tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post2221857979308843062..comments2023-11-03T03:07:25.408-07:00Comments on The Lyon's Tale: WNW: Mr. Smith, You Have an Accent TooAnnette Lyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-81077588150039653642010-01-08T15:53:31.696-07:002010-01-08T15:53:31.696-07:00I live in Utah and it gets annyoing when people ma...I live in Utah and it gets annyoing when people make fun of my accent. Yea it's weird and I don't know why but I love the accent and I think there is nothing wrong with it. Why is it also California people that think it's the funniest?Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627076214349877377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-80035935482318405192009-11-19T06:58:11.292-07:002009-11-19T06:58:11.292-07:00Lynxsey, Thanks for dropping by! And Scotland'...Lynxsey, Thanks for dropping by! And Scotland's a great example. My sister attended an English-speaking international high school in Frankfurt for a year.<br /><br />By the time she came home, she could distinguish British accents as well as Henry Higgins--she could correctly guess where student originally lived, even if it was only about 50 miles from another dialect. It was amazing.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-6463697749416512972009-11-18T22:07:43.482-07:002009-11-18T22:07:43.482-07:00Thanks for this smart post! I didn't believe I...Thanks for this smart post! I didn't believe I had an accent until a Canadian could tell I was Californian even though I was calling from Colorado. I think the verbal ticks of each region help make it unique and memorable--I loved that in such a small country like Scotland there was such a difference between even small towns apart in the dialect.Lynxseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01213785236618927732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-57358567223516708822009-10-10T16:12:05.643-07:002009-10-10T16:12:05.643-07:00OM, I would have said CRAY-ON with no hesitation, ...OM, I would have said CRAY-ON with no hesitation, that CRANN in something you'd find in only a handful of dialects. But here's a bit of a trippy one:<br /><br />Meriam-Webster online has CRAY-on as the main pronounciation, but then it says, "also" and puts the "CRANN" one.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-90391116962979263542009-10-10T15:59:01.174-07:002009-10-10T15:59:01.174-07:00Fascinating post! I grow up in Los Angeles and th...Fascinating post! I grow up in Los Angeles and then lived in Provo for 9 years and I have now been in the Pacific Northwest for 6 years. I think my accent morphs depending on whose company I am in. Though I would be really curious to know what my main dialect is.<br /><br />And am I the only one who sometimes has a hard time hearing the slight difference in people's dialects? Sometimes things sound the same to me?! <br /><br />Also, I am with other people on this one. When we're talking Crayola...is it cray-on or crann?An Ordinary Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497066145696617241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-73801839180673201622009-10-09T08:36:42.783-07:002009-10-09T08:36:42.783-07:00A southern girl here, and one that can definitely ...A southern girl here, and one that can definitely turn on a "southern accent". <br /><br />Great post. The thing is, the judgement can go way beyond just picking on how someone sounds. I met someone not from the south who very ignorantly assumed that all people from the south wave confederate flags and cry over the day that slavery was defeated. To them, southern equaled racist. End of story. That's just narrow minded.Jenny P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16632739365854048008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-23114126409196841502009-10-08T17:54:21.923-07:002009-10-08T17:54:21.923-07:00When I moved from Utah to So Cal as a 16 year old,...When I moved from Utah to So Cal as a 16 year old, I noticed (and mocked) the (as I called it) "whiny A": i.e. "Hey Emily, I like your PEEants!"<br />When another new girl moved in our Senior year from the East Coast she was thrilled that I said her name, Johanna, right. Jo-hah-na instead of Jo-heeah-na.<br />But one California friend always mocked me for saying the word "tour" like "poor". She said it "too-er". <br /><br />As an adult, we lived on the East Coast and I loved the accents. But I did wonder how my son would ever learn to say his "r's" when his kindergarten teacher was always dropping hers and relocating them to the middle of other words! :)acte gratuithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11168815832920494463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-1844647608664039532009-10-08T09:28:24.092-07:002009-10-08T09:28:24.092-07:00What's interesting to me is how my own accent ...What's interesting to me is how my own accent morphs depending on where I am or in whose company I am. I say words differently around my Swiss mother-in-law than around my Texan brother-in-law or my pals from Brooklyn or New Jersey.<br /><br />I'm sure linguists have a name for that kind of chameleon-ism, too.Luisa Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15310698422276446909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-1140335973525812262009-10-08T07:56:23.215-07:002009-10-08T07:56:23.215-07:00I do remember having my Utahn roommate say "k...I do remember having my Utahn roommate say "kitten" over and over and snickering a bit.