Why don't Northerners seem to lose their accents when they move South? (big house, move to)

[Christmastreee]

Because a person can't acquire a new accent after age 11-15. Also, not everyone absorbs language the same way. There are people that don't pick up a regional accent because of their personality (usually introverted) ect.

[NCN]

Originally Posted by rvabread22

I hear a lot of Southerners say You Guys today- especially younger people. and its a new thing . In Virginia we used to always say Y'all. Now its more You Guys.\

I hear "you guys" once and I am finished with the one who said it. I hate and despise the "guys" word. Guys definition is a person of grotesque appearance. I don't want to know someone who calls another human a rude name like "grotesque."

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by Christmastreee

Because a person can't acquire a new accent after age 11-15.

Sure they can. I moved out to California when I was 17, and after a quarter decade there, I definitely have a Californian accent. One of my co-workers moved out to California when she was in her 20s. She came form the Bronx originally. She asked me one day if I wanted to hear her Bronx accent. And let me tell you, she had a Bronx accent but I would've never have known it if she hadn't told me.

I have to relate this story: I was looking for a street in Richmond, Virginia a couple years ago. I stopped and asked a group of old men how to find the street I wanted and they kept saying, "Turn right and you'll be on Palm (only they pronounced it 'Pahm). I kept saying I didn't want to go to Palm, and after about three repetitions, I finally understood what they were saying (so I'm a little slow). I wanted Parham St. And they were telling me to turn right and I would be on Pah-ham. I've don't think there's been many times I've felt more stupid. And those guys were probably cracking up when I left.

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by NCN

I hear "you guys" once and I am finished with the one who said it. I hate and despise the "guys" word. Guys definition is a person of grotesque appearance. I don't want to know someone who calls another human a rude name like "grotesque."

Get over yourself, sugar.

[Shakeesha]

Originally Posted by NCN

I hear "you guys" once and I am finished with the one who said it. I hate and despise the "guys" word. Guys definition is a person of grotesque appearance. I don't want to know someone who calls another human a rude name like "grotesque."

It's not that serious.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Northerners don't have accents.

Northerners don't have accents? You've never noticed accents from Massachusetts and New York? And Chicago has its own, unique accent. I can spot a Chicago accent very quickly.

Wisconsin and Minnesota accents are also noticeable IMO.

To answer your question though, I think a lot of northerners who move south try to assimilate to their new area by trying to blend in, accents included. This may be easier for young people to do, like an earlier poster stated.

I think the West has the least accents overall.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by NCN

I hear "you guys" once and I am finished with the one who said it. I hate and despise the "guys" word. Guys definition is a person of grotesque appearance. I don't want to know someone who calls another human a rude name like "grotesque."

Bless your heart.

[JerseyGirl415]

Originally Posted by NCN

I hear "you guys" once and I am finished with the one who said it. I hate and despise the "guys" word. Guys definition is a person of grotesque appearance. I don't want to know someone who calls another human a rude name like "grotesque."

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

Get over yourself, sugar.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by rvabread22

Maybe some times. But in general. When Southerners move North, its amazing how quickly they can lose their accents . But you hear Northerners living in Georgia or TN and they still talk like Yankees. And they've lived there for years. You'd think living there their accents would at least soften up a bit. I hear people in Colonial Williamsburg. The Northern accents from the retirees there always jump out like a sore thumb. The worst part is they still seem think they speak better than Southerners. Its kind of insulting. But they don't understand how bad they sound to our ears. Why is this?

From my memories of experiences when I lived in the north, I could turn around and ask why is it that southerners don't lose their accents when they move north?
I recall that northerners by and large did not get agitated at southerners over things like their accents or other more trivial things.
I've lived in the south for over 35 years now but will never forget a few characters I've met down here over the years, including one not-too-bright dim bulb who, when stymied in an exchange of opinions with me, would eventually just sputter, "You Yankee!"

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by atler8

From my memories of experiences when I lived in the north, I could turn around and ask why is it that southerners don't lose their accents when they move north?
I recall that northerners by and large did not get agitated at southerners over things like their accents or other more trivial things.
I've lived in the south for over 35 years now but will never forget a few characters I've met down here over the years, including one not-too-bright dim bulb who, when stymied in an exchange of opinions with me, would eventually just sputter, "You Yankee!"

As backwards as it sounds to the stereotypical outlook, modern southerners are largely more judgmental than northerners. Sure, there are definitely judgmental Yankees, buuuut it's not a cultural staple here to judge, belittle and hate the south as it seems to be in the south to judge, belittle and hate the north.