Dialect differences

[CelticFrog]

Okay, so this isn't necessarily a how to question, but one that I think people here might enjoy nonetheless.

I know that we're not only from all over the US but also the world here.

I also know that a lot of us will joke with others about dialect and 'accent' differences.

So I am interested (okay, so I'm a curious one tonight) to see what specific words people have noticed that are more or less unique to one area of the country/world. Or what ways some words are said.

I participated in a Harvard dialect survey once upon a time (last year or so) that was damn fascinating once the results were in. I wish it were an ongoing thing. I learned a hell of a lot about why J says some things SO COMPLETELY different from how I do. And why he calls a roly-poly a pillbug.



So tell me.
What have you noticed?

(One thing that I'll never get over is my dad saying Warshington or that he's going to warsh his hands. I know I've heard it elsewhere but I can't figure out where that really originates.)

Do you say dialect-specific words really often? Or just when you're drunk or really tired?

Man. Lots of questions. I'll sit back and watch for answers now.


Ang

 

[Ugod]

Okay, so this isn't necessarily a how to question, but one that I think people here might enjoy nonetheless.

I know that we're not only from all over the US but also the world here.

I also know that a lot of us will joke with others about dialect and 'accent' differences.

So I am interested (okay, so I'm a curious one tonight) to see what specific words people have noticed that are more or less unique to one area of the country/world. Or what ways some words are said.

I participated in a Harvard dialect survey once upon a time (last year or so) that was damn fascinating once the results were in. I wish it were an ongoing thing. I learned a hell of a lot about why J says some things SO COMPLETELY different from how I do. And why he calls a roly-poly a pillbug.



So tell me.
What have you noticed?

(One thing that I'll never get over is my dad saying Warshington or that he's going to warsh his hands. I know I've heard it elsewhere but I can't figure out where that really originates.)

Do you say dialect-specific words really often? Or just when you're drunk or really tired?

Man. Lots of questions. I'll sit back and watch for answers now.


Ang

My Grandma says warsh and she's from Kansas, but so are my parents and they don't say it. I think its something old people say

 

[Bobmi357]

Juzt be tankful I doant type likes I tawk.

Born n bread in Noo Yawk city for thoity five yeers and now livin in idaho. Peeple tell me I still have a tick Noo Yawk aksent, but I doant heer it.

My wife claims she can't tell the difference in the words when I saw "Law" and "Lore". And that I say "Floridar" instead of "Florida".

I figure she's wrong. I mean there are 8 million Noo Yawkers that tawk dis way. We are pratically a country so we can tawk anyway we want!

 

[Weird Harold]

So I am interested (okay, so I'm a curious one tonight) to see what specific words people have noticed that are more or less unique to one area of the country/world. Or what ways some words are said.

The differences between English, American, Australian, and other English minor dialects can (and has) fill a dozen books.

In a cummulative 10 years of overseas deployment from 1968 through 1989, the worst language barrier I encountered was in England! Everywhere else, I knew when I didn't understand what someone was saying, but in England, It sounded like words I understood.

I spent three hours one day trying to find a "Bathrobe" for my daughter. Once I figured out I was actually looking for a "Dressing Gown" I went back to the first store and was led right to the item I wanted.

The same problem exists to a lesser extent within the US or between the US and Canada, but it isn't nearly so dramatic in my experience -- but then I was always in areas with a heavy military presence, and that tends to homogenize the language a bit.

 

[firefighter02]

Warsh! Yup..totally midwestern...

Wicked anything...Totally new England...Had to learn that before I could do the nasty with a really hot little brunette in Fenway..oppss..hope she doesnt' read this. LOL

Others I noticed..the difference between a pail and a bucket.. a soda and a pop.

Somewhere I was once I remember everything being refered to as a "Coke". i.e. Pepsi coke, Moutain Dew Coke, Root Beer Coke..

But my all time favorite ..on a trip to visit our friends to the north..yep..those crazy Canucks had me looking for three days for a freaking CHESTERFIELD. It was that long till they took pitty and told me it was the couch. (or davenport if you are so inclined)

FF

 

[shy little fairy]

goosebumps

i say goosebumps, but i know a few people from minnesota that say "goose pimples" and of course "pop" not soda.
also, my dad says "drownd" intead of "drown" and "he drownded" instead of he drowned.

 

[herecomestherain]

Great thread CelticFrog, as an English born Australian with Italian parents writing largely for an American audience I'm very aware of cultural differences in language use. I've been recently been pulled up (gently and in a caring way) by my US based editor over a few details in an up and coming story. Something that I'd call a "bedhead" is known to you as the "headboard". We say goosebumps not goosepimples, I had to check if "pins and needles" for numbness was used. I've got a very kind UK based editor too and we do have fun with the words. Ass/arse, Cookies/biscuits, soda/pop/ we call it mostly lemonade unless it's coke, Jelly/Jam, oh boy I'm going to be thinking of these for days.

