autz: you’re completely right, of course. My own (admittedly inconsistent) drawl is of the West Texas variety. But I figured that, to simplify things for the Yanks, I wouldn’t get into the differences between drawls. Personally, if you grew up south of the Mason-Dixon line, I can probably tell you which state you’re from. But, as opposed to someone who posted earlier, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between accents from Pennsylvania and New York. They all sound the same to me.
A side note: I think Jeff Foxworthy has given us a bad rap. There is a distinct difference between rednecks and southerners. Not all southerners, or native Texans, are rednecks. In fact, many bona fide Texans make fun of rednecks, even though they may themselves be labeled redneck by the uninitiated.
I’m from the south originally. I lost my accent when I moved around a lot but since I am back in Texas I have found myself losin’ “g” s and softening my "r"s. TH eword “honey” snuck right back in there too!
Do I think it makes me sound stupid? Well, it depends on the context, my accent was never all that deep. But in a professional setting I am more apt to use less dialect and more formal English.
I was more self- conscious about it when I was younger and less educated interestingly enough. Now that I am older and more confident I worry less.
October, you make a good point about the Southerner vs. redneck thing. I love redneck jokes myself, and get plenty of them in email from fellow Southerners. As a general rule I appreciate them for their near-truth and for the to-hell-with-you attitude that they exhibit.
Many (if not most) real Southerners are fully aware of the stigma placed on us by other regions of the country. The assumed ignorance and inbred aspects get big laughs.
It’s sorta like the one about how do you compliment somebody from <pick your Southern state>? “Nice tooth!”
It’s funny in a way, but could just as easily be applied to the lower income sections of any state. It just seems to be more funny if it’s a Southern state, right?
All in all, I suspect there’s a resentment for the relatively slower paced lifestyle in these parts, although you couldn’t tell that from the traffic!
It really, really depends on how thick the accent is. A hint of a drawl is fine, but unfortunately the typical Southerners I run into have what other posters seem to be referring to as a “redneck accent.” I’ve lived here since '95, and there are still more times than not that I can’t for the life of me understand what some people are saying. Of course I imagine people have the same complaint about me, though my native accent has declined significantly over the years (catch me drunk or really tired and it’s out full force) and I have managed to incorporate “y’all” into my lexicon.
A man with an English/Scots/Irish/Australian accent, though- positively nummy. Doesn’t matter how thick it is.
I can assure you with great vigor, madame, that “youse” is a considered quite vulgar in the vast majority of the North. Indeed, the accent of the educated American nationwide is essentially identical to the “Northern” accent found in upstate New York, northern Ohio, northern Indiana (if one does not count Rensseltucky and other outposts of the South), and northern Illinois.
I’d have to second Zanshin’s “damn near irresistable”, but with the proviso that it’s only certain southern accents of which this is true. Some are mildly annoying, some are neutral, and some make my knees buckle.
Actually, Davebear, it was something in your OH MY FREAKING GOD!!! thread that got me thinking about all this. You made an offhand comment about the woman you just met being from the south, and that you were mildly disappointed that she didn’t have an accent. Anyway, that reminded me of the discrepancy between the attitudes toward my accent between my current boyfriend and my former one…
Actually, I don’t have much of a Southern accent. Like a lot of other Southerners, I had a daddy in the service and during my formative years we weren’t in one place long enough for me to pick up a strong regional accent. But I can become “more Southern” at will, and it’s useful in those rare situations when I want people to think I’m more delicate, feminine, or ladylike than I actually am. I’m sure there are people who find delicate, feminine, ladylike women attractive.
October, in general-ish terms, where 'bouts in West Texas are you from? I’m from the Amarillo-ish area. Texas accents?? Not rouncheer, I’d notice for sure!
Duke: Did I say West Texas? I meant East Texas. I’m map-dyslexic, I guess. My family is spread from Houston and thereabouts to Dallas and thereabouts. However, my family speaks in the more central dialect, as opposed to the eastern. A blend of east and west, if you will.
Duke: Did I say West Texas? I meant East Texas. I’m map-dyslexic, I guess. My family is spread from Houston and thereabouts to Dallas and thereabouts. However, my family speaks in the more central dialect, as opposed to the eastern. A blend of east and west, if you will.
And Lamia, I know what you mean. There have been occasions when I’ve purposefully played up the accent to make people think I’m this lil’ ole delicate magnolia type–some people just eat that up, and I can usually recognize the susceptible type. It can come in handy.
I enjoy all accents. What grates on me is language usage. Speak proper English and your accent is delightful. Spew out inarticulate regionalisms and sloppy pronunciations, and your credibility suffers. I try hard to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes, it’s a real struggle.
That might be true unless your ear is trained to notice differences. Also, you might want to consider that “the educated American” includes Southerners and we don’t sound at all like we are from upstate New York.
Most people can easily distinguish a broad Boston accent. And Maine has an accent that has not spread much, if any, beyond its borders. I could go on and on with examples.
When my on-line friends from the North and West hear me on the phone the first time, they either crack up laughing or tell me that I sound like Scarlett.
What really annoys me is that when fictional Southerners are portrayed on television, they are so often made to sound both Southern and stupid. If any of you saw Sex and the City Sunday, you might recall the woman from Macon, GA with the scrunchie in her hair. She may be a real Southerner for all I know, but she really spread it on thick.
We have brought some of the misperception on ourselves by hamming it up for Northerners. I did it myself once just to be taped for Good Morning America.
Shelby Foote has the sexiest voice that I have ever heard. He is originally from Mississippi, I’m told, but he lives in Memphis. And my late mother-in-law from the Deep South sounded as aristocratic as anyone I’ve known.
As for the word y’all, it is convenient and friendly. It is as natural to Southerners as “wicked good” is to Maine.
I’m so Southern (Texan, actually), even my boots have a drawl.
When I lived in LA and Denver, everybody wanted to hear me talk. Even here in the OKC, I don’t sound like the surrounding folks. And the drunker, more tired, more excited I get, I sound more and more Southern.
Not hick. Southern. I use (mostly) correct grammar and word/verb forms. It just sounds different when I say them.
My last SO thought it was extremely sexy when I Southern Gentlemanned her. She loved the very relaxed sound of me pillow talking her.
On my side of the ear, I love hearing a discernable accent. Whether Dixie, Texan, or foriegn, if it’s different from the Broadcast Standard™, I love it!
FTR, I do have a bit of a Long Island accent. Not horrible, but noticeable - I do sometimes turn “ah” sounds into “aw” sounds (i.e. “talk” becomes “tawk”). I’ve mostly been told that it’s cute, probably because it’s not excessive.
