that note: If anyone reading this has a surge suppressor 2 years old or older - get a new one before the spring storms start. Back to the weather!

We've got about 1/4 to 1/2" of ice on our trees. Almost forgot wind. Estimate 40-50mph during and after the snow. Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!

I'll try for some pictures tomorrow.

Aren't you sorry you left?