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macintologist · Nov 13, 2007, 01:55 PM

1. My first complaint is the "eh" vowel, which has become "ah"

For example, the word 'better' is now 'batter', eg. "You batter know what you're talking about"

The word 'guess' is now 'gas', eg. "The bouncer gassed my age at 21 and lat me in the club"

2. My second complaint is the elongation of the "er" at the end of a word.
Can you fix my computerrrrr?
I take the bus because I'm a low-cost commuterrrrr.

3. My third complaint is how every sentence is sounded like a question.
My name is Emily? I go to Columbia? I live in an apartment? with my friends? We all take the same classes? I'm pre-law?

Oisín · Nov 13, 2007, 01:58 PM

It’s called language developing.

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 01:59 PM

I have high hopes for this thread. At least 4 pages.

RAILhead · Nov 13, 2007, 02:02 PM

Did you just arrive in America or something?

Accent (linguistics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

StrengthDesign · Nov 13, 2007, 02:02 PM

You seem to be referring to 'coasties', and bostonian women in particular.

That said, there are dumb women everywhere in the world. Remember, 50% of the population is of below average intelligence. This means there are a lot of idiots running around.

Kevin · Nov 13, 2007, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Did you just arrive in America or something?

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing. I've heard ALL KINDS of accents in this country. Each "part" has it's different accents.

I do find the New Jersey women accents to be a turn off however.

"Heeeey yaaaa caaaahhnt pppawwwk yaaaaaa caaaaaaahhh theaah"

Instead of "You can't park your car there"

Anyone remember when MTV used to interview the band Oasis and they'd have to display what they were actually saying below at the bottom even though they were speaking in English?

osiris · Nov 13, 2007, 02:14 PM

Don't forget another east coast favorite: 'axes' a question, as in "My boyfriend axes too many questions." or 'He ax-ed me out."

Of course, this is not just isolated to women, but I thought it was important to bring up, especially if the thread is to see page 2.

Of general noteworthyness is the venerable classic "looser" and "loser", as in "He is a looser." or "Only loosers don't go to college."

Recently this abuse has crossed over into speech - as it was once isolated to only the written word - it now pollutes conversations throughout America. Lookout world.

pooka · Nov 13, 2007, 02:19 PM

"This guy, pooka, keeps ax'in to do it in the caboose."

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:23 PM

Girls from around this area have a really nice Southern drawl. At least the ones that live just outside the city. The in-city ones do have the "every sentence is a question" problem.

"Let me 'axe' a 'qwarshon'" is not east coast; it's ebonics.

nonhuman · Nov 13, 2007, 02:24 PM

Just because people speak in a different way doesn't make them dumbasses... It's not a lack of intelligence that causes people to adopt new ways of speaking, it's the natural order of things. Otherwise we wouldn't have multiple languages, let along dialects and accents within those languages.

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

Of course, this is not just isolated to women, but I thought it was important to bring up, especially if the thread is to see page 2.

Guys between 20-28 have a problem with inserting "dude" into random places in their sentences. I suffer from this periodically.

Anyone ever notice that jocks' laughs turn into "huh-huh" rather than "ha-ha?"

Homosexual men and the lisp, as well as the "every sentence is a question" problem, have become stereotypically synonymous with one another as well. Shouldn't that be included in this discussion as well?

Dork. · Nov 13, 2007, 02:28 PM

There are a few pet peeves I've found with the Rochester-area accent that I'm actively trying to teach out of my daughter:

- The word "crayon" ought to be two syllables, but people around here pronounce it more like "cran".

- The words "Mary", "merry", and "marry" are distinct and should not sound the same.

- What people do here is the opposite of macintologist's first complaint: short "a" sounds sound more like "ea", and are almost elongated into a second syllable. Think "pe-ants" for "pants", "gle-ass" for "glass".

But it has nothing to do with men vs. women here, or intelligence. For that matter, I've lost my identifiable Noo Yawk accent now that I've been away for so long. But I'll never turn my crayons into crans!

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

really nice Southern drawl

Oxymoron

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Just because people speak in a different way doesn't make them dumbasses... It's not a lack of intelligence that causes people to adopt new ways of speaking, it's the natural order of things. Otherwise we wouldn't have multiple languages, let along dialects and accents within those languages.

True. Environment has a lot to do with it.

However, some people alter their ways of speaking upon recognition of said speaking habits. I lessened my southern accent in high school through self-training, for instance. I heard myself in recordings and decided I sounded ridiculous. I had to thin it out a bit.

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

Oxymoron

Subjective. The drawl is great.

Kevin · Nov 13, 2007, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Just because people speak in a different way doesn't make them dumbasses... It's not a lack of intelligence that causes people to adopt new ways of speaking, it's the natural order of things. Otherwise we wouldn't have multiple languages, let along dialects and accents within those languages.

Dood, you talk like a fag. I know you all have seen idiocracy

Homosexual men and the lisp, as well as the "every sentence is a question" problem, have become stereotypically synonymous with one another as well. Shouldn't that be included in this discussion as well?

