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It doesn't sound "good" to people simply because the southerners speak through their noses. But some of the easterners do, too, as well as many Europeans (pay attention to the French next time you listen to one).
I may be wrong here, but I really do think it's a mental stigma with many people. When I was growing up in California I think people who hated the accent equated it with "Okies". Fast-forward several decades and today a lot of people simply think of "redneck" when they listen to it.
But how nasally the southern accent is depends on each state as well as the individuals. I lived in Texas a few years and they spoke with a drawl that sometimes sounded great to me, irritating from others. I love to listen to Alabamans. Louisiana accents are very different, especially in New Orleans where they sound a lot more Brooklyn'ish than anything else.
As a kid I couldn't stand "twang" in country music, either; now, I rather like it.
It doesn't sound "good" to people simply because the southerners speak through their noses. But some of the easterners do, too, as well as many Europeans (pay attention to the French next time you listen to one).
I may be wrong here, but I really do think it's a mental stigma with many people. When I was growing up in California I think people who hated the accent equated it with "Okies". Fast-forward several decades and today a lot of people simply think of "redneck" when they listen to it.
But how nasally the southern accent is depends on each state as well as the individuals. I lived in Texas a few years and they spoke with a drawl that sometimes sounded great to me, irritating from others. I love to listen to Alabamans. Louisiana accents are very different, especially in New Orleans where they sound a lot more Brooklyn'ish than anything else.
As a kid I couldn't stand "twang" in country music, either; now, I rather like it.
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As a kid I couldn't stand "twang" in country music, either; now, I rather like it.
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If you like the twang then you would love Oklahoma cause there sure is a lot of twangin' going on.
*grins* It is easy as pecan pie when one is -- as the saying goes -- to the Manor (manners..? ) Born!
On a related tangent, I always wondered why most non-Southerners refer to a group of females (or "ladies" as most of us properly raised Southern men say) as "you-guys"
How did y'all ever learn to speak like that...?
I sometimes hear my children using the words "you guys"...I always correct them! It's y'all or nothing! ....I fear it's the peer influence at school.
I for one would not like to be referred to as a "guy" in any form or fashion, thank you...but then again, almost nobody does that to me
We could talk on and on about all this...but I'll say it again! I LOVE my South...I love it when a man stops what he's doing to open doors for me or my children! I love how everybody greets each other with a "good morning" or "afternoon"... and wishing people a good day! Why would anybody take issue with those things...our ways...I just don't get it!
We could talk on and on about all this...but I'll say it again! I LOVE my South...I love it when a man stops what he's doing to open doors for me or my children! I love how everybody greets each other with a "good morning" or "afternoon"... and wishing people a good day! Why would anybody take issue with those things...our ways...I just don't get it!
We sure could, hon (keep talking about it). But sometimes I have to try and remind myself perhaps it is best NOT to..? Cos if we do? More yankees will want to move down...and we got a hard enough time as it is tryin' to assimilate the ones we already got!
But seriously, Tennessee sis, I don't get it either. So I just always revert to the wisdom of the bumper sticker and/or T-shirt sometime. In this case? "It's a Southern thing. You wouldn't understand"
Quote:
Bass & Catfish wrote: If you like the twang then you would love Oklahoma cause there sure is a lot of twangin' going on.
I've said it before, ol' buddy. That last part of your missive would make one helluva' good country song title!
It seems like the more rural you get, the more prevalent are the accents. The more urban you go, you generally have more people with some kind of higher education, the more worldly the population usually is, and the more sort of homogenized the language and verbal skills become over time. Bigger cities have more people from more places, and the accents tend to be trimmed off over time as cultures meld. I think this is why there seems to be some kind of relation between strong accents and assumed ignorance or provincialism. Even if it's not always true, it's just one of those first impression things.
It goes both ways, as well. I've met many people who spoke well and seemed educated and dressed sharp who actually were dumb as dirt.
Well, maybe you could politely point out to people that you don't like being called a guy...if there's a nice way to do it.
There's definitely a peer influence, even among adults, unfortunately. I cringe every time I hear a Southerner say "you guys".
Yes! it's so true...even adults, even southern adults use those terms! Usually a simple..."beg pardon?" will do...
I admonish my son, he's 9 btw, that he IS a southern gentleman, and that it is unseemly to refer to a lady or girl as a "guy", especially an older woman! He understands and takes the correction well. My daughter recently started at school...she hasn't picked up the "you guys"...yet! but you best believe I'll be setting her straight!
Yes! it's so true...even adults, even southern adults use those terms! Usually a simple..."beg pardon?" will do...
I admonish my son, he's 9 btw, that he IS a southern gentleman, and that it is unseemly to refer to a lady or girl as a "guy", especially an older woman! He understands and takes the correction well. My daughter recently started at school...she hasn't picked up the "you guys"...yet! but you best believe I'll be setting her straight!
Oh, for more southern women like you! I was raised by a mother and grandmother exactly like this. Keep up the good work, it is the reason southern hospitality exists, it isn't naturally inbred, it is cultivated from one generation to the next.
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