Where Did the Accent Come From?

[angelfishrupp]

I grew up in Northern Illinois. I settled in Central Wisconsin in 1993. I know that Stevens Point has largely a Polish Descent. My daycare provider grew up in Polonia, Wisconsin. It was from her that I learned what a "du-pa" is and whether or not my kids took a "ju ju"! "Ya-hey" is commonly heard, and half-past the hour is pronounced, "tirty". It's fading with younger generations, though. When I visit my old friends back home in Illinois, I'm told I have an accent ya-hey!

[insanitiesforceps]

Originally Posted by BacktoNE

I seem to hear 3 distinct "accents" out here. One has a very definite Norwegian lilt, another has a more German sound to it, and the third one I can't identify at all because it seems to be associated with very rapid speech and I have a really hard time understanding them.

In the Appleton area, the Norwegian lilt seems most dominant and is actually fun to listen to.

Is that so? What do you mean by fun to listen to? I live in that area and i try to compare our "accent" to others but can't always seem to find a difference xD. Alot of people say we pronounce our o's funny. Or how most here say bag as bage. ^_^

[susancruzs]

My sister moved from Illinois to Upper Michigan in 2001 and I kid her constantly about saying don't you know! :-) Her neighbor says tirty all the time, somewhat of a hoot!

I moved to Wisconsin from Northeast Illinois and I've had several people ask me when I'm talking if I'm from Illinois (even before I tell them)!

My mom was from the UP and I've just always been rather used to the "accent" and I rather like it.

[Wi_Girl]

I grew up in a very small Wisconsin town and loved it! My family was German and Bohemian and I know my Grandma had a pretty strong accent. My husband is from VA and he gets a kick out of the Wisconsin accent (when I lived up there I swore we didnt have one but now I realize wow we do!). Even in the south alot of people still pick up my "Wisconsin accent" even though I feel like I am losing it. My husband said he can tell a huge difference between the accents of people who are from small towns and the country versus people from the cities. My mom always says "ya in so" and my inlaws think that is the greatest thing, ya der hey!!!

[mayfair]

The accent does vary throughout the state! I had the Milwaukee accent and when I went up to Reinlander in college the accent up north was completely different. You can hear it on call-in radio shows too.

Milwaukee accent is similar to Chicago but they are distinguishable. Remember "da Bears" skits on Saturday Night Live?

[susancruzs]

In Illinois I worked with a fellow from the suburbs south of Chicago. One day I asked him where he was from and he said Justice. I said, not now, before you moved here. He said, I've been In Illinois awhile but you can still tell?

I told him my moms family was in Crystal Falls and he had that UP sound! Funny part, I mentioned my Uncle Sparky's bar and he said, oh, your auntie served me my first "legal" beer! If you talk Wisconsin and da UP, it is amazing the number of people that have a connection in some way.

Chicago has an accent all its own and you gotta love da Bears and da coach.

[Wi_Girl]

Originally Posted by mayfair

Remember "da Bears" skits on Saturday Night Live?

That skit was one of the best!!!

[everwinter]

I travel around for work & I try my best to hide the accent, but it eventually comes out.
I'd rather it be gone, because it automatically hands you a biased label and it's not the most alluring accent in other ears.

[KateDaum]

We have lived in a number of places in the US. The WI accent does very from area to area. Where we live it is more the Norweigan accent. But I have noticed a Polish and German influence in other areas.

[Suzanne1945]

I moved to FL (from WI) over 30 years ago and people still recognize a 'Mid-Western" accent. I only notice it if I listen to a tape of my voice. I'd say mine is a combination of German and Norweigan. My favorite is "I'm doing the 'warsh'.