Yeah, the "just come out of the closet" homosexual is annoying too. All of a sudden all their pictures after the come out look 100% gay. As if they are trying desperately to look as gay as they can be. Someone comes to mind.. but I just can't point out who...

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Subjective.

Pffft, maybe in real life. Here at MacNN, I just happen to know the truth where as you don't yet.

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Yeah, the "just come out of the closet" homosexual is annoying too. All of a sudden all their pictures after the come out look 100% gay. As if they are trying desperately to look as gay as they can be.

It's like the middle-class white kid who suddenly started speaking ebonics in high school after he got his car and installed a "system."

Well, not exactly, but kind of. Both are annoying.

osiris · Nov 13, 2007, 02:37 PM

Oh hell, anyone who speaks differently than me is an idiot.

starman · Nov 13, 2007, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing. I've heard ALL KINDS of accents in this country. Each "part" has it's different accents.

I do find the New Jersey women accents to be a turn off however.

"Heeeey yaaaa caaaahhnt pppawwwk yaaaaaa caaaaaaahhh theaah"

Instead of "You can't park your car there"

Anyone remember when MTV used to interview the band Oasis and they'd have to display what they were actually saying below at the bottom even though they were speaking in English?

Ok, not all Jersey girls talk like that. The closer you get to New Yawk, the worse it gets. I live in this state and I can't stand that Lawng Awland Accent either.

Kevin · Nov 13, 2007, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

It's like the middle-class white kid who suddenly started speaking ebonics in high school after he got his car and installed a "system."

Well, not exactly, but kind of. Both are annoying.

No, cut it out man, that stuff is the DOPEST!

Kevin · Nov 13, 2007, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Ok, not all Jersey girls talk like that. The closer you get to New Yawk, the worse it gets. I live in this state and I can't stand that Lawng Awland Accent either.

Yeah Amy Fischer <sp>? could have done nothing for me. After hearing that voice I'd go limp.

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:42 PM

Chappelle covered that.

Three wiggers in a car at a stop light
"Did that guy just call us [n-word]s? Awesome!"

macintologist · Nov 13, 2007, 02:43 PM

I like the way newscasters talk. They don't have stupid accents and weird ways of saying things. Why can't everyone talk like them?

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

I like the way newscasters talk. They don't have stupid accents and weird ways of saying things. Why can't everyone talk like them?

Unless they're latino and they suddenly hit a spanish name. Then the fun begins.

Kevin · Nov 13, 2007, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

I like the way newscasters talk. They don't have stupid accents and weird ways of saying things. Why can't everyone talk like them?

You mean like everyone on Friends and 90210? Every once in awhile you'd catch a Canadian accent pop in there from time to time.

But then again, no show can be perfect.

osiris · Nov 13, 2007, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Yeah Amy Fischer <sp>? could have done nothing for me. After hearing that voice I'd go limp.

Just keep Manhattan out of the New Yawk stereotypes - we work hard to keep the Lawng Ayeland and Queens riff-raff away.
Brooklynites are cool - and speak far worse than anyone anywhere - but they are also tough and can kick serious ass, so don't mess with 'em either.

edit:

I forgot about Staten Island. You should too.

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

Chappelle covered that.

Three wiggers in a car at a stop light
"Did that guy just call us [n-word]s? Awesome!"

Exactly.

Originally Posted by macintologist

I like the way newscasters talk. They don't have stupid accents and weird ways of saying things. Why can't everyone talk like them?

Except the one annoying short guy at KSLA-12 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He sounds like a LINUX dork.
No offense, Besson.

osiris · Nov 13, 2007, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

Unless they're latino and they suddenly hit a spanish name. Then the fun begins.

Especially if the name has lots of Rs.

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:51 PM

They'll find a way to roll their r's even if the guys name is Jose.

osiris · Nov 13, 2007, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

They'll find a way to roll their r's even if the guys name is Jose.

Ah - I neglected to mention the pushed H's.

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 02:57 PM

I just flat out ignored it.

turtle777 · Nov 13, 2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

Why do so many American women talk like dumbasses?

Because they are ? [/obviously]

-t

Laminar · Nov 13, 2007, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

It's like the middle-class white kid who suddenly started speaking ebonics in high school after he got his car and installed a "system."

*slowly backs away...*

Oisín · Nov 13, 2007, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

I like the way newscasters talk. They don't have stupid accents and weird ways of saying things. Why can't everyone talk like them?

How frightfully dull that would be.

(However, since most of my knowledge of the English language must come from Hollywood movies and TV shows, that is exactly how I speak when speaking with an American accent. Genuine identity-free, bland, insipid broadcast Canadian-American English.)

Especially if the name has lots of Rs.

Or if they happen to find a news-broadcasting event that requires uttering the phrase, “El perro Raul corre en el ferrocarril”, which I’m sure happens a lot.

They'll find a way to roll their r's even if the guys name is Jose.

“The suspect, a Mr. Rrrrjosé Cuerrrrrvos, was arrrrrested---sorry, arrested---outside his home in San Rrrrjose earrrrly---sorry, early---on Saturday afternoon.”

