Our accents. (Norfolk, Richmond, Arlington: transplants, neighborhood, school)

[saganista]

Another Take: Everyone does indeed speak one dialect or another. Even if it is the accepted, normative dialect, it is still a pattern of speech that is common to a group of people, and that's all a dialect really is. The controls for dialect selection, however, are firmly in the hands of the speaker. People tend, quite actively, to speak the way those they admire do, or the way those they want to be identified with or accepted by do. Outside influences such as television have almost no effect on dialect selection, save as they provide a broader range of dialects to admire and model than does the local high school or supermarket. However, we will not all start to sound like Stephen Colbert unless all of us come to so admire Stephen Colbert that we all wish to be taken as him or as being very like him. I don't really have much fear of that actually happening...

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by monumentfloyd

Yes, it is. Its a dialect that comes from California and parts of the midwest. They called it the Kansas-California dialect.

It is a dialect, a very bland and unappealing one at that.

I'm not denying that it is a dialect or accent or whatever, just saying that this has become thought of as the current "standard and proper" way of speaking for better or worse. I'm just saying that if you were to hear this sort of speech, you would not be able to pinpoint a specific area where a person hails from as you would your traditional Boston, Louisiana, Pittsburgh, etc. accents. You wouldn't be able to tell upon listening to him that Matt Lauer is from Connecticut or Katie Couric is from Virginia or that Brian Williams is from New Jersey, etc. The people with the hardcore region-specific accents are dying out. That's all that I was getting at.

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by saganista

Outside influences such as television have almost no effect on dialect selection, save as they provide a broader range of dialects to admire and model than does the local high school or supermarket. We will not all start to sound like Stephen Colbert unless all of us come to so admire Stephen Colbert that we all wish to be taken as him or as being very like him. I don't really have much fear of that actually happening...

Yeah, you're right, that's as far fetched as an entire segment of our young white midwestern population taking on the dialect of Slim Shady

I’ve never been a fan of amphibians. Not only do they strengthen the argument for evolution, they are nature’s fence sitters. Come on amphibians–which is it? Water or land? Pick one. We’re at war.
~ Stephen Colbert

[ibeg4sushi]

First of all, language is a lifeform of its own. It's subject to influence and time just like anything else. I mean, try renting an old movie with a young Mickie Rooney. NO ONE speaks like that anymore. No one speaks like Katherine Hepburn in New England much anymore either.

It's natural. Our grandkids, or greatgrandkids, will sound very different to us, too one day!

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

I'm not denying that it is a dialect or accent or whatever, just saying that this has become thought of as the current "standard and proper" way of speaking for better or worse. I'm just saying that if you were to hear this sort of speech, you would not be able to pinpoint a specific area where a person hails from as you would your traditional Boston, Louisiana, Pittsburgh, etc. accents. You wouldn't be able to tell upon listening to him that Matt Lauer is from Connecticut or Katie Couric is from Virginia or that Brian Williams is from New Jersey, etc. The people with the hardcore region-specific accents are dying out. That's all that I was getting at.

I know what you're saying. But I dont see why people in general think that it has to do with speaking "proper" English.

Proper English has nothing to do with accent.

Improper English is quite different from regional differences. Even William Shakesphere was aware of regional differences in his plays.

If Shakesphere could tolerate those differences, surely CNN could tolerate a few "y'alls" every now and then.

I don't consider this "General American" accent proper, because thats suggesting that if you dont sound General American you speak improperly, and thats not correct.

BTW- Matt Lauer definitely has a Northern accent. To me at least. Katie Couric doesn't sound as nothern, but slightly northern by Virginia standards.

[SmerkyGrl]

Ya'll is grammatically improper. Grammar has nothing to do with accents. Shakespeare is different from CNN in that plays are suppose to portray the every day lives of citizens, from accents to taboo subjects. CNN is not a play, it is a professional public channel of communication that is aimed at a very wide audience. I highly doubt someone from Vermont would be able to understand a reporter from Mississippi saying, "The storm knocked the boat cattywampus and it started to take on water. If ya'll's fixin' to go boatin' this weeken', ya'll better cancel your plans! I'm Mary Kate Andrews reportin' live from Vermont---ya'll come back now!"

CNN is not "discriminating" against accents just so the northerners can feel more superior. There's just got to be a standard of professionalism and the northern accent is simply what they chose.

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by SmerkyGrl

Ya'll is grammatically improper. Grammar has nothing to do with accents. Shakespeare is different from CNN in that plays are suppose to portray the every day lives of citizens, from accents to taboo subjects. CNN is not a play, it is a professional public channel of communication that is aimed at a very wide audience. I highly doubt someone from Vermont would be able to understand a reporter from Mississippi saying, "The storm knocked the boat cattywampus and it started to take on water. If ya'll's fixin' to go boatin' this weeken', ya'll better cancel your plans! I'm Mary Kate Andrews reportin' live from Vermont---ya'll come back now!"

CNN is not "discriminating" against accents just so the northerners can feel more superior. There's just got to be a standard of professionalism and the northern accent is simply what they chose.

No it isn't improper. You all certainly is not. But its ok to say "you guys" to a group of women? Now, thats improper.

You were doing a very very bad impression of a southern accent.

Im not saying that they should be saying y'all all the time either. I'm just saying they should allow for regional variations.

The northern accent is not proper or professional, because it depends on who the speaker is.

BTW- I think we're getting a bit off subject.

My original post had more to do with the local flavor of the Virginia accents. How Richmonders once sounded so distinctive. And now they sound like Californians.

Its really sad.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by monumentfloyd

No it isn't improper. You all certainly is not. But its ok to say "you guys" to a group of women? Now, thats improper.

That's funny, that was the EXACT same thing that vasinger has said in numerous threads in the past.

My original post had more to do with the local flavor of the Virginia accents. How Richmonders once sounded so distinctive. And now they sound like Californians.

Its really sad.

Your "original post"? But....the original post was by vasinger?

I knew you'd trip up sooner or later vasinger/monumentfloyd. These sorts of charades have grown tiresome.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You've got some issues kid.

[SmerkyGrl]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

That's funny, that was the EXACT same thing that Vasinger has said in numerous threads in the past.


Your "original post"? But....the original post was by Vasinger?

I knew you'd trip up sooner or later Vasinger/monumentfloyd. These sorts of charades have grown tiresome.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You've got some issues kid.

Owned.


And for the record Monu, just because I use slang from the deep south doesn't mean I don't know a "southern" accent. Perhaps you're the one who should brush up on your "regional accent"

[richmondpics]

I put the two (vasinger and monumentfloyd) together a day or two ago. What a bizarre individual. Isn't there a rule against multiple accounts per user?