Silly ? of the day 6/1/02 Inspired by Dad2jbj's "y'all"
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AKLRULZ · 06-01-2002, 11:16 AM

ROTF!! This thread is really cracking me up!

In the Commonwealth here, old ladies carry pocketbooks - my wife carries a purse! Old men carry billfolds - I carry a wallet (I really don't even carry that - I carry a money clip!). And another memory from the Bostonians in my family - they go to the shore - not the beach! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

pflamingo · 06-01-2002, 11:34 AM

Okay, I was born and raised in Florida, by Canadian parents. This was semi-pre-Disney Florida, with a lot of transplant Southerners. So I had this weird combination of Southernese & Canadian. When I went to grad school in the Midwest, no one could understand me, so I cultivated a "non-accent". Helped to develop my "actor's ear" for dialects. I pick up whatever catch phrases I'm around (except I refuse to use "y'all"). And I can do English and Irish accents that'll fool most Americans.

BUT regarding the Coke references... Since Coke originated in Atlanta, Georgians get the credit (or blame) for calling every form of carbonated drink a "Coke".

Chrissi · 06-01-2002, 11:37 AM

I must be very ignorant of my own little language quirks. I can't think of anything that's specific to my part of the state! I come from a pretty diverse family background, though, so most of these sayings are normal around here.

There is one thing about PA that I noticed though. When we're home, we order ice tea. When we're anywhere south of PA visiting with friends or family, we order sweet tea, without noticing that we've made the switch. That's the only thing I can think of.

Then again, we're kind of a jumbled mess of Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and Jerseyites in the Poconos. You could hear something from any part of the country here and it fits right in!

[ 06-01-2002, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: Beaner ]

GoofyKid · 06-01-2002, 01:03 PM

Janet44, here in Winnipeg, the night before Halloween is called "Gate Night". Don't ask why; it's never made sense to me either (which, by the way, I pronounce eee-ther not i-ther...lol).

Being from Canada, I never used to say "eh" a lot, but since about 6th grade (hmmm do other people say grade 6? Cuz I do that too hee hee...) anyways since about 6th grade I started saying "eh" more.

Speaking of "6th grade" and all that, I would say "grade sixers" more than "sixth-graders". How about all you other WDWers?

Wow. It's so weird that most of us speak English, and yet there are so many forms of it. Well, I think it's weird anyways.

That's all the different sayings I can think of for now, so I guess TTFN <<<And this is the GREATEST post ever!!tee hee>>>

abert15 · 06-01-2002, 01:21 PM

Since I am from the South, particularly New Orleans, ya'll is a staple in every conversation. I think it is weird if someone speaking says you guys instead of ya'll. I have even read it in my peers' papers in college. Also, we say soft drinks for sosa, purse and tennis shoes. Funny how regional language is so different!

Andrea

Shell_of_the_South · 06-01-2002, 02:01 PM

Coke is another great example! I didn't even think of it. We've always called carbonated beverages "cokes". When I was in high school I had a friend from Illinois. She suggested we go get a "soda" and I didn't know what the heck she was talking about! Sweet tea is another one, that's the only way to order iced tea here: sweet tea or unsweet tea.

Here's another funny example: My boss was in the service and went to NYC with another soldier from Tenn. The Tenn. native addressed a NYPD as "sheriff" and the policeman had a fit! But in rural areas the only law is the Sheriff's Dept. He'd probably never heard of a police officer.

I love reading all the responses to this topic.
Oh and by the way, I thought refering to Georgia as "the great state" was pretty tame. Some GA natives think GA is "God's Country"! (God did make GA a pretty state anyway. But our whole nation is beautiful, don't you think?)

buzzNwoodyfan · 06-01-2002, 02:09 PM

My post from "Ketchup at Whispering Canyon:"
Coming from a true Texan cowgirl(horses, professional rodeo family, the whole bit), "y'all" is short for "you all" and is perfectly acceptable! People from Texas do not consider themselves "southerners," we consider ourselves "Texans." We're usually really proud folk when we travel to far off places, like say...Florida, and are asked where we're from (because of the accents.) The accent is a really good conversation starter while at DW--on the bus, in line, etc. We generally don't talk as slowly as people from the southeast, because many Texans live in urban areas. Texans are a very diverse, interesting group of people who are sometimes too proud of where they are from, but hey, you never hear anyone say they have "California Pride" or are "Oklahoma Proud!"
--We also say "Flaggin' around in your gown-tail," which means you're dragging around the house(like on Saturday morning) in your PJs!
--My dad "useta" say "Biness" for business.
--Down there is "Downair" around here.
--Running shoes are "Tennies."
--Going "to town" could mean going to Waco, Dallas, Austin, Houston or San Antonio to buy groceries, a car, laundry detergent, etc.
--When Texans say they are going on a road trip, they usually don't leave the state. It's 800 miles from the eastern border to El Paso.
--"Padre" (South Padre Island, Texas) is a popular Spring Break destination for us "college kee-yuds (as we're called here)."
--"Awl" is what we put in our car, and what's "out west" in the "awl fields."
--Lemme set the record straight: "Howdy" or "Hiidee" is only said in the movies by "Texan" actors. We say Hi or Hello, just like everyone else.
May I say something else about Texas culture?
--Big hair is only worn by dowdy old ladies. The same goes for rhinestone embellished t shirts.
--Cowboy boots are only worn by real cowboys around "these parts." The same rule applies for cowboy hats, which are simply called "hats." A professional cowboy only wears these articles of clothing for the rodeo, the rest of the time, he/she prefers to wear their "Tennies," Levis, and ball caps.
--We don't all claim George W. Bush.
--The only people who drive pickups are those who really need them. We are a Suburban and Camaro family, and the pickups are used to pull horse trailers.
Love y'all!
Amanda
PS "Texas" was originally named "Tejas" which means "friendly" in Spanish. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

