[YAZ]

Originally Posted by stanman13

We definitely have an accent, but we don't sound like the characters in the movie Fargo.

That's exactly how I speak; even more pronounced living in the Southwest.

When we go to Georgia, it's a hoot, eh?



Dem dere Tigers R gonna be a winerrrrrr dis yeer.....

Exagerratin' a tad, o' course.....

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by YAZ

That's exactly how I speak; even more pronounced living in the Southwest.

When we go to Georgia, it's a hoot, eh?



Dem dere Tigers R gonna be a winerrrrrr dis yeer.....

Exagerratin' a tad, o' course.....

But your from da U.P., eh? Us trolls don't talk like you Yoopers do.

[PineHallGirl]

After high school graduation in the 1970's, I moved to California, then Oregon five years later. I got remarks all the time on my "accent". People would chuckle and ask, "Where are you FROM?"...I was shocked, never having been told that before. (born and raised in Southern Michigan).

I moved to Vermont and people claimed the same thing...I had a distinct accent. When I asked them how I sounded different, one person remarked, "Nasal".

[yankinscotland]

Originally Posted by stanman13

Yes, it is pronounced Char-LOT. And Lake ORion. However, that is not a uniquely Michigan phenomena. I submit for your consideration Hyooston, Texas. Anywhere else in the world where you see that name it is pronounced HOWston.

In Scotland where the name originated it is pronounced Hooston.

[yankinscotland]

Originally Posted by PineHallGirl

After high school graduation in the 1970's, I moved to California, then Oregon five years later. I got remarks all the time on my "accent". People would chuckle and ask, "Where are you FROM?"...I was shocked, never having been told that before. (born and raised in Southern Michigan).

I moved to Vermont and people claimed the same thing...I had a distinct accent. When I asked them how I sounded different, one person remarked, "Nasal".

Nasal - I hear that as a description all the time, although I'm told that after all these years away I'm not so nasal anymore.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

But your from da U.P., eh? Us trolls don't talk like you Yoopers do.

I lived in SE MI for 24 years though........

[darstar]

Originally Posted by YAZ

I lived in SE MI for 24 years though........

Anywhere you go , the local hillbilly talk comes mostly from the less educated. Some words and speech mannerisms also come from ethnic backgrounds. The UP is no different, the Finlanders have an old world way of talking....Quite a bit like " Fargo" , but still their own.

I lived in the NC mountains for 18 years , when you got back , realy back in the woods...it was sometimes hard to understand the locals.

[danielj72]

If you were to ask a New Englander, or a Texan I think they may think we sound just a bit like those people in the movie "Fargo" The entire upper midwest, from MI all the way to the Dakotas have a bit of that accent. THe accent is stronger in some places than others, say like da UP, or north Wi, but I think this whole region has some of that accent. Parts of SE michigan may be a bit different than the rest of the state however because of the large influx of people from Ky, Tn and other parts of the south who moved up for auto jobs 70 years ago. I heard someone from down toward the Detroit area once refer to the town of Taylor Mich as "Taylortucky". I suppose that is a testement as to how much southern influence there may be in a place like that. Overall though, Michigan is very much like all the other states in the upper midwest when your talking about our accent.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by danielj72

If you were to ask a New Englander, or a Texan I think they may think we sound just a bit like those people in the movie "Fargo" The entire upper midwest, from MI all the way to the Dakotas have a bit of that accent. THe accent is stronger in some places than others, say like da UP, or north Wi, but I think this whole region has some of that accent. Parts of SE michigan may be a bit different than the rest of the state however because of the large influx of people from Ky, Tn and other parts of the south who moved up for auto jobs 70 years ago. I heard someone from down toward the Detroit area once refer to the town of Taylor Mich as "Taylortucky". I suppose that is a testement as to how much southern influence there may be in a place like that. Overall though, Michigan is very much like all the other states in the upper midwest when your talking about our accent.

Its called the Northern Tier...does not include lower Michigan. ( troll land ). Once you cross the big Bridge and drive a few miles...you are in another State.....of mind.

[mellosenator]

I'm from Detroit, and one thing I wonder about is the word "water". In Sydney Australia I had the hardest time ordering water at restaurants.
Do we pronounce "water" differently here than the rest of the US or is it a national thing?

Also I don't notice any difference in accent on TV, but then again even Australians told me that they didn't notice any accent on American TV, although they certainly did consider my accent really heavy.

So I guess we really can't trust our own judgment on this.