Southern accents

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:31 pm

Hey, I'm writing a paper on American Southern accents and the social messages they convey. I know several of us live in the South (at least Nebbie and OPR) and I could use anyone's input.

IronHide · Post by **IronHide** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:19 am

Whoever voted for ignorant racists can kiss my Oklahoma ass. Granted I don't have an noticeable accent, but 90% of the people who live in Southern USA don't fall under that particular category. Don't let the views of on jackass from Texas stereotype an entire group of people.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:25 am

The most people I see/hear on tv with southern accent fit into the stereotype.

Of course there must be smart/intellectual/sensitive/etc southern Americal people, but I hardly ever see them on tv.

But we all know that relying on stereotypes does not get you anywhere.

jboyler · Post by **jboyler** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:28 am

There's a definite stereotype that says people with Souhern accents are lazy, illiterate, inbred, racist, seccesionist, gun-crazy redneck farmers.

It's false. My parents have Southern accents, and they're not farmers.

-J

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:31 am

'sloike surjestin a Midlund ax-int mex yaow sairnd thick, ennit?

Accents always reveal something about you. It just depends what prejudices the other person has already - if their only experience of southerners is ignorant racist rednecks (or that image on TV) and you bowl up singing "Hey y'all we goin' to have us a hoedown, hot diggerty! Dang!" then yes, they will associate you with that image.

For me a southern accent isn't necessarily a bad thing, but most of the Merkins I've met have been from the north or middle somewhere, so I guess my impression of southerners is that they don't travel much.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:47 am

Eline wrote:
Of course there must be smart/intellectual/sensitive/etc southern Americal people, but I hardly ever see them on tv.

That's because thay are too busy hiding from the hooded mob outside. [/jk]

'sloike surjestin a Midlund ax-int mex yaow sairnd thick, ennit?

and?

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:54 pm

I'm a Merkin.

Thanks, folks. Having seen the South from a very weird outsider's point of view (as a Mormon missionary) I have opinions. I didn't see any lynchings, but I saw a lot of the attitude that black people were all welfare recipients leeching off society. Having spent months and year in those projects with those said poor black people, I found it not to be true. Shockingly, they're just poor people trying to get by - in neighborhoods overrun with hard drugs and prostitution.

This is why I get really angry when people blame the New Orleans tragedy on the "the welfare state and the desire for free handouts."

I just wanted to know the stereotypes conveyed through the poll. Racism is not the province of the South. Growing up in rural California, the supposedly enlightened place, racism towards Mexican immigrants was so commonplace that I didn't realize the horrible things that were being said until I got to the South ans saw them said about black people.

And Southern accents are just precious.

You'ns et? Mebbe we gwine git on up de wa heah, git o'selfs som'adat co'nbread.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:08 pm

sprunkner wrote:I'm a Merkin.

I love the way you guys say that.

ahem...sorry.

On a related note, when I was in Cali, and people told me to ask the Mexican waiter for "el checko", I found myself in the weird position of not knowing if
a) this is what it's really called in "Mexican" Spanish
b) it's a condescending sort of racist way of asking someone who doesn't speak English for the bill
c) it used to be a condescending thing but everyone knows what it means so it sort of became official

I just used to say "check please" and be done with it.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:08 pm

I've never understood that whole "check please" thing, anyway. It's called a bill... you ask them for the bill. Then you write them a cheque... or pay by card, or whatever.

Oddness.

sprunkner wrote:This is why I get really angry when people blame the New Orleans tragedy on the "the welfare state and the desire for free handouts."

They do?

I always thought it was because of meteorological conditions and dodgy flood defences...

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:10 pm

Best First wrote:
'sloike surjestin a Midlund ax-int mex yaow sairnd thick, ennit?
and?

Dammit, I just realised that should read sow-und, not sairnd, which is obviously how the southern (UK) nancy-boys would say it.

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:11 pm

Metal Vendetta
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:31:am Post subject:
'sloike surjestin a Midlund ax-int mex yaow sairnd thick, ennit?

Not being funny, but I am originally from Birmingham and I have probably the most un-brummie accent. But then thats because most people from Birmingham don't talk like that. People always confuse the Brummie accent with the Black Country accent. That does sound thick! Lol!

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:12 pm

I'm from the Black Country. 'Nuff said.

divebomb · Post by **divebomb** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:16 pm

Better a midlander though than a yuppie southerner!

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:20 pm

Being a Midlander in London suits me just fine. Proud as I am of my heritage, Walsall sucks as a place to live.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:34 pm

Oi downe now wha yoo orl tawkin bow. Thair bee no sush thin as an aksen. Thair be wot we tawks laik in the wess cunry, then thair be the nonsen orl yoo uh'ers tawks laik. Ainnit?

Cos yoo downe eefen knows wha it woz laiks cos yoos wairn e'en thair, laik. Yair but no but yair but no cos wot is woz laik shuddup coz you wasnt e'en thair!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:15 pm

divebomb wrote:Better a midlander though than a yuppie southerner!

Im a yuppie? - oh yeah im pretty much for ponce ville Bournemouth!

back on topic, Yanky Southerner - "hey ma!"

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:16 pm

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Post by **Best First** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:16 pm

just so we are clear, regardless of how you talk, i look down on all of you.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:32 pm

Best First wrote:just so we are clear, regardless of how you talk, i look down on all of you.

I feel the same to

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:25 pm

¿Está posiblé para mi a recibe el cheque ahora?

Just in case you wanted to know next time you were there, Robvee.

I should add a poll option for "I'm Besty and I Despise You All"

Post by **Best First** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:17 pm

its only polite.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:01 am

IronHide wrote:Whoever voted for ignorant racists can kiss my Oklahoma ass.

Sorry I thought that said KICK my Oklahoma ass. As in most football teams this year.. Boomer Sooner indeed

Geaux Tigers!!

And I hope that those that voted "racist" were joking..otherwise that hurts

IronHide · Post by **IronHide** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:53 pm

Optimus Prime Rib wrote:
IronHide wrote:Whoever voted for ignorant racists can kiss my Oklahoma ass.
Sorry I thought that said KICK my Oklahoma ass. As in most football teams this year.. Boomer Sooner indeed

Geaux Tigers!!

And I hope that those that voted "racist" were joking..otherwise that hurts

F the Sooners, they suck and this year they're proving it. I've never been an Oklahoma footbal fan.

Now Notre Dame, Florida State or Alabama are a different story.

LSU??

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:52 pm

Damn Straight LSU

harmony · Post by **harmony** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:47 am

Accent? What accent? Ok...in all seriousness, if you think about it, everyone has some sort of accent based on the region the live in. I probably have a "texas accent" due to living here my whole life (although Austin itself may have diluted it some) but I don't really notice it, even when talking to folks from other regions (i.e. NE US). Then again, I could probably passably speak in a large number of accents due to being a singer.
With regards to the Spanish thing....my father and I heard some "Spanglish" in a cafe awhile back....next time you need to tell someone to watch out..."watchale"

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:24 pm

Austin seems like a very cool place from my friends who have lived there. You ever been to Amy's Ice Cream? They worked there.

Oh, and incidentally, this was the core of my paper: Everyone has an accent (listen to Californians among Californians in California: I promise you, we all talk like we're stoned) but Southern accents are the only American regional accents that are used with a lot of pride outside the home region.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:33 pm

Austin's definitely very cool. There's a couple Amy's: the oldest one is a few blocks from my house.

As far as the accents, I agree with all the conclusions you've put hereforth, sprunkner.

I always thought Bostonian accents were way cooler, though. And Minnesotian accents are way lamer.

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Southern accents

Do American Southern accents imply: