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Okay, I took the accent test that everyone is taking and was shocked at how few questions were asked. Honestly, I can't imagine trying to pinpoint an accent with a few vowel sounds. Plus, there were many accent areas that were not covered as an option, in my opinion.
I also feel that, regardless of how we actually speak, we have an idea of what sounds "right" based upon how others speak. Some of us base it upon our childhood accents like those of our parents, other base it on the evening news that speak what I term Middle American. I call it that because it is the most enunciated, least area accent influenced American accent we have. It also has the least character, to me. So, if I were to have been slapped with a Northeast accent, it would have been because that's how my parents spoke to me in my formative years. To be more specific, they spoke to me with a Rhode Island accent specific to the Greater Providence area (because the smallest state is simply packed with accents that, much like London, can differ greatly from one neighbourhood to another within a few blocks).
I'm a bit of a Zelig. I pick up the accents of those around me all too easily in many ways. I recognize that some of my vowels in certain words readily reflect that accent, but most of them don't. When I was in Texas with Mom, I found myself speaking to them in a bit of their drawl and returning to Mom's house and speaking to her with her Rhode Island accent. I'm funny that way. *wink*
Having said that I feel the test is mightily inaccurate, having never lived in the Great Lakes area and, succeeded in dangling a participle or two in so doing, I hereby post my results.
I also feel that, regardless of how we actually speak, we have an idea of what sounds "right" based upon how others speak. Some of us base it upon our childhood accents like those of our parents, other base it on the evening news that speak what I term Middle American. I call it that because it is the most enunciated, least area accent influenced American accent we have. It also has the least character, to me. So, if I were to have been slapped with a Northeast accent, it would have been because that's how my parents spoke to me in my formative years. To be more specific, they spoke to me with a Rhode Island accent specific to the Greater Providence area (because the smallest state is simply packed with accents that, much like London, can differ greatly from one neighbourhood to another within a few blocks).
I'm a bit of a Zelig. I pick up the accents of those around me all too easily in many ways. I recognize that some of my vowels in certain words readily reflect that accent, but most of them don't. When I was in Texas with Mom, I found myself speaking to them in a bit of their drawl and returning to Mom's house and speaking to her with her Rhode Island accent. I'm funny that way. *wink*
Having said that I feel the test is mightily inaccurate, having never lived in the Great Lakes area and, succeeded in dangling a participle or two in so doing, I hereby post my results.
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop." | |
| The Northeast | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The Midland | |
| The South | |
| Boston | |
| The West | |
| North Central | |
| What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes | |
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I noticed a thing about picking up accents. It happens to me a little when I go visiting or have visitors from ND, but it was very noticeable with my sister, who went to school there. She picked up the accent, and at first it was very extreme, then settled into something... well, less accented. I'm thinking some part of her brain was trying to process the info, learn this new way of speaking, and hadn't quite sorted out how it worked. Does that make sense?
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