**DebiDebiDebi** · 06-01-2002, 02:36 PM

And please clarify buzzNwoodyfan, do y'all say Ro-dee-o or Ro-day-o? We Washingtonians prefer the CORRECT (hehe) pronounciation of Ro-dee-o.

buzzNwoodyfan · 06-01-2002, 02:51 PM

Ro-dee-yo it is! Ro-day-yo sounds so pretty, though! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Bert & Sully · 06-01-2002, 03:08 PM

Ok, I left the midwest (Illinois)before I was ten and did most of my growing up in Connecticut; the other side (evidently) that's outside NYC. We didn't have a spec of NE to our speak (IE: Bostonese); if anything, New Yawky sounding. Anyone from Maine wass called a "down easter" .

I think I really got most of the NY while living in Ithaca where everyone from Long Island, Manhttan and her burrows has moved!!!

I live in the Florida panhandle now. At Wakulla Springs there's a sign saying you are now in "the real Florida!" [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] . I drink cawfee and I like walking your dawg for you. When DH's brother calls or visits from the Boston area he can't figure out how I always recognize his voice in the first word or two! - (DH has no accent as he left MA at 15 or 16 for private school (where we met), then went on to college in Illinois, lived in Michigan a few years and has been down here forever.) Bruce definitely pahks his cah. DH doesn't hear an accent in DB-I-L!!

Oops gotta finish later.... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Beth L. · 06-01-2002, 04:07 PM

Like Belle* I'm from the part of CT that says idea, car, etc, no syllables added or dropped.

Before my parents moved me up north I lived in Florida and had a southern accent with Boston tendancies (my parents are from MA) and nobody could understand what I was saying. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] My mom loves to tell the story about the time my sisters (now ex) future in-laws from "the other coast of Florida" came to visit. My mom would be bustling around doing things to get ready for dinner etc and my sister's future MIL kept saying "I feel so dirty", well my mother finally ended up telling her if she would like, to go take a bath. Ended up the "I feel so dirty" meant "I feel guilty not helping". [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] What a way to win friends and infulence people.

2Princesses · 06-01-2002, 05:02 PM

As a born and raised resident of New Jersey, I "ditto" almost everything Janet44 posted (with the exception of Goosey Night). Imagine the culture shock when I went to college down at Clemson, SC and asked for a "soda" the first time only to learn every carbonated beverage is a "COKE". I still love to use the word "fixin'" from time to time and really miss sweet tea and pimento cheese sandwiches [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] , but do not miss grits. Got a lot of ribbing down south for my Joisey accent - especially my use of "you guys" instead of "y'all". I could never figure out if my roomate asked for a "pen" or "pin" or if someone was named "Jenny" or "Ginny". And I learned real quick to address my elders as Sir and Maam!! Just thought of another big difference; wedding receptions and gifts. In Jersey big dinner banquents and "envelope" gifts seem to be the rule; however, in the South I was told you would never give "money" as a gift.

[ 06-01-2002, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: 2Princesses ]

Bert & Sully · 06-01-2002, 05:24 PM

Ok, I dunno about elsewhere in the South but around these parts it's a sign of respect to call adults "Miss Elaine" and ma'm; or "Mr. Keith" and sir. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it either [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] . Talk about making you feel like your mother (or her age anyway.... [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] ). It's a must though for respect. Believe me, I found out the hard way... [img]graemlins/achoo.gif[/img] ...

Beth L. · 06-01-2002, 05:34 PM

LOL Elaine, even after 35 yrs of living up north I still call my elders sir & ma'am. It's like Lays potato chips, once you start you just can't stop.

**disneyknut** · 06-01-2002, 05:41 PM

Funny topic... As a native Pittsburger I can attest that we have a language all our own called Pittsburgese.. Right Tikibird?
For example...
yunz- you all
stillers- Steelers
Arn City beer- Iron City Beer
jumbo- bologna
dahntawn- downtown
warsher- washer
sass side- south side
hmm.. that's all I can think of off the top of my head.. Help me Sandy!

Quote:

couch, daveno, or a sofa at home? Do you drink soda or pop? Do you ladies carry a purse or a pocketbook? How 'bout you men, a wallet or a billfold? Do you wear tennis shoes, sneakers, or runners? Do you go downtown, or uptown? When we go over to the West side of the state, we are going to "the coast",

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Alright.. to answer..
I have a couch where I sit & drink pop. I carry a purse & DH has a wallet & we all wear tennis shoes when we go shopping downtown. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ 06-01-2002, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: disneyknut ]