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Saying northern accent is the same as saying southern accent.
It is a general grouping. Unless of course you thought all southern accents were the same.
There probably are regional differences (in the southern accent), but I don't really notice. To me they all sound the same. The only accent that I can really pick out is a New Orleans/Gulf creole accent. I do notice a definite difference in intensity. For instance there's a couple people I know who are from Atlanta, and while they have Southern accents, they're pretty mild. However, when I visit NC (I have family there in WS) the accent is so strong I can barely undertand people sometimes, and this is "downtown," not in the boonies. Perhaps it's the very strong contrast compared to my aunt and uncle (who lived in NYC before moving to NC, but have been there for at least 10 years) who have no accent whatsoever.
Now just between DC and Boston I can easily recognize a huge range of accents and that's a very small area compared to how large the South is, although some accents are hard to discern (eg. New York vs North Jersey). Another difference that "Northern" accents are the strongest among blue-collar, working class residents especially in places such as Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.
There probably are regional differences (in the southern accent), but I don't really notice. To me they all sound the same. The only accent that I can really pick out is a New Orleans/Gulf creole accent. I do notice a definite difference in intensity. For instance there's a couple people I know who are from Atlanta, and while they have Southern accents, they're pretty mild. However, when I visit NC (I have family there in WS) the accent is so strong I can barely undertand people sometimes, and this is "downtown," not in the boonies. Perhaps it's the very strong contrast compared to my aunt and uncle (who lived in NYC before moving to NC, but have been there for at least 10 years) who have no accent whatsoever.
Now just between DC and Boston I can easily recognize a huge range of accents and that's a very small area compared to how large the South is, although some accents are hard to discern (eg. New York vs North Jersey). Another difference that "Northern" accents are the strongest among blue-collar, working class residents especially in places such as Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.
There are many different accents across the South...just because you aren't familiar with them doesn't mean that they don't exist. There are different accents between states, different accents between rural and non-rural areas, and different accents between smaller regions like coastal and mountain regions. Even if someone didn't truly know this, it's pretty easy to imagine that such a large area has many different accents...and pretty short-sighted to think that people speak the same way throughout such a large region.
There are many different accents across the South...just because you aren't familiar with them doesn't mean that they don't exist. There are different accents between states, different accents between rural and non-rural areas, and different accents between smaller regions like coastal and mountain regions. Even if someone didn't truly know this, it's pretty easy to imagine that such a large area has many different accents...and pretty short-sighted to think that people speak the same way throughout such a large region.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpterp
There probably are regional differences (in the southern accent), but I don't really notice. To me they all sound the same...
Yes you would think that such a large area would have a large selection of accents, but I can't tell the difference. If you or anyone else more familiar with the South think there are different Southern accents, I would be inclined to completely agree. I appreciate the "short-sighted" comment though.
I could tell if someone's from Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, etc. but I could see why someone couldn't spot the difference because at times they do sound similar.
I think its a little weird when people say they could tell the difference between the NYC boroughs, I mean there is an obvious difference between someone like a professional working in Manhattan and someone like a drug dealer in The Bronx, it really depends on your environment and not your borough.
i think its a little weird when people say they could tell the difference between the nyc boroughs, i mean there is an obvious difference between someone like a professional working in manhattan and someone like a drug dealer in the bronx, it really depends on your environment and not your borough.
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When I was in St. Louis last year, we overheard the people in front of us on the train say it sounded like we were from Boston or NYC. I was like, what??? The 2 accents sound nothing alike, lol. But I guess to someone from outside the northeast, they may be similar.
People that I talk to from NY and the north are mean to me sometimes because of my slight southern drawl. I just dont understand why people are so mean.
South Carolina is definitly not as "hick-like" as some of the surrounding states.
The 'surrounding states' are NC and GA. So you're saying that those two states are more 'hick-like' than SC?
Not buying it.
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