When I read stories I can usually pick an Aussie, we say things like "bugger off" which doesn't seem so common (well actually it is a little common now I think about it but you know what I mean?)


CelticFrog wrote

And why he calls a roly-poly a pillbug.

Are these little grey bugs that roll themselves up if you touch them? Known in Australia as "Butcher Boys"?

 

[CelticFrog]

yep.

rolypoly/sowbug/pillbug/butcher boys/what have you.

That is quite possibly the one insect that has THE most names. Lightning bugs come a close second.

Ang

 

[herecomestherain]

The bug with many names...

CF thanks for getting back re the bugs...just thought of another one, those same creatures are also called "Slaters" here, that I promise is all I'll say about bugs. You did start me thinking about accent and spelling...

 

[jupiter lilly]

What a cook thread.

if you go looking for the bathroom in other countries you end up looking for the loo/water closet/WC/washroom. Those are always fun when traveling.

 

[sheath]

Lightning bugs come a close second.

Ang

Don't you mean "fireflies"?

Go a little farther south than me and you find "firebugs".

And of course, my little brother (Kentucky born and raised) calls them "flickers".

S.

 

[MMorJon]

Re: goosebumps

i say goosebumps, but i know a few people from minnesota that say "goose pimples" and of course "pop" not soda.
also, my dad says "drownd" intead of "drown" and "he drownded" instead of he drowned.

Most of us say goosebumps, eh

 

[ABN_Ranger]

PISS-OFF!!! They're called Lightnin Bugs and Pill-Bugs!!! Y'all are just ignant. heheheheheehehehe. Sorry... hadda say it. Now I gotta kick the wife for posting this thread.


J

 

[CelticFrog]

You know, I simply said 'lightning bugs' to ATTEMPT to give J JUST ONE. But screw it. He knows as well as the rest of us that they're fireflies.



Oh -- and ogle? It's OH-Gull. Not OOH-Gull.

And melee? It's May-Lay. Not Me-Lay.

*snickersnickersnort*

Ang

 

[CelticFrog]

Now I gotta kick the wife for posting this thread.

By the way, schmookums?

It's not nice to kick. Just for that, no pop rocks tonight.



Ang

 

[firefighter02]

I can't believe it..but I have to agree with Ranger on this one Ang...Everyone in their right mind calls them Lightning bugs....

But then again..Pop rocks are a universal thing Man the threads turn violent this time a night...

FF

 

[BlueSugar]

Re: Re: Dialect differences

The differences between English, American, Australian, and other English minor dialects can (and has) fill a dozen books.

In a cummulative 10 years of overseas deployment from 1968 through 1989, the worst language barrier I encountered was in England! Everywhere else, I knew when I didn't understand what someone was saying, but in England, It sounded like words I understood.

I spent three hours one day trying to find a "Bathrobe" for my daughter. Once I figured out I was actually looking for a "Dressing Gown" I went back to the first store and was led right to the item I wanted.

The same problem exists to a lesser extent within the US or between the US and Canada, but it isn't nearly so dramatic in my experience -- but then I was always in areas with a heavy military presence, and that tends to homogenize the language a bit.

Hea Hea !!! ::raises glass::

but I've also lived in vermont for the past few years so i've lost most of my accent. Except when I'm pissed off or really excited, my "R" runs away, and fuck is every other word, and I start talking with my hands again...

crayons
crayins

vanilla
vanella

half
haff

... i've noticed tons.

 

[Feistyred16]

Growing up in the mountains of South-Western Virginia...I said "Warsh"..I always thought it was a mountain thing...
I have lived 20 some-odd years in Northern Virginia now..still get kidded about my "HillBilly" accent...but when I go home to Roanoke, NO ONE believes I was born & raised there. They tell me I'm so "northern" now

a few other words that I grew up hearing... that changed when I moved to Northern Virginia...
Tennis Shoes=Sneakers(Sneakers was someone that got caught!)
Sleeping late=sleeping in
Calling in sick=Calling out
Coke(our term for ANY soft drink)=Soda
Lighting Bugs=fireflys
dinner=lunch
supper=dinner
grilling out=bbq
BBQ=anything with BBQ sauce on it
Carry=take(as in Carry me to the store)


and of course you know you're from South if you can say "The Lake", "the Star" and ANYONE who drives 81 will know of course you're talking Smith Mountain Lake & The Mill Mountain Star.
Oh and The Market...When I was younger..it was a place that um..Ladies(and Men) of the evening went to um..make a little money...These days The market(at least in Roanoke means farmers selling their wares, food stores, great resturants, quaint bars & of course The Infamous Roanoke Weiner Stand, around here...it means a grocery store
these are just a few of what I can think of so early..I'm sure I'll think of more as the day goes on...


