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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
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Different accents within a family
I've got a question about accents I've always wondered about. Out of my two aunts (sisters) the oldest has always had a different accent than the other two sisters, and it's always something we've kinda laughed about, but I've always wondered where it came from and why she has it.
My grandma was born in the South, and the oldest was born in Texas (logically, she should have a Texas accent if it should differ, but she doesn't). The other two in California. The family moved to California when the oldest sister was around 4.
Basically, we all have General American Southern California accents. But, the oldest has an inexplicable Northeastern/Midwestern nasal accent. I'd call it a cross between "Larchmount Lockjaw" and Ohio. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow did a hilarious mimic of it on "Saturday Night Live", charactized by a phrase like "oh honey". Very nasal, Fran Drescher, like. Her husband was a 1st generation American from Germany. They've lived in California all of their lives, except for about two years in the early part of their marriage where they lived for a brief time in Ohio.
The rest of us have a garden variety Southern California accent with traces of Southern from my Grandma. We'll vascilliate between that and Southern when talking with her. I've always wondering if my aunt (the one with the nasal accent) has always talked this way, or if it an affectation that was never dropped.
Is it a social or class issue? Can a person adopt a "foreign" accent from a different circle of friends. I've always thought that children would frequently adopt an accent of a new environment, but not an adult, and not after leaving there (Ohio) for several years. Does an Ohio (Midwestern) accent have prestige in California?
Does anyone else have a set of siblings where one or all of you have differing accents even though you've had similar childhoods and life experiences?
As, I've given it some thought myself, my early years were dominated in a private school were phonetics and the proper pronunication of words was stressed. I'd never given it much thought, but I do notice I talk differently than many around me, but not the nasal accent, more the standard broadcast American English. I'd always considered that mainly a UK phenomenon concerning accents and its effects from early education.
Anyway, anybody else in a family with differing accents, or know a family like this?
Larry
My grandma was born in the South, and the oldest was born in Texas (logically, she should have a Texas accent if it should differ, but she doesn't). The other two in California. The family moved to California when the oldest sister was around 4.
Basically, we all have General American Southern California accents. But, the oldest has an inexplicable Northeastern/Midwestern nasal accent. I'd call it a cross between "Larchmount Lockjaw" and Ohio. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow did a hilarious mimic of it on "Saturday Night Live", charactized by a phrase like "oh honey". Very nasal, Fran Drescher, like. Her husband was a 1st generation American from Germany. They've lived in California all of their lives, except for about two years in the early part of their marriage where they lived for a brief time in Ohio.
The rest of us have a garden variety Southern California accent with traces of Southern from my Grandma. We'll vascilliate between that and Southern when talking with her. I've always wondering if my aunt (the one with the nasal accent) has always talked this way, or if it an affectation that was never dropped.
Is it a social or class issue? Can a person adopt a "foreign" accent from a different circle of friends. I've always thought that children would frequently adopt an accent of a new environment, but not an adult, and not after leaving there (Ohio) for several years. Does an Ohio (Midwestern) accent have prestige in California?
Does anyone else have a set of siblings where one or all of you have differing accents even though you've had similar childhoods and life experiences?
As, I've given it some thought myself, my early years were dominated in a private school were phonetics and the proper pronunication of words was stressed. I'd never given it much thought, but I do notice I talk differently than many around me, but not the nasal accent, more the standard broadcast American English. I'd always considered that mainly a UK phenomenon concerning accents and its effects from early education.
Anyway, anybody else in a family with differing accents, or know a family like this?
Larry
Top answer
[nq:1]My grandma was born in the South, and the oldest was born in Texas (logically, she should have a Texas accent if it should differ, but she doesn't). The other two in California. [/nq] Logic does not imply that a birthplace should determine accent more powerfully than many years of residence.
- [nq:1]My grandma was born in the South, and the oldest was born in Texas (logically, she should have a Texas accent if it should differ, but she doesn't).
- The other two in California.
- [/nq] Logic does not imply that a birthplace should determine accent more powerfully than many years of residence.
- I lived the first five years of my life in lowlands Scotland: and had since childhood no trace of a Scotch accent.
- [nq:1].
