22 Maps That Show How Americans Speak English Totally Differently From Each Other

business insider ^

[SMGFan]

Everyone knows that Americans don't exactly agree on pronunciations. Regional accents are a major part of what makes American English so interesting as a dialect. Joshua Katz, a Ph. D student in statistics at North Carolina State University, just published a group of awesome visualizations of Professor Bert Voux's linguistic survey that looked at how Americans pronounce words. (via) detsl on /r/Linguistics His results were first published on Abstract, the N.C. State research blog.

[glennaro]

BTW — Laughed out loud at the “duck” jokes on your profile page. Really needed that today ... thanks!

[Aliska]

I don't think regional accents are as pronounced as they used to be, I mean southern drawl for example or I haven't heard many lately y'all. Midwestern and Eastern accents I know, but except for Minnesotans who have a distinct diction, it seems like the rest of the country has the same diction, probably due to modern communication.

There are modern ethnic differences which seem different but unless huge pockets of them, not regional.

What has always intrigued me is how all British immigrants started out with the way Britons spoke at the time but don't any more. There are Scottish and Irish brogue's, too; I'm no expert. The Britons still speak with a distinct accent but their descendants to the US unless immigrating very recently like our beloved Piers Morgan, have assumed the older local dialects. Midwestern used to be the one most sought after for TV broadcasting but now it's a tossup with the elitist British accent.

But why do Australians speak with a British accent? Their immigration was a little later but not that much, and several generations have elapsed. Is it because of their relative isolation despite modern communications? Canadians with the exception of the French Quebecois speak like Minnesotans.

[glennaro]

Interesting.

I recall reading somewhere that today's dialect spoken in the Baltimore-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh region hasn't changed much since Revolutionary times and is presumed similar to how English sounded in England at that time.

[livius]

It’s a Western thing, I guess. In NY it would be “feh-ry” as opposed to “fay-ry.” But I thought it was particularly funny in SF!

[Betty Jane]

I'm a New Yorker transplanted to the south. I asked my daughter's friend if he wanted to go to the movies or bowling with us. He said, "I don't care to." So I said "OK, we'll see you later." Daughter translated, "he wants to go, but it doesn't matter if it's bowling or movies."

I asked another kid if he wanted to get a pie with us. "What kind?" "Cheese, or pepperoni?" "Oh, you mean pizza. No, thanks, I wanted apple."

[lyby]

“Tennie shoes”!!!!! I can hear my Granny now, God rest her beautiful soul. :-)

[muir_redwoods]

I’m very sorry but everyone knows it’s a grinder

[pax_et_bonum]

ROFL!!!

(Tom Selleck - he is one attractive man.)

I remember when one if my older cousins had started first grade (no kindergarten then) and she was playing teacher and another cousin and I were students. (We were only five years old and very impressed that she was going to school.)

On the little blackboard she wrote “thing” and helped us to sound it out phonetically.

After we finished learning the word “thing” I asked her, “But how do you spell “thang”?

So, on the board she spelled it out phonetically: “t-h-a-n-g”.

:-)

[muir_redwoods]

In Connecticut, it’s called a devil strip

[Born to Conserve]

Hoagie? ‘Tsup? Jeet yet?

[pax_et_bonum]

You’re very welcome!

Glad you enjoyed them!

:-)

[steve86]

Pronounced the same way here — at least when I visit Puget Sound on the other side of the state where they have both ferries and fairies — often the latter riding the former.

[FlJoePa]

I’mboutto

[Aliska]

I recall reading somewhere that today's dialect spoken in the Baltimore-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh region hasn't changed much since Revolutionary times and is presumed similar to how English sounded in England at that time.

That's interesting, too. Hadn't seen or experienced that. After I posted, I realized it is possible to change one's accent. Which was the nightly news Canadian, think it was Peter Jennings. His speech was just like midwesterners.

Somehow those of us who have ancestors from anywhere do no longer speak like they probably did. Going back to the 1600's in New England, if their writing is any indication, we might not understand their manner of speaking.

It all had to have changed due to inculturation and the melting pot but doesn't explain your exception.

[pax_et_bonum]

I don’t think regional accents are as pronounced as they used to be, I mean southern drawl for example or I haven’t heard many lately y’all.
_________

Dang! Have you been to Texas?

;-)

[Born to Conserve]

I’ve heard that in the military, you say “nucular bomb”, but “nuclear family”.

[Vendome]

Mar-ray.

Mer-ree

Wha-ter

Woh-fer

Wuh-ter

[Aliska]

No, but I've heard them speak somehow. That drawl used to extend all along the coast eastward and north into Memphis but I don't notice it as much now.

GWB didn't speak like a Texas or did he?

I know where I came into close proximity of which you speak. The military and moving around the country. Had a couple friends from Texas ;-)

[taxcontrol]

A cosmo to me is an alcoholic drink.

[pax_et_bonum]

I’m a New Yorker transplanted to the south. I asked my daughter’s friend if he wanted to go to the movies or bowling with us. He said, “I don’t care to.” So I said “OK, we’ll see you later.” Daughter translated, “he wants to go, but it doesn’t matter if it’s bowling or movies.”
I asked another kid if he wanted to get a pie with us. “What kind?” “Cheese, or pepperoni?” “Oh, you mean pizza. No, thanks, I wanted apple.”
_________

I have never heard “I don’t care to”, but “I don”t care” is very common and seems to be part of the southern hospitality tradition.

However, pie is never, ever pizza!!! Lol! I’ll bet he got a kick out of that!

Welcome to the south! We’re very friendly here.

:-)