Dakarʒ · Nov 13, 2007, 03:44 PM

You know, people don't use the word insipid enough in daily life. But then again, I doubt employees in the building I work in would appreciate it.

Cipher13 · Nov 13, 2007, 08:49 PM

I can't stand females with American accents of any variety, though some are much, much worse than others.

That said, I think the Aussie accent comes close to being the worst (though certainly behind Indian accents), so I'm glad I can only hear it on real bogans.

Railroader · Nov 13, 2007, 09:12 PM

The speech accent arcive is an awesome web site.

Here's the North American section: speech accent archive: browse

I think I sound more like the Windsor, Ont. accent than I do the Detroit accent.

Laminar · Nov 13, 2007, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

The speech accent arcive is an awesome web site.

Here's the North American section: speech accent archive: browse

I think I sound more like the Windsor, Ont. accent than I do the Detroit accent.

I prefer the 76 year old from Arkansas.

Jawbone54 · Nov 13, 2007, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

The speech accent arcive is an awesome web site.

Here's the North American section: speech accent archive: browse

I think I sound more like the Windsor, Ont. accent than I do the Detroit accent.

Milwuakee

Kill me now.

Railroader · Nov 13, 2007, 10:38 PM

I have spent hours at that site before.

Cipher13 · Nov 13, 2007, 10:38 PM

The Aussie accents on that site are a bit off.

The Darwinian sounds Kiwi, and the Sydneysider sounds like he's never left the small central-australian town in which he was born.

The rest are fairly normal and are *far* more representative of Sydney than the "Sydney" example.

Railroader · Nov 13, 2007, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cipher13

The Aussie accents on that site are a bit off.

The Darwinian sounds Kiwi, and the Sydneysider sounds like he's never left the small central-australian town in which he was born.

The rest are fairly normal and are *far* more representative of Sydney than the "Sydney" example.

They were recorded by people who grew up and live in the regions their accent represents. They are not impersonations. You can even submit your own.

Cipher13 · Nov 13, 2007, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

They were recorded by people who grew up and live in the regions their accent represents. They are not impersonations. You can even submit your own.

Yeah, I know, I was just stating for the benefit of anyone who'd listened to it, not to take it as an accurate representation of the general population of Sydney.

Doofy · Nov 14, 2007, 03:38 AM

Doof's local:

speech accent archive: browse

Give me any kind of any other accent any time. Except Brummie.

MallyMal · Nov 14, 2007, 04:23 AM

Accents don't really bother me at all. I just chalk it up to people being different and push on.

I've had girlfriends with a variety of different accents. I tend to enjoy the "French girl speaking English", Caribbean(I think it's cute when they pronounce "three" as "tree"), and proper British accents the best when coming from a woman. Those accents soothe me for some reason.

Kevin · Nov 14, 2007, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by MallyMal

Accents don't really bother me at all. I just chalk it up to people being different and push on.

I've had girlfriends with a variety of different accents. I tend to enjoy the "French girl speaking English", Caribbean(I think it's cute when they pronounce "three" as "tree"), and proper British accents the best when coming from a woman. Those accents soothe me for some reason.

Yes I understand. I love listening to Sade because of her voice. And her ability to hit notes without having to vibrato up to them..

I wish I had vocal abilities like that.

ghporter · Nov 14, 2007, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

The speech accent arcive is an awesome web site.

Here's the North American section: speech accent archive: browse

I think I sound more like the Windsor, Ont. accent than I do the Detroit accent.

That's not too hard. Unless you actually live and work in Detroit exclusively, it's kind of hard to maintain that accent. Windsor, on the other hand, is exposed to Detroit a lot more than Detroit is exposed to Windsor, so folks there kind of assimilate Michigan instead of vice versa. We grew up in the Downriver Area, and my sister now lives in Monroe, but I can't tell a difference in her accent-though it's pretty obvious when you're talking to someone who is actually from Detroit.

finboy · Nov 14, 2007, 12:45 PM

D.i.s.n.e.y.C.h.a.n.n.e.l

and Hollywood in general.

ThinkInsane · Nov 14, 2007, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

There are a few pet peeves I've found with the Rochester-area accent that I'm actively trying to teach out of my daughter:

- The word "crayon" ought to be two syllables, but people around here pronounce it more like "cran".

- The words "Mary", "merry", and "marry" are distinct and should not sound the same.

- What people do here is the opposite of macintologist's first complaint: short "a" sounds sound more like "ea", and are almost elongated into a second syllable. Think "pe-ants" for "pants", "gle-ass" for "glass".

But it has nothing to do with men vs. women here, or intelligence. For that matter, I've lost my identifiable Noo Yawk accent now that I've been away for so long. But I'll never turn my crayons into crans!

I used to think that too, but crans it is. Do you lot over that way still incorrectly refer to soda as pop?

That not-letting-your-voice-drop-at-the-end-of-a-sentence-so-everything-sounds-like-question thing drives me nuts. Grrr.