<br /><br />My almost-five-year-old seems to have picked up a northeastern "a" from somewhere. No idea where she got that from, but other friends have reported similar experiences with their children.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11584075071891748174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-5982007256850024412009-10-08T07:13:56.522-07:002009-10-08T07:13:56.522-07:00I was raised in Western Mass by two San Diegans. ...I was raised in Western Mass by two San Diegans. People back east always thought I sounded "Californian." My CA-with-a-TX-twang husband and others who know the area think I sound like a New Englander. Although I believe that has more to do with my word usage rather than my accent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-82208498079974180912009-10-08T00:29:40.423-07:002009-10-08T00:29:40.423-07:00LIAR! I do NOT have an accent!! :) This is a li...LIAR! I do NOT have an accent!! :) This is a little problem for me because I hear the accent when (some) Utahns speak, even though I'm from there (till age 11). Of course there's the dialect stuff, but I really think there's a lot of accent, too. Dragging out the vowels and pronouncing the Rs more strongly and stuff like that. It's definitely only some Utahns, though. <br /><br />I don't recognize any of the examples you gave as being a California accent, at least not from where I lived (LA County). <br /><br />Also, I think anyone who pronounces the "t" in mountain, kitten or button is a wierdo. :)LisAwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03299284773832500834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-28613131623330852362009-10-07T21:40:59.708-07:002009-10-07T21:40:59.708-07:00So interesting and so true. And I agree. I totally...So interesting and so true. And I agree. I totally dislike it when people are ragging on each other for something when they're clearly just the same or doing it also. <br /><br />(Wow now I'm a little nervous that my word choices and placements are gonna make you squeemy with 'wrongness'. Haha)Cranberryfrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04384164423414892482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-61360003240050040502009-10-07T20:33:51.496-07:002009-10-07T20:33:51.496-07:00I am from CA but I live in Utah now. I tend to thi...I am from CA but I live in Utah now. I tend to think that the pronunciation pointed out here is more lie 80's "Valley Girl" talk rather than typical CA talk. We can find people that talk crazy wherever we are. My kids growing up in Utah talk more and more "local" all the time.Sabrinamommynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-16634232146018194292009-10-07T20:14:53.846-07:002009-10-07T20:14:53.846-07:00Great post, Annette.
As a southerner, I am more t...Great post, Annette.<br /><br />As a southerner, I am more than aware of my dialect. I only made the mistake once of telling my roommates I was "fixin'" to go do something. And my speech major mother did what she could to enforce an American standard, neutral accent, but when your dad sounds just like Andy Griffith, a southern accent is bound to happen.<br /><br />My roommates and I came to an agreement the first week at BYU: I promised to pronounce Nevada and Colorado their way if they would pronounce Appalachian my way.<br /><br />And their ridicule gave me license to make fun of the one Utah thing they all had in common: the univowel: pan, pen, pin -- the letter doesn't matter, because the pronunciation of all three of these words is IDENTICAL.InkMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05519976062467674531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-75447632275780644072009-10-07T17:24:47.819-07:002009-10-07T17:24:47.819-07:00That's a good post. I do sometimes get tired ...That's a good post. I do sometimes get tired of people making fun of the "utah accent" --duh, sounds normal to uthans -----YOU have the accent dip wad. Now that I am in Canada, I have the Yankee accent I am told, but I think Canadians talk funny. No matter where you are ---it is different from where you've been------and one is as good as the other. <br />don't cha know ehwendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13619293936418976914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-24592569845118073802009-10-07T15:41:16.666-07:002009-10-07T15:41:16.666-07:00I've only been to Canada once, but my Grandmot...I've only been to Canada once, but my Grandmother grew up there. My dad, her son grew up in So. California. Anyway every so often I'll be talking to someone on the phone, or meeting someone for the first time, and they'll ask if I'm Canadian. I truly can't figure out what they hear. I don't talk about beer or say "eh."<br /><br />P.S. thanks for the movie advice, I am so going now.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03985546313521890273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-11651565324165931592009-10-07T15:40:10.305-07:002009-10-07T15:40:10.305-07:00I love your blog. This one made me think of my ne...I love your blog. This one made me think of my neighbor-friend who says "crayon" as "crown". HUH?Julie Phttp://rarelyhomemom.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-7076242890875188652009-10-07T15:20:25.219-07:002009-10-07T15:20:25.219-07:00I might have to print this.
