Dover and Dover AFB (Smyrna, Bethany Beach: live in, beach, golf course)

[from PA]

Originally Posted by Laural

Delaware is a melting pot for different accents NY, NJ, Philly, Italian. I don't know if DE it self has an accent some else can answer that. It's fun to hear the accents though. But I think your still confused on what the SF bay area is, I grew up in and lived in several cities in the SF bay area, it can be physically an hour away from SF. But still be called the SF bay area and some areas are also called Silicon Valley, and it's not tourist area like SF. It's flat, and in a valley. It's not as pretty as So Cal. North CA, and So Cal are very different. But now I'm here in wonderful friendly Delaware.

Hi again Laural,

Guess I always thought the San Francisco Bay area was the bay area in San Francisco. LOL Ya know the bottom of the hill where the cable cars start the climb halfway to the stars.
Seriously though, did not know that the Silicon Valley was considered the Bay area either.. I was correct about the climate though and the housing market is lets say is much more affordable here in friendly DE.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by Laural

Delaware is a melting pot for different accents NY, NJ, Philly, Italian. I don't know if DE it self has an accent some else can answer that. It's fun to hear the accents though. But I think your still confused on what the SF bay area is, I grew up in and lived in several cities in the SF bay area, it can be physically an hour away from SF. But still be called the SF bay area and some areas are also called Silicon Valley, and it's not tourist area like SF. It's flat, and in a valley. It's not as pretty as So Cal. North CA, and So Cal are very different. But now I'm here in wonderful friendly Delaware.

Laura........Having lived in CA most of your life, you are definately the expert.

Talking about accents. Some in DE have strong southern accents but not all do. I have met people who lived in DE all their life and they have a southern Accent. Some do and some dont'. Guess De is just a mish mash of accents.

De is definately a melting pot. No one can deny that.

[anniebleu]

I find the two areas, SF Bay area and vicinity of Dover Air Force Base (so let's say Kent County DE), hugely different. In fact, almost impossible to compare in any way, other than that both areas, West and East, are coastal.

Accents in Delaware. I think you hear a bit of this, that, and everything. If you do locate a native, you may interpret the accent as somewhat Southern. I don't really detect this, at least not at all comparable with my friends in parts of Virginia, Kentucky, and so on.

I know some of the SF Bay area, though not nearly as well as Delaware, where I've lived for more than 30 years. PA, we have been known to sink into the chilly teens or even single digits occasionally, and to make it to 100 as well! Not often for either, and the winters do seem to be warming of late. Yet I remember many days of large snow accumulations, and how our children loved the snow days home from school. Laural, we've had significant drought some years, and can sometimes go weeks without any rain, to the great disappointment of the farmers.

fromthebay, you'd find it quite a transition, but you may well appreciate the quieter life here.

[from PA]

I agree that the temps do go to the extremes and can we filter in chill factor and heat index as well? Then you are really quoting some scary numbers. Anyway, for the most part, our winters seem to be getting milder. The occasional cold snap does not last long but the storms this past spring were very unusual. It has been very dry the last two summers since I have been in DE.

I have noticed that some of the broadcasters on the local stations have a Philly accent. Even the stations in Philly don't seem to have an accent. Many locals here do have a southern twang to their dialect. I like it.

Hey fromthebay, besides the weather, anything else this forum might be able to help you with? Lots of natives here that might be able to direct you.

[anniebleu]

PA, I think we're the only people around today. Want to come over for a lemonade?

You're right. I don't think the Philly accent is noticeable among Philly broadcasters.

I don't think native Delawareans, the ones I've met, sound Southern--as in the Virginia Tidewater accent, even though that accent could, in theory, extend north. Certainly not Southern like some of my definitely Southern friends. I think I mentioned on another thread that, in my opinion, the true locals--Kent and Sussex anyway--have some blend that is slightly hillbilly. But I'm not entirely sure what I mean by that! In any case, in no way intended as as insult. I rarely seem to hear it, but I like it too.

[from PA]

[quote=anniebleu;4183153]PA, I think we're the only people around today. Want to come over for a lemonade?

That sounds real good just about now.

[rockky]

anni and PA - Much of the accent is derived from Old English....almost has a Scot lilt to it. Like the words 'out' and 'house'. Listen closely. You'll hear it.

Think of the very strong dialect that remained on Tangier Island until recently.

Check out a book and PBS series called, "The Story of English". It's an oldie but a goodie!

[elizamary]

[quote=anniebleu;4182258]. If you do locate a native, you may interpret the accent as somewhat Southern. I don't really detect this, at least not at all comparable with my friends in parts of Virginia, Kentucky, and so on.>>>>>


Yep Anniebleu this is what I have noticed to my surprise. Being from PA, it sounded southern to me but you say no, huh?

. <<< Laural, we've had significant drought some years, and can sometimes go weeks without any rain, to the great disappointment of the farmers.<<<


Last year, If I remember correctly, there was a drought and the farmers in DE suffered.
This year, we have had rain, rain and more rain. It helps the crops and my little crops in my garden.

[anniebleu]

rockky, I LOVE that book. I think I've owned it since I was a child. Well, not quite, but I do have the original hardcover edition, which I've probably re-read 3 or 4 times. Not any time lately though. I'll have to put it in the car. I often have to resort to reading books while I'm waiting somewhere, and keep a stack of them at the ready.

PA, my day got busier, and I never did get around to that lemonade, or even the wine spritzer I had in mind for evening!

Elizamary, you're correct that there was a drought last summer. Summer before too. Now that we have entered actual summer, we'll have to see how this one goes. Looks like we'll get rain today and tomorrow......

[rockky]

annie, I didn't realize that the book has been revised twice since the original was published in the mid 1980s. I have it somewhere. I have a bit of a 'book problem'. I love books!

I found this site with a bit more info.

The Story of English - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'd love to watch the original series again. This is something that is greatly enriched by the auditory and visuals beyond what a book can provide. Robert MacNeil did the narration. That's the major thing I remember about it. One segment talked about how many popular songs we all know were, in fact, based on tunes and words from Middle English. If I recall correctly, one of them is "The Streets of Laredo". Who woulda thunk it!?! That song certainly doesn't bring to mind anything connected with The Canterbury Tales.

I finally made the trip out to Tangier a couple of years ago. I wanted to hear the speech patterns. When the boat docked, there was little to none of the accent I expected to hear. The mass media has killed much of it....same as the Pennsylvania Dutch I grew up hearing. But, when the locals spoke to each other, there it was. Not as pronounced as I expected, but it was there.

Can ya tell I'm fascinated with this stuff!

Edited to add: I just went looking for a source for the DVDs. Amazon has them....starting at $155.00!! Yikes!