Why is the Southern Accent So Prevalent in ATL? (Atlanta: unemployment rate, public schools)

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I don't think anyone in Atlanta, GA is going to look at you funny if you say 'y'all'. I hear it all the time.
Though it does make me think of the time that my brother was attending an AA meeting in Minneapolis. He was speaking to the group and people started getting the giggles. He was mortified. The mod finally let him know that the laughter was because no one in the room was used to hearing 'y'all'.

One of the things I've noticed is the manner in which "y'all" is used.

For example, it is not uncommon to hear people in south Georgia and throughout most of the south use the word "y'all" at the beginning of a sentence. An example might be, "Y'all need to get washed up before we go out to dinner". This is found in metro Atlanta, though not as common.

The use of the word "y'all" in metro Atlanta, as I have noticed, tends to be within sentence.

For example,
"Where are y'all going"?
"What are y'all up to"?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Scraper Enthusiast

One of the things I've noticed is the manner in which "y'all" is used.

For example, it is not uncommon to hear people in south Georgia and throughout most of the south use the word "y'all" at the beginning of a sentence. An example might be, "Y'all need to get washed up before we go out to dinner". This is found in metro Atlanta, though not as common.

The use of the word "y'all" in metro Atlanta, as I have noticed, tends to be within sentence.

For example,
"Where are y'all going"?
"What are y'all up to"?

Another southern affectation is to say 'idn't' instead of 'isn't'. I still catch myself doing it.
And where else in the country are people "fixin'" to do something?

[bugaboo72]

I'm fixin to go get something to eat with a sweet tea to wash it down.

"fixin".

[darkone]

Interesting discussion ....

I did not intend to ask an obvious question, but I was simply wondering about why even in the midtown and intown areas I hear the majority of the people speaking with pronounced Southern accents ...... I know this is the South, but its not exactly Birmingham either. I guess there is a lot of regional migration to the Atlanta area .... certainly outnumbering non-Southern migration. I used to be under the impression that the Atlanta area was being inundated with northeasterners and midwesterners, and while there are certainly sizeable numbers from those areas, it must definitely be less than the regional Southern migration, which fuels a lot of the growth .....

The only part of the metro area that doesn't have any sort of Southern feel to it is the Perimeter Center area and parts of Roswell, Dunwoody and certainly the Buford Hwy. area. The Buford Hwy. area is of course very ethnic. The Perimeter and Dunwoody areas seem like Northern Virginia or the DC suburbs. Some parts remind me of newer versions of Westchester County in fact.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by darkone

Interesting discussion ....

II know this is the South, but its not exactly Birmingham either.

What do you mean by this?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by darkone

I guess there is a lot of regional migration to the Atlanta area .... certainly outnumbering non-Southern migration. I used to be under the impression that the Atlanta area was being inundated with northeasterners and midwesterners, and while there are certainly sizeable numbers from those areas, it must definitely be less than the regional Southern migration, which fuels a lot of the growth .....

You answered your own question.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Geez, you sound like Cartman.

THat is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I know people put LOL in forums but I am really giggling like a nut right now.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

THat is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I know people put LOL in forums but I am really giggling like a nut right now.

Ya'll aren't respectin' my AU-THOR-I-TIE!

[plessthanpointohfive]

heheheheheheheheheheeheheheheheheheheheheheeheh

[darkone]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

What do you mean by this?

Birmingham is being used as an example of a much smaller, insular Southern city which has not had much domestic migration or growth. It clearly is different from Atlanta in many ways.