# What American accent do you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373 "2007-01-25T04:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/21 "2007-01-25T05:39:04Z")
Inland North (description posted above). Which is a bit whimsical since apart from seven years in western Montana — 35 years ago — my entire 59 years has been spent in the SoW. And I tend to say “soda,” too. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/22 "2007-01-25T05:46:10Z")
The inland north, which is funny considering I’ve never been there. I’ve lived on the West coast all of my life (so far). And 37 years of that has been in Alaska (I’m almost 48), we don’t have much, if any, accent at all. There were more than a few questions where I was thinking “none of the above”, but chose from what was available. Normally, for soft drinks we say “cokes”. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/23 "2007-01-25T05:46:39Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] Texan is possibly the most annoying of all American accents. 😉 [/QUOTE] Well, bless your heart! [QUOTE=threnodyangelfire] I travelled through the USA (well a few states) last year, and completely fell in love with the Texan accent. _drool_ [/QUOTE] Howdy! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/24 "2007-01-25T05:47:46Z")
Inland North, and I’m from Buffalo. I used to say pop, but when I went to boarding school all the girls from NYC and New England made fun of me. Now I say soda. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/25 "2007-01-25T05:50:31Z")
Midland accent. Raised in Arkansas, but moved to southern Illinois, so sounds right to me. Another quiz on the site sez I’m 100% true Arkansan, though. I’m so conflicted! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/26 "2007-01-25T05:53:02Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] Well, bless your heart! [/QUOTE] That’s Texan for “you’re a big poopy-head but I’m too polite to come right out and say that” isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/27 "2007-01-25T05:53:53Z")
Yup, they got me: Inland North. Since I relocated back here from NYC, I still catch myself pronouncing Mary/marry/merry differently, but I now say “pop” instead of “soda.” ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/28 "2007-01-25T05:55:53Z")
Yes I’m from the West. But I don’t have an accent! I guess my “dudes” and “hellas” will distinguish me as a norcal chick. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/29 "2007-01-25T05:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] That’s Texan for “you’re a big poopy-head but I’m too polite to come right out and say that” isn’t it? [/QUOTE] Having been raised in Texas, I feel qualified to admit and agree that a Texas accent is indeed rather annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/30 "2007-01-25T06:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=Jahdra] Born in Santa Cruz, California, so I speak surfer, too. 😛 [/QUOTE] I got the same accent only I was born on the big island of Hawaii. I do have a bit of pidgin though. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/31 "2007-01-25T06:13:06Z")
Another Midland accent here. I was born in North Carolina, moved to Germany when I was 7, moved to Washington when I was 12 and been here the past 10 years. Sometimes my NC accent comes creeping out. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/32 "2007-01-25T06:13:20Z")
I got “The West” which isn’t right. I grew up near Washington DC and I speak perfect broadcast English though I occasionally use some some Southern expressions such as “Howdy” for color. I’ve traveled out West all of about 4 months in my life and I don’t think I picked up anything. Apparently what makes the difference is that Midland types pronounce “stalk” and “stock,” and “collar” and “caller” differently. I’m honestly not sure if there’s any slight difference in my own speech. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/33 "2007-01-25T06:14:34Z")
The west, and I speak surfer too, dude. Although I think I’ve got the regional variation of valleyspeak. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/34 "2007-01-25T06:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > “You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. I grew up in southern Ohio, so they got that right. But what’s this nonsense about not having an accent? (When will that myth die?) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/35 "2007-01-25T06:24:05Z")
The Midland. Which even though I was born and raised here I would say is accurate. People say I don’t have an accent at all. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/36 "2007-01-25T06:38:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Your result: The Northeast > Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak. Yup, New York City now, raised on Long Island. I pronounce all the words asked about in the test differently. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/37 "2007-01-25T06:45:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak. All together now… “NEW YORK, NEW SOUTH WALES, IT’S A WONDERFUL TOWN…” 😃 (like **Cunctator** , I tried it for fun) ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/38 "2007-01-25T06:48:06Z")
And my overriding memory of that quiz is that whenever the question asked “Sounds the same or different?” my answer was invariably “different”. Where there were three words, I always picked “all three sound different”. I don’t know what that says about US regional accents. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/39 "2007-01-25T07:12:06Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] You can take the girl out of Philly, but she’s still going to say WHORE-ible [/QUOTE] I don’t think that’s the answer that clinched it for Philly. I answered the same as you on that question and it said I’m from the West. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373/40 "2007-01-25T07:33:22Z")
Aussie # 4, also with the northeast. NONE of those words sound alike, they all sound different! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-accent-do-you-have/389373.md?page=3)