UT researchers say Lone Star twang is fading (Dallas, Austin: live in, gym)

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Two4damoney

Yeah that might be it. I love the friendly attitudes here in Texas. Just yesterday I was in line at Churchs Chicken and the guy in line with me says how ya doin'? And next thing you know we're talking about the weather, etc. and he introduced me to his wife and it was like we knew each other for years. I encounter that all the time here and its great. Its home. As for the young folk here the ones that are the most polite are the ones who wear the ball caps and drive the big pickup trucks. I even had one hold the door open for me and say how are you doing sir?

I hadn't even thought about all that, either!

In southern NM, most of which isn't far from the Texas line, striking up conversations with strangers in lines is common, as it is in West Texas.

But not up here in the northwest, near the Colorado line. It's not that they're rude or even unfriendly--you just don't see the same interaction up here as you do in WT! So I find myself very quiet in checkout lines.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I hadn't even thought about all that, either!

In southern NM, most of which isn't far from the Texas line, striking up conversations with strangers in lines is common, as it is in West Texas.

But not up here in the northwest, near the Colorado line. It's not that they're rude or even unfriendly--you just don't see the same interaction up here as you do in WT! So I find myself very quiet in checkout lines.

Yep I would miss that interaction for sure. Its a shame that so many other places aren't like that. I cant imagine living any other way.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by debzkidz

[/b] Oh same here. I've tried so hard to not use "fixin to" and "y'all", especially when around people from other regions, but I just can't shake it. It's in my DNA.

Why resist it? It's how you talk, it's part of who you are. I say 'fixin' to' and 'y'all' and I don't care what people think of me because of it.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Why resist it? It's how you talk, it's part of who you are. I say 'fixin' to' and 'y'all' and I don't care what people think of me because of it.

Agreed. Just be yourself. Anybody who thinks less of you because of how you talk and cant accept you for who you are isnt worth knowing anyway.

[ReppingDFW]

Originally Posted by Rakin

I think this also but then I get around others that say "You sure talk funny". Mr. UT Researcher Lars Hinrichs, probably talks funny from Minnesota and would not recognize a good TX accent. He just needs to get out of Austin and hang around Ft Worth, Lufkin, Midland, Lubbock, San Angelo or Amarillo.

I'm proud of my Fot Wurth accent but try to not use "Fixin To" around outsiders.

I went to New York during the summer and everyone assumed I was from there. People were shocked when I said I was from Texas.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by ReppingDFW

I went to New York during the summer and everyone assumed I was from there. People were shocked when I said I was from Texas.

Just about every native I've talked to in San Angelo assumed I was originally from here.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Two4damoney

Just about every native I've talked to in San Angelo assumed I was originally from here.

That reminds me of a funny story... years ago I knew a woman in San Angelo who was born in Spain, married a Yank, and moved with him to San Angelo.

Years later when I knew her she was divorced, and because she now was fluent in both English and Spanish, she got a job as a paralegal in a law office specializing in immigration law for Spanish-speaking people from Mexico and Central and South America.

All of her co-workers were of Mexican heritage, so they spoke "Mexican accented" Spanish, as it is spoken in Mexico. But my friend speaks in "Spanish accented" Spanish, with the soft castilian "th" sound replacing the "s" sound in many places.

She worked at the office for years before she discovered that many of her coworkers didn't perceive her softened accent as an accent at all. They mostly just assumed she had a slight speech impediment.

[case44]

Regarding the fade in the greatness of the Texas accent, I've noticed it more in the younger generations than I've seen in mine. From what I've noticed, the accent is more present in those 40 and older. I'd really hate to see it completely go, but you never know.

But if you go to the countrysides, then it's a pretty safe bet that nearly everyone out there speaks with the twang, regardless of age.

[debzkidz]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Why resist it? It's how you talk, it's part of who you are. I say 'fixin' to' and 'y'all' and I don't care what people think of me because of it.

I tried to stop because I know it's not proper English. It wasn't that I was trying to impress anyone, or not let them know I was from Texas. I just thought I should try to stop. Like I said, I can't do it, and now, as a women of a certain age, I wouldn't dream of trying to stop. Take me as I am, or just go away. I don't really care. It's who I am, and I'm proud to be a Texan.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by case44

Regarding the fade in the greatness of the Texas accent, I've noticed it more in the younger generations than I've seen in mine.

I think it's the old, dreaded peer pressure thing. When my daughter was in school, there were so many kids that were from various areas of the country (I seriously think Texans are a dying breed ~ I'm always wondering where have they gone?) and this did play havoc with the native accent. Kids can be mean and it became a standing rule that any time one of the kids spoke with the Texan twang, they were made fun of and called a hillbilly or hick. So, the Texas kids all tried to mimic the kids with the 'proper' pronunciation.

To this day my daughter speaks differently than I do. I remember when she started it, and I was like, what the heck? We don't talk like that. Or I'd say, dang, where did you come from, girl? But she decided she wanted to talk more like 'them' than me. LOL I guess I was the hick and I actually never thought I had an accent.