<p>thumper - I’m in New Haven.</p>
<p>Cousins live in SE CT & I went to college in the area for 2 years. We always went to the ‘package store’ and Saturdays at 5pm was a panicked ‘packy run’, as no liquor was sold on Sundays.</p>
<p>Then tranferred to college in WisCANsin and could not understand my roommate (from a small town an hour NW of Milwaukee) for several weeks. She could not pronounce a short ‘o’. The word ‘cot’ came out ‘caught’ or ‘cut’. Very Fargo-like and this was before Fargo came out. </p>
<p>I love the accents of Western Canada, even the professionals I do business with in Calgary & Vancouver sound like they are an extra from Fargo.</p>
<p>We have "ants rather than “onts” in the PNW too.</p>
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Yes, we are known to skip the “r” where it is and add it where it doesn’t belong.</p>
<p>For me it was culture shock moving from the San Joaquin Valley to Los Angeles. I’d tell people I was from the Valley, which is what we called it, and they’d respond oh, where, I’m from Encino. Then I’d have to clarify. In Northern California, they called it the Big Valley. </p>
<p>Being from the SJV, it was funny when people from out of state would ask if I went to the beach all the time. I’d have to tell them it was nearly 2 hours away.</p>
<p>from Chicago, now live in southern Ohio. I can’t get used to how an item “needs fixed” (ie., to be fixed) or how the grass “needs mowed.”</p>
<h1>81–Must’ve been a southerner asking for your pen. Midwesterners do distinguish between short “i” and “e.” You will find some “southern” accents in parts of the midwest–especially in the Ozarks–S. MO.</h1>
<p>(H is a southerner, I’m a midwesterner–we’ve lived in a bunch of different states, mostly in the south and midwest. We always joke about the phrase “Limmee see yer pin” = “Let me borrow your pen”)</p>
<p>Southerners/midwesterners going to the northeast sometimes perceive the “natives” as mean or rude because they seem rushed, impatient, don’t stop to chat, don’t open doors, honk a lot, don’t hesitate to argue/express opinions, swear, etc.</p>
<p>I am a Midwesterner, though I grew up in a hick town (not a judgement, believe me). To most people I have a what has been described as a faster Southern accent. I had a problem with the pin/pen thing before I had it ridiculed out of me when I moved to CA. I also grew up saying Warshington or warshing dishes. Where I grew up everyone said skillet instead of frying pan, but when I went to college, even fellow Hoosiers thought I was crazy.</p>
<p>boysx3— yes!! My good friends from the Pittsburgh area say that. My other friends tease them---- “Hey!! Love the infinitive! Please!!!”</p>
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<p>No, they were hoosiers. Also noticed “like that” and “like this” were combined to a likeyat and a likeyis…but they had plenty of ammo on me not pronouncing my “ahs”…lol</p>
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<p>As a west-coast Canadian relocated to the Deep South, I heartily second mathmom’s observation. People from the glowering regions who move south should be apprised that when they are out going about their business, if a stranger such as a fellow shopper or retail cashier attempts to engage in conversation, they are not (necessarily) slightly deranged or socially maladjusted, nor mistaking you for someone they already know. Glowering is not a locally acceptable response, either.</p>
<p>MizzBee–Are you from southern Indiana?
In St. Louis, “Hoosier” is an insult = hillbilly/WT. But I know St. Louis natives that say “Warshington” and “Farty-Far and Farty” (Hwy 44 & 40).
There is a band of Appalachian culture that runs from SE OH, through S IN, S IL, to the MO Ozarks. I suppose you’d find that accent in rural areas south of I-70.
(I’m originally from SW OH, urban area. I never have said “needs fixed” or “needs mowed.” However, after living in Arkansas for many years, I might say “wants fixin’” or “wants a mowin’.” I even had “Y’all” and “Do wut?” jump out of my mouth a few times.)</p>
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College students in CT (those over age 21 anyway) will be happy to know that as of last month, liquor is now sold in the state on Sundays.
That usage, which sounds just horribly ungrammatical to me, entered my kids’ speech when we had a nanny from Montana. Then there was the nanny from Wisconsin who told me she was making us a “salad” to have with dinner–it turned out to a concoction of green jello and mini marshmallows.</p>
<p>I’ll add a non-language caveat to those attending college in DC: When on the Metro escalator, always step to the right to allow those in a hurry to walk past, or you’ll get death stares and mumbled imprecations.</p>
<p>I go to school in upstate CT and live in Southern CT and lived before in NY and before I went to school up there, I have never heard the term packy. When my friend said last yr she was going to the packy or for a packy run, I was really confused. Goes to show what a difference two hours makes. </p>
<p>Also, up there, since they’re really close to MA, they say wicked and other slang words I don’t really use. Since I’m really close to NY, like under ten minutes, I use a lot of slang from the city or the Bronx that gets them pretty confused, haha. I use a lot of slang at home and use less of it up there, just because I don’t want people to keep asking me what each word means and laughing at me. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>atamom, I am from Western Indiana, close to the Illinois border. I always tell people that when yu look at a map of Indiana there is a stretch that appears to be uninhabilted (the middle of nowhere). I grew up smack dab in the middle of that blank space. Luckily, most of the country is out of me-except the accent after drinking.</p>
<p>I’ve been out of SE PA since about 17 and some people still tag me as from there. One bit is"our" and whether it’s pronounced hour or are. I love the expression in eastern VA: I’m going to carry my wife out to dinner tonight. Means take her out.</p>
<p>When you say package stores, you mean “state stores” or just “liquor stores?” We tell our kids about the days of state stores. Had 'em in VA and PA. I also never hear “packy run.” But, brings to mind: in CA, we bought wine at the grocery stores. Not here. It was one of the things we missed when Trader Joes showed up.</p>
<p>Speaking of TJ’s, I think the store in Cambridge was the first up here- they told me the place was packed, the first few weeks, with people who’d relocated from S.CA and were excited.</p>
<p>One other thing about New England- we’ve got commuters, sure, especially outside Boston. But nothing like in CA, where friends would drive 60 miles one way to work. When I first moved here, a 20 minute trip was considered a long run, an exception, a trip to the beach in summer or some particular mall in December. In CA, we’d often drive an hour just for dinner.</p>
<p>@mizz Isn’t it funny how accents come back with drinking? The only time my mom’s weird British/Spanish accent comes out is after drinking. I think it’s hilarious.</p>
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<p>Interesting. I’m from the northeast, but I’ve never heard anyone use the term “take a motel overnight.” Where exactly will you be taking it? 
I guess it’s sort of like taking a shower? I’ve never stopped to think about that one. </p>
<p>I’ve always been under the impression that “cot” = “caught” but that could be because I’m used to pronouncing “caught” with a short “o” sound. </p>
<p>I also found it funny when a friend from the midwest referred to “mold wine.” Gross!! Then I realized she was saying “mulled wine.” ohhhhh</p>
<p>Just thought of another one. I grew up in farm country and sweet corn is abundant (and very tasty). We call it rosinears- short for roasting ears.</p>
<p>My co-worker from Pittsburgh says “needs fixed,needs washed,needs cleaned”. I know it’s a regional thing for her but she’s not in PA anymore and it just sounds wrong to my southern ears.</p>