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8 Answers
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[nq:1]My grandma was born in the South, and the oldest was born in Texas (logically, she should have a Texas accent if it should differ, but she doesn't). The other two in California. The family moved to Californiawhen the oldest sister was around 4.[/nq]
Logic does not imply that a birthplace should determine accent more powerfully than many years of residence. I lived the first five years o
Logic does not imply that a birthplace should determine accent more powerfully than many years of residence. I lived the first five years o
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"Larry G" (Email Removed) writes:
[nq:1]I've got a question about accents I've always wondered about. Out of my two aunts (sisters) the oldest has always ... of siblings where one or all of you have differing accents even though you've had similar childhoods and life experiences?[/nq]
It's a question of identification. Girls typically pick up a classier accent than boys because they set t
[nq:1]I've got a question about accents I've always wondered about. Out of my two aunts (sisters) the oldest has always ... of siblings where one or all of you have differing accents even though you've had similar childhoods and life experiences?[/nq]
It's a question of identification. Girls typically pick up a classier accent than boys because they set t
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in message ...
[nq:1]Fran Drescher (in TV roles) affects a Brooklyn Jewish accent (which is different from a Manhattan Jewish accent.)[/nq]
Yep. I just meant that it has that nasal quality. But, I'd characterize it as more northeastern Midwestern Ohio-like speech. The strange thing is that her husband, who was actually raised in Ohio doesn't have that accent. His accent is closer to the C
[nq:1]Fran Drescher (in TV roles) affects a Brooklyn Jewish accent (which is different from a Manhattan Jewish accent.)[/nq]
Yep. I just meant that it has that nasal quality. But, I'd characterize it as more northeastern Midwestern Ohio-like speech. The strange thing is that her husband, who was actually raised in Ohio doesn't have that accent. His accent is closer to the C
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<< Is it a social or class issue?
Not necessarily.
[nq:1]Can a person adopt a "foreign" accent from adifferent circle of friends.[/nq]
Yes
[nq:1]I've always thought that children wouldfrequently adopt an accent of a new environment, but not an adult, and not after leaving there (Ohio) for several years.[/nq]
Some adults only need hear it to unconciously imitate it. It is
Not necessarily.
[nq:1]Can a person adopt a "foreign" accent from adifferent circle of friends.[/nq]
Yes
[nq:1]I've always thought that children wouldfrequently adopt an accent of a new environment, but not an adult, and not after leaving there (Ohio) for several years.[/nq]
Some adults only need hear it to unconciously imitate it. It is
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[nq:1]The best I can describe it is her pronunciation of the word "sequoia". The rest of the family would pronounce ... the Midwest or East. It's kind of the family joke, which is what spurred my interest in the whole thing.[/nq]
I don't know what the pronunciation is that you're trying to describe as "se-kwahh-ya", but I assure you that in the East where I'm from, "sequoia" has the same diph
I don't know what the pronunciation is that you're trying to describe as "se-kwahh-ya", but I assure you that in the East where I'm from, "sequoia" has the same diph
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[nq:2]The best I can describe it is her pronunciation of ... which is what spurred my interest in the whole thing.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know what the pronunciation is that you're trying to describe as "se-kwahh-ya", but I assure you that in the East where I'm from, "sequoia" has the same diphthong as "boy", same as you.[/nq]
Maybe it's a French influence.
'ir-&-"kwoi also -"kwä ).
[nq:1]I don't know what the pronunciation is that you're trying to describe as "se-kwahh-ya", but I assure you that in the East where I'm from, "sequoia" has the same diphthong as "boy", same as you.[/nq]
Maybe it's a French influence.
'ir-&-"kwoi also -"kwä ).
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[nq:2]I don't know what the pronunciation is that you're trying ... "sequoia" has the same diphthong as "boy", same as you.[/nq]
[nq:1]'ir-&-"kwoi also -"kw=E4 ).[/nq]
And likewise my pronunciation of "Sequoia" has the "boy" diphthong. The pronunciation Larry G describes reminds me, actually, of how I hear words like "lawyer" and "sawyer" pronounced by Western US speakers: i.e., (A
[nq:1]'ir-&-"kwoi also -"kw=E4 ).[/nq]
And likewise my pronunciation of "Sequoia" has the "boy" diphthong. The pronunciation Larry G describes reminds me, actually, of how I hear words like "lawyer" and "sawyer" pronounced by Western US speakers: i.e., (A
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[nq:1]And likewise my pronunciation of "Sequoia" has the "boy" diphthong. The pronunciation Larry G describes reminds me, actually, of how I hear words like "lawyer" and "sawyer" pronounced by Western US speakers: i.e., (A jR) or (A. jR) rather than a pronunciation rhyming with "coyer".[/nq]
Hmm. I guess I just don't understand why she pronounces it that way and nasally, and the rest o
Hmm. I guess I just don't understand why she pronounces it that way and nasally, and the rest o
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