Why do Texans talk so funny? (Alamo, Santa Fe: food, title, friendly)

[car957]

I go to New Mexico for a number of reasons:

1) Hatch chilis and the food. I love blue corn tortillas.
2) Friendly, laid back people who know I respect the land and the culture
3) The San Juan River - we in Austin have Town Lake - it's nice but its not the San Juan.
4) Work at Los Alamos National Labs (I can't talk about it).

Cathy, it's always the stupid yankees who find us.

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Well, one has to remember that you are from the Midwest, and are no New Mexican! So, to Midwesterners (especially those like you that are from the more northern part), Texans probably do sound funny.

I've been in NM for almost two years, and I have yet to have anybody comment on my accent except for one stupid damn Yankee from CT.

Yeah, but I have lived in NM so long I have completely lost my Fargo-esque accent. Minnesotans sound funny to me now too. Not as funny as Texans, but pretty close.

[Pontificator]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

Yeah, but I have lived in NM so long I have completely lost my Fargo-esque accent. Minnesotans sound funny to me now too. Not as funny as Texans, but pretty close.

Uffda! You have clearly overcome.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

Yeah, but I have lived in NM so long I have completely lost my Fargo-esque accent. Minnesotans sound funny to me now too. Not as funny as Texans, but pretty close.

Would you even know all of the Texas accents if you heard them?

I'm talking native Texans who have lived in one area most of their lives.

Someone from El Paso and even other parts of West Texas is not going to sound like someone who spent their lives in East Texas. Someone raised in the upper Panhandle will also not sound like someone from East Texas OR South Texas.

Most of the people I have met here are from the Midwest. Neither they nor any of the native New Mexicans have any trouble understanding Texans, as far as I know.

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by Pontificator

Uffda! You have clearly overcome.

Ya sure, you betcha!

[edubya]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

Why do you all (no, not y'all) talk so funny? Just wondering, because so many of you seem to enjoy coming over here to vacation in New Mexico, and it would help if I could understand you all.

You really need a linguist to give you a proper answer to your question. The various Texas accents and grammar/syntax variations have their roots in a wide variety of influences, from the original languages of her settlers to the kind of work people have done in different parts of the state.

Incidentally, whether you like it or not, everyone has an accent. And everyone sounds funny to someone, somewhere.

[LQQKOUT]

It's a culture, don't like it don't speak to us. We'll go down yonder and spend our money elsewhere.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by Proud Rowlett Owner

It's a culture, don't like it don't speak to us. We'll go down yonder and spend our money elsewhere.

And considering we are one of the few states left with money to spend..........ya'll funny talking NewMexicanos better be nice to us you hear?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Watered down Texian - Okie accent - Bakersfield, and even the odd patch of El Cerrito (that's El CeRIIIIIIIIto) and Albany (no, not Awlllllbany, like people from NY state say it, Ayalbunny ... the proper way to say it!) - LOL!

[Canine*Castle]

I went to my great-niece's middle school graduation today. She gave the benediction and I noticed she does not have one bit of an accent. She is a native Texan as are her parents. The valedictorian, salutatorian, and the opening prayer student didn't have accents either. They are all natives as are their parents. This is in rural Texas, so it is a good question to try to understand why some develop accents and some do not. Actually, I was quite surprised today when I didn't hear accents in any of the kids that spoke, but I only mentioned above the ones I know are natives from natives. I don't know anything about the others who spoke.