Sorry to hijack...I know its not all dialect related


edited to add... One thing it took me forever to get used to here, was that people talked so damn fast! can you imagine me trying to move straight to NY from the mountains??? OMG..I'd still be walking around Time Square! My boss always told me I talked in Roanoke speed...lol you know drawn out...
take-forever-to-get-to-the-point-kinda-thing

 

[Spurious Scribe]

Interesting thread!

Being from the south, as in really DEEP south, these words came to mind immediately since when I am up north, these words always seem to get me strange looks.

mash- as in would you please mash 7 for me (when in an elevator)

y'all- an obvious one, and sometimes misused in the singular by those in the north when in fact any southerner will tell you it is intended only as a "2nd person plural pronoun". I suppose the northern equivilant would be "yous guys".

whole mess- as in I've got a whole mess of work to do today.

I could go on, but, you could just go to Amazon.com and order a book on "southernisms".

 

[Bandit58]

Oh dear......Gil's an Aussie and I'm a Kiwi There's been a LOT of good natured teasing on both sides....."fush & chups" and sheep jokes and all! I put my jandals on to go get the mail, he refers to them as "thongs" which to me is a G-string...... I put my togs on to go in the pool, but in Aussie they're swimmers......

 

[Guest]

Right on!

 

[midwestyankee]

As a professed linguistics geek, I have read way too many books and attended way too many lectures on dialects. To make my life more complicated, I am also a Downeast-born yankee stuck in the land of Chi-cah-guh, where da mare runs da place and da Bears suck almost as badly as da Cubs useta.

To me, two kinds of speech differences are of interest. First, I love to listen simply to the sounds of speech. The tones, the subtle shifts in how long certain vowels are held between one locale and another, and the way we all have our own special way with certain consonants. The use of different words to convey the same meaning is also fascinating, though the last two generations have seen a significant homogenization in the languate so this distinction is slowly going away.

It's very difficult to sell enough Pepsi to keep the empire going if you have to do different regional ads that use the terms pop, soda, cola, or my all-time favorite from northern New England: tonic. Instead, we have all been trained to use the brand names for the most part.

When I was in college (in Maine), the machine in which one bought any soft drink was the coke machine. Even the one that sold only pepsi products. It was not unusual to hear someone from New Hampshire say, "If you're going to the coke machine, get me a tonic will you?" Since we knew each other's preferences, it wasn't necessary to specify a flavor or brand.

Does anyone remember hearing the word "spider" used to refer to a frying pan? That's another term that used to be widespread in certain parts of the country but has just about died out.

My vote for the pair of people least likely to be able to communicate would be someone from the back hills of Georgia and a Scots highlander.

Just a few random thoughts from your neighborhood linguistics geek. And don't get me started on the origin of the word "geek."

 

[Alyx]

This is a great thread. I’m from California. I lived there until I was 14, then my folks dragged me to Idaho, kicking and screaming the whole way. The funny thing is, I turned around many years later and did the same thing to my husband (New York City to Idaho).

I remember the first time I talked to my husband on the phone. I sat there with the phone to my ear thinking, “I know this must be English, but what the hell is he saying?”

I must admit that, when in California, I did fall into the whole “Valley Girl” thing (“Like, Oh my god! Gag me with a spoon! Totally!”). Lord, what a horrid memory that is! Thankfully, that didn’t last long, much to the relief of my parents.

I don’t think I have any speech mannerisms that stand out. At least, no one’s pointed them out to me. So instead, I have to poke fun at Bob’s

Hey Bob! Say “law” and “lore” again for me, would ya? Or “Canada”

 

[Bobmi357]

This is a great thread. I’m from California. I lived there until I was 14, then my folks dragged me to Idaho, kicking and screaming the whole way. The funny thing is, I turned around many years later and did the same thing to my husband (New York City to Idaho).

I remember the first time I talked to my husband on the phone. I sat there with the phone to my ear thinking, “I know this must be English, but what the hell is he saying?”

I must admit that, when in California, I did fall into the whole “Valley Girl” thing (“Like, Oh my god! Gag me with a spoon! Totally!”). Lord, what a horrid memory that is! Thankfully, that didn’t last long, much to the relief of my parents.

I don’t think I have any speech mannerisms that stand out. At least, no one’s pointed them out to me. So instead, I have to poke fun at Bob’s

Hey Bob! Say “law” and “lore” again for me, would ya? Or “Canada”

Yer jest jealous because I have a bona fide accent and not that vanilla sounding calidahoan one...

 

[Alyx]

Yer jest jealous because I have a bona fide accent and not that vanilla sounding calidahoan one...

Hey, was that English?