Comments on: Southern Accents Today http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29 A Blog about Words and Language(s) from alphaDictionary.com Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.6 By: Meade http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-112958 Meade Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:47:51 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-112958 In regards to "oot and "aboot" in Virginia and Canada- those are simply not the same. The Virginia (which I'm from) pronunciation is much much more precise- and it has a drawl (of course) to it. Canadians lean more towards "aboat" or "oat". Its not as crisp I'm a life-long Virginian and get irked when untrained ears say we sound Canadian. Y'all! In regards to “oot and “aboot” in Virginia and Canada- those are simply not the same. The Virginia (which I’m from) pronunciation is much much more precise- and it has a drawl (of course) to it. Canadians lean more towards “aboat” or “oat”. Its not as crisp
I’m a life-long Virginian and get irked when untrained ears say we sound Canadian. Y’all!

]]> By: rbeard http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-86167 rbeard Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:17:39 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-86167 Ruth, You are referring to two different dialect features. Pronouncing the "ou" in words like house, out, about like the "ow" in low, is called "Canadian Raising" by US linguists. You hear it in central Canada and around Norfolk, Virginia. In the same areas, the "ai" sound in words like hide, ride, snide become "uh-i" before consonants p, b, k, s, sh, and ch, e.g. right, kite, bike. This latter shift in pronunciation you will hear in northern New Jersey and most of New York, too. This is a dialectal feature of Scots English and was brought over by Scottish settlers. The John Edwards "o", i.e. uh-u, is from the upper class British dialect. Listen to Queen Elizabeth: her pronunciation of "o" will sound like an exaggeration of John Edwards. This is a characteristic of urban southern dialects since most of the upper class British settlers ended up in cities, in fact, running them. Too bad Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race. I liked him--and not just because I'm from North Carolina. Ruth,

You are referring to two different dialect features. Pronouncing the “ou” in words like house, out, about like the “ow” in low, is called “Canadian Raising” by US linguists. You hear it in central Canada and around Norfolk, Virginia.

In the same areas, the “ai” sound in words like hide, ride, snide become “uh-i” before consonants p, b, k, s, sh, and ch, e.g. right, kite, bike. This latter shift in pronunciation you will hear in northern New Jersey and most of New York, too.

This is a dialectal feature of Scots English and was brought over by Scottish settlers.

The John Edwards “o”, i.e. uh-u, is from the upper class British dialect. Listen to Queen Elizabeth: her pronunciation of “o” will sound like an exaggeration of John Edwards. This is a characteristic of urban southern dialects since most of the upper class British settlers ended up in cities, in fact, running them.

Too bad Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race. I liked him–and not just because I’m from North Carolina.

]]> By: Ruth Canon http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-86157 Ruth Canon Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:25:34 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-86157 I am interested in the southern accents that pronounce about as aboot, and around as aroond, much like John Edwards pronounces know as kneoo(short e). I once asked a physician who spoke with those pronunciations, and he said they were peculiar to a couple of areas of Virginia, and Canada, as well. I have assumed they must have emanated from Scots who originally settled there. Does anyone really know the origin? Thanks I am interested in the southern accents that pronounce about as aboot, and around as aroond, much like John Edwards pronounces know as kneoo(short e). I once asked a physician who spoke with those pronunciations, and he said they were peculiar to a couple of areas of Virginia, and Canada, as well. I have assumed they must have emanated from Scots who originally settled there. Does anyone really know the origin?
Thanks

]]> By: Jenny http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-76448 Jenny Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:09:19 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-76448 I am very pleased that you have looked into this fascinating part of our language practices! I am also a southern NC person interested in the southern regional dialect. Have you found any research on its origins? I am very pleased that you have looked into this fascinating part of our language practices! I am also a southern NC person interested in the southern regional dialect. Have you found any research on its origins?

]]> By: rbeard http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-26128 rbeard Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:26:55 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-26128 Actually, I commented recently that my grandneices and grandnephews in Cumberland County, NC are all speaking with the Midwestern accents of radio and TV. You would never know suspect them to be children of their parents, who still speak with a strong rural NC dialect. I can only assume that they pick up this dialect in school where they mingle with army kids who come from the north under the influence of radio and TV. Actually, I commented recently that my grandneices and grandnephews in Cumberland County, NC are all speaking with the Midwestern accents of radio and TV. You would never know suspect them to be children of their parents, who still speak with a strong rural NC dialect. I can only assume that they pick up this dialect in school where they mingle with army kids who come from the north under the influence of radio and TV.

]]> By: Gary T. Meek http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29&cpage=1#comment-76 Gary T. Meek Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:56:27 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=29#comment-76 I don't have any sources to cite at the moment, but recent research suggests that children's accents/dialects are generally more influenced by the speech of their peers than of their parents. This seemed strange to me when I first read it, but made more sense the more I thought about it. What say you, Dr.? I don’t have any sources to cite at the moment, but recent research suggests that children’s accents/dialects are generally more influenced by the speech of their peers than of their parents. This seemed strange to me when I first read it, but made more sense the more I thought about it. What say you, Dr.?

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