Holy whah! Some Yoopers fear colorful dialect may be fading

AP ^ | 2-22-04 | John Flesher

[Dan from Michigan]

I have a lot of respect for anyone that can take a Yooper winter year in and year out, eh?

[Licensed-To-Carry]

"The Killing of the Big Pig"

I hope it's not as tough to eat as it was tough to kill?

[WorkingClassFilth]

"What you hear depends on where in the peninsula you are, and on the age and social class of the speaker."

My wife's kin would second that. Plenty of good Yoopers left out there, eh.

[martin_fierro]

Took a summer trip once to Houghton/Hancock.

Was impressed by how downtown Houghton looked like a Habitrail (glass-walled walkways to get from building to building during the winter snows); by how people in the area just left their homes unlocked; and by how a Pasty (PAH-sty) sticks to one's ribs.

It was a cool place to visit. In summer. <|:)~

[cameronsmom]

I am originally frum nordern Minneesotah, so I know dat de way i useta talk boddered some people. I'll never ferget da yoopers song: The 2nd week of deer camp.

Dat was a good one, eh!

Actually, Now that I dont live up there, my "accent" fades, but wait until i get mad, then the accent comes right back!!!

http://www.dayoopers.com/

[Paleo Conservative]

Dan Junttila is a proud Yooper. So proud that he teaches a course at the local middle school on the history and culture of his beloved Upper Peninsula.

Why is the "Upper Peninsula" a part of Michigan? If you look at a map, it should be part of Wisconsin.

[cameronsmom]

I just made pasties the other night!! Too Funny!

[Gigantor]

'Many of the most commonly known "Yooperisms" show the Finnish influence, such as the substitution of a "d" sound for "th," as in "dere" instead of "there" or "dem" instead of "them."'

Dese guys in Brooklyn have been doin' dis for a long time.

[radiohead]

There were Finnish newspapers, churches

There still are. My late mother-in-law was a Yooper who laced every sentence with 'eh.' My son would go visit his grandparents in Ann Arbor each summer, and then they would caravan back to the greatgrandma's farm in the UP for a few weeks.

The folks up there are Finnish Apostolic Lutheran w/a low tolerance for a lot of worldliness like drinking and card playing, tho getting the whole family naked in the sauna is not a problem.

These people haven't met a food product that can't be improved by adding butter or cheese. When my son and I came up for my husband's funeral, the first thing my MIL did was give us a bag of cheese to take back to the hotel. : ) To heck w/the funeral - let's eat some cheese.

Was impressed by ... how a Pasty (PAH-sty) sticks to one's ribs.

For years my late husband wanted to start making pasties on a commercial basis (starting in my kitchen, of course). He thought he would be bringing civilization to the east coast. Between that and trying to get me to make some Scandinavian cheese his grandma used to make, we had some interesting arguments our first years of marriage.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

When filmmaker Jeff Daniels made "Escanaba in da Moonlight," an offbeat 2001 comedy larded with U.P. stereotypes and exaggerated renderings of the dialect, some complained it was demeaning. But other Yoopers took it in stride, considering it a celebration of the region's traditions

demaning nothin,that movie was great!

[martin_fierro]

Get over here, eh. Ya hosers.

[Dan from Michigan]

The old story was over the Toledo War. There was a 'war' over Toledo fought between Ohio and Michigan.

The feds jumped in and Michigan won it and got the UP, while Ohio lost and was forced to keep Toledo.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Ahhh, heck... I been livin in Texas for fourteen years now, but I just gotta talk to my Ma or one a my udder relatives for a few minutes for my accent to come right back to me.

It just sorta slips out, eh?

[Iris7]

The Upper Peninsula is a wonderful place. There are marvelous rural people, and you can actually get away from power poles, roads, and sky glow.

Not as cold in the winter as many would think, but there can be a lot of snow.

[Squantos]

Stationed at Old Kincheloe AFB 4 years in early 70's and know what ya speak of.....cool and deep to say the least ! What about the Unicorns ? Yoopers ??????..........LMAO !

Stay Safe Dan !

[Rose in RoseBear]

I'm a San Antonio girl; my husband is from the U.P.

The first time I tried to make pasties (from my non-cooking M-I-L's recipe, save me), I mixed up the potatoes and the hamburger, and it seemed so bland ... so I added whole-kernel corn, and chili powder, and garlic.

You'd've thought I put nails in the durn things. He cou;dn't wait to get back up there and get one of the authentic ones! And poured ketchup all over it!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

And poured ketchup all over it!

Mmmmmm... you're making me hungry!

[cameronsmom]

I was always told, the way to say "sauna" is sow-nah. When I moved, everyone else said saw-nah. That always bugged me!

I loved going in the sauna when I was younger, the getting out and jumping in the lake when the top row got too hot!!!

I agree that butter or cheese can make almost anything better...

Did i mention I am 90+% scandanavian...yep 5'2" tall, ornery and stubborn as all heck.

[Rose in RoseBear]

I dunno ... I was up there last Labor Day, and didn't notice that there was a lack of accent in Iron River ...

I get that accent all over me, like powder, and then I start talking in some weird Texas drawl/Yooper accent myself. Scary, it is!

[cameronsmom]

Mee too! Ketchup and butter!