My hubby's a Uta...I might have to print this. <br /><br />My hubby's a Utahn and I'm a Michigander. Both very distinct accents. (Or dialects?) We love to heckle each other constantly, but we're both well aware that EVERYONE SPEAKS FUNNY TO SOMEONE ELSE.<br /><br />I'll never understand why Utah gets so much flak. It bugs. Majorly.That Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006763952612909570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-65762957974694856602009-10-07T13:19:29.905-07:002009-10-07T13:19:29.905-07:00I'm a dialectal chameleon. Within minutes I b...I'm a dialectal chameleon. Within minutes I begin mimicking the speech patterns of those around me. This has at many times in the past been acutely embarrassing. Most notably when a friend from Australia came to visit us for a week.<br /><br />But then I toss in a few eh's just to muddy the waters, as it were...Kimberly Vanderhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01653757517652257445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-79173453525773512952009-10-07T13:17:12.929-07:002009-10-07T13:17:12.929-07:00Charlie, I never would have guessed.
:D :D :D :D...Charlie, I never would have guessed. <br /><br />:D :D :D :D :DAnnette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-91341497899866672912009-10-07T13:09:02.141-07:002009-10-07T13:09:02.141-07:00I don't know about all these dialects and acce...I don't know about all these dialects and accents and all of that. I just know the way I talk is normal.<br /><br />As an Idahoan, I was taught from near birth that Utahans were the master race. Not Californians or anybody else. Luckily, many of my ancestors are buried in Utah cemeteries so I'm covered.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I'm joking.<br /><br />CharlieCharlie Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09650519124948533925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-82709614966350762762009-10-07T13:07:43.184-07:002009-10-07T13:07:43.184-07:00I think this is one of my favorite posts of yours....I think this is one of my favorite posts of yours. I love listening for dialects and trying to parse out the geographic origins--so fun!Carinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13859567470814286102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-34574948543813233902009-10-07T13:02:47.567-07:002009-10-07T13:02:47.567-07:00I love dialects. (My Fair Lady and all that. I wis...I love dialects. (My Fair Lady and all that. I wish I could be Professor Higgins half of the time.) I don't care where a person hails from, I just lvoe listening to them. On the other hand, when they rag on me because of the way I sound, that's when I pull out the big guns. ;)<br /><br />I could kiss you for that website reference. That's just playtime!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-26310419976799451552009-10-07T12:39:02.502-07:002009-10-07T12:39:02.502-07:00The Utah dialect makes learning to spell a nightma...The Utah dialect makes learning to spell a nightmare. My kids can never tell if they should use a d or a t. They write wader instead of water. I try to pronounce all my t's but it's hard to remember all the time. <br /><br />I knew someone (an English professor at Westminster) who had a foreign exchange student. She asked the student to clean her room. The student said, "What's a yerroom?"Janice Sperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00178805752960449557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29222764.post-18851223830724452802009-10-07T12:28:25.404-07:002009-10-07T12:28:25.404-07:00Rob, I doubt it's a mumbling thing. I'll h...Rob, I doubt it's a mumbling thing. I'll have to pay more attention now, but my gut says it's a vowel thing. Utahns tend to drag out their vowels, which can confuse the heck out of foreigners.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.com