More of Y'all Might End Up Talking Like Us, Here Directly

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 21, 2005 | Bo Emerson [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

[Paul Atreides]

I don't need people moving in from other parts of the country and adapting to the ways of speaking to validate my speech.

[conservative cat]

I believe it. I used to live in the South as a (military brat) child. Whenever I hear people with certain Southern accents speak, I start picking it up again really fast.

[LdSentinal]

It's more likely that arrivals will end up speaking Southern, he says,

Let's hope they will end up voting Southern.

[R. Scott]

That's good to hear!

[TNdandelion]

Well...the least we can do is teach them how to do it right!

[Noachian]

Could America's mouth be heading south?

The only thing that bothers me about New York liberals moving to the South is their annoying habit of trying to change the place they moved to into the place they left.

Does the South really need a southern edition of the New York Times, and a Starbucks in every pasture?

[CarolinaGuitarman]

I was born and raised on Long Island, but have been in NC for the last 13 years (since age 21). I don't even notice southern accents at all any more, but when I hear someone from NY it just sounds so odd now.

I have been told that I have picked up a little of the accent myself, though I am sure it is hard to tell with your own speech. I did pick up the voting habit not long after arriving too, losing my short-lived college socialist ways lol. I can't imagine ever moving back up north.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I'm from upstate NY and my wife was born in Atlanta and raised there and in North Florida. She tells me that my speaking style has shifted some, from since we met -- though the main thing is that I no longer speak as fast as a squirrel that's O.D.'ed on caffeine.

My wife's voice will shift with who she's talking to. Her ex-long-term SO was from Brooklyn and she'll tend to towards the accent of anyone she's speaking to. She'll almost out-Brooklyn my parents (who were both born and raised in Brooklyn, though don't have too much of the accent anymore), unless she's annoyed with them, at which time she'll get really Southern. Her default seems to be slightly Dixie.

The funny thing is my nine-year-old son, who speaks mainly with a northern/standard American accent -- until he drops a "y'all" in there, which almost sounds like it's another voice.

[TNdandelion]

"Does the South really need a southern edition of the New York Times, and a Starbucks in every pasture?"

Too late! They've already invaded us down here!

[TNdandelion]

As a matter of fact, the Starbucks opened up before our first Walgreen's did! That's just sad.

[llevrok]

New Yorkers meet the South:

Some how, "Bless your heart, go F yer sef" just doesn't sound right.

[Capriole]

Well...the least we can do is teach them how to do it right!

Yes, it's not "directly," per the title, but "dreckly." Gracious sakes, if they're going to talk Southern, at least they can get it right.

[stinkerpot65]

Redneck Jihad!!

It's all a part of our evil plan to dominate the world.

[Ditter]

Boy have they EVER invaded. A goof ball of a stand up comedian announced that he had found the 'end of the earth' and that it was in Houston. His reasoning was that in Houston there is a Starbucks across the street from a Starbucks, and to him that meant it was the 'end of the earth'. That location for any of you who have been searching for the 'end of the earth' is the corner of Shepherd and West Gray. ;9)

[SmithL]

But only in season, I'm sure.
; )

[Billthedrill]

It isn't all bad. I was once in a restaurant in Missouri when I heard a New York voice asking what "chit-ter-lings" were. Shoulda seen the look on the waitress's face...

[NHResident]

Actually, I believe it was the late, great historian Daniel Boorstin described the speech in Colonial America (including Boston) as more like what you would hear in the deep South with English overlay - not the nasal horror that exists today.

[righttackle44]

I speak South. Being raised in Southern Baptist churches, I learned it. Until I was 35, I thought it was the No'th Phoenix Baptist Chu'ch.

Still sounds good to me.

[VRWCer]

"Does the South really need a southern edition of the New York Times, and a Starbucks in every pasture?"

AAARRGGGHHHH!!! That's what I ran away from, and am living here in halcyon bliss in GA (How 'bout a big shout out, Y'ALL!!!!)!!!! (well, ok, we do have lots of Starbuck's here, but good coffee I can live with - so long as I also get the pleasure of grits, BBQ, "sweet tea", and The Varsity!!!)