Author Topic: What Kind of American English Do You Speak? (Non-Americans encouraged to reply) (Read 15650 times)

Ellemeno · « **on:** November 04, 2006, 04:17:55 am »

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English

20% Dixie

20% Yankee

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

Penthesilea · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2006, 04:56:10 am »

As most of you know, I'm not only non-American, but also not a native English speaker. And have never been to the US in my life. But for the fun of it, I participated.

***Your Linguistic Profile:***

50% General American English

25% Yankee

20% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

There are 5% missing

Uuups. Just noticed Celeste is missing 5%, too.
Maybe for 5% we don't speak at all. That must be the Ennis-side in all of us

Kazza · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2006, 05:05:54 am »

Well, I was born and raised in London, so I was interested to see what I would get:

Your Linguistic Profile:
45% General American English
15% Yankee
5% Dixie
5% Midwestern
5% Upper Midwestern

Karen

delalluvia · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2006, 01:51:28 pm »

Very bizarre results since I was born and raised in the American Southwest and have never been back east.

Your Linguistic Profile:
50% General American English
25% Dixie
15% Yankee
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern

RouxB · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2006, 02:20:08 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:
45% General American English
15% Dixie
15% Upper Midwestern
15% Yankee
0% Midwestern

That was tough as I was born and spent much of my early life in the south. My speech has changed drastically even from my early teen years. I pronounce words and use much different terminology than I did when I was young and from what I grew up with. Oddly my sister, who is 18 months older and shares my southern beginnings, and my brother who is 8 years younger and was born and raised in southern CA, do are more similar in their speech and more similar to my parents.

I am so adrift in the world

Mikaela · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2006, 02:37:55 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English
30% Yankee
15% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern

Huh. I'd have expected my percentage of General American to be much higher. Then again, I'd have expected the percentages to add up to 100.

I note that my results are similar to Penthesilea's. Interesting, since we don't share first languages but do share a history of being non-native English speakers who haven't ever lived in the US.

What is Yankee, anyway? Is that closer to British-English? (Over here, "Yankee" is used simply as another term for "American". I'm sure Scarlett O'Hara would have been horrified.)

serious crayons · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2006, 03:02:02 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:
55% General American English
20% Upper Midwestern
10% Yankee
5% Dixie
5% Midwestern

My profile makes sense, as I am Midwestern. I'm guessing my 5% Dixie comes from entirely from the fact that I say "y'all." When I lived in New Orleans, I quickly adopted "y'all" because I like it better than "you guys." It's more gender-neutral, and nobody says "you guys" down there (and they laugh outright at "pop"!).

Mikaela, in most parts of this country "Yankee" is typically used to refer to people who live in New England. In my experience Southerners only occasionally apply it to Northerners -- and then, sort of ironically. Certainly not like they did in Scarlett's day.

nakymaton · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2006, 07:44:28 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English
20% Yankee
10% Upper Midwestern
5% Dixie
0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

This makes sense: my parents are from the upper Midwest, but I was born and raised in New England (not just New England, but the most Yankee part of New England... north and east of the Northeast), and I've lived all around the country.

Don't know where the 5% Dixie crept into my speech.

It's interesting that it doesn't include any of the Western variants of American English -- the Midwest pretty much stops at Kansas, and Dixie stops at Texas, in my mental map of the country. Perhaps Californians change too fast (both in populations and in linguistic characteristics) to be distinctive. And the folks from, say, Wyoming don't talk much or something.

Also, it is very amusing that it doesn't add to 100%. Yay, American education!

one_of_one · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2006, 07:57:44 pm »

***Your Linguistic Profile:***

50% General American English

25% Yankee

10% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

I'm British, and I had to answer about three of the questions with things I never say because there wasn't another option.

Shakesthecoffecan · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2006, 08:28:05 pm »

I am:

35% Dixie
30% General American English
15% Yankee
10% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern

But I think I sound like a damn hilbilly.

cmr107 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:45:12 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

15% Yankee

10% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

Interesting. I was born in Arizona, but moved to Illinois when I was 9 months old. My parents are both from the south, but I've lived in the Midwest my whole life.

ednbarby · « **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:19:18 am »

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English

20% Yankee

15% Upper Midwestern

5% Midwestern

0% Dixie

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

moremojo · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:30:26 am »

Kinda interesting for a Texas boy who was an English major:

Your Linguistic Profile:
50% General American English
20% Dixie
20% Yankee
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern

louisev · « **Reply #13 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:39:20 am »

I guess I must be a Yankee:

45% Yankee

25% General American English

10% Dixie

10% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

Kelda · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2006, 12:00:57 pm »

Okay you guys know I'm scottish..

What is the four wheeled contraption you push around your groceries in?
Buggy
Carriage
Shopping / grocery cart

SHOPPING TROLLEY!

You work out in...
Tennis shoes
Sneakers

TRAINERS!!

The second syllable in pajamas sounds like:
The A in jam
The A in father

I PRONOUNCE THEM THE SAME!

***Your Linguistic Profile:***

50% General American English

30% Yankee

15% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

southendmd · « **Reply #15 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:09:01 pm »

I am wicked Yankee! This quiz was pissah! I also just voted for Teddy Kennedy.

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% Yankee

30% General American English

10% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

starboardlight · « **Reply #16 on:** November 07, 2006, 09:47:17 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

10% Dixie

10% Yankee

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

Ellemeno · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2006, 12:10:34 am »

Starbie, you have by far the highest score in General American English so far. I know you speak excellent English, but isn't it your second or even thrd language?

David In Indy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:37:17 am »

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% Dixie

25% Midwestern

5% General American English

0% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

brokebackjack · « **Reply #19 on:** November 08, 2006, 03:35:07 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

how the hell did dixie get in there?

??

brokebackjack · « **Reply #20 on:** November 08, 2006, 03:45:46 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

1--How the hell did Dixie get in there, I've been to the south ONCE and that was almost 30 years ago. Didn't like it. HAHA Your Bushy LOST !!!!! HAHA

2-- Blessedly, there is no Midwest whatsoever, for which I thank God, as I was born in NYC and not Kansas...As for Upper Midwest I don't even know what it IS. Or WHERE it is: Minnesota???/Michigan?

3--I wonder what it will look like 5 years from now, after living in the Rockies.

Marge_Innavera · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2006, 12:14:25 pm »

I always suspected my speech was totally mongrelized!

45% General American English

30% Dixie

10% Yankee

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

And no apologies for the "Dixie" part: I grew in Atlanta during the Civil Rights era and damned proud of it. Screw the snobs.

Toast · « **Reply #22 on:** November 16, 2006, 09:02:09 pm »

Your Linguistic Profile:

40% Yankee

35% General American English

10% Upper Midwestern

5% Dixie

5% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

And I am from Canada - mmmm

min · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2009, 05:48:09 pm »

You Speak General American English!

55% General American English

25% Yankee

15% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

I've been asked by Americans if I'm from the midwest...

Shasta542 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:00:35 pm »

You Speak General American English!

60% General American English

25% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

5% Yankee

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

louisev · « **Reply #25 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:06:36 pm »

You Speak Yankee!

you bet I do!

50% Yankee

30% General American English

10% Dixie

10% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

brokeplex · « **Reply #26 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:53:13 pm »

yep, can't complain about that.

55% Dixie

25% General American English

15% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

Shasta542 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:57:51 pm »

Quote from: brokeplex on April 11, 2009, 06:53:13 pm

yep, can't complain about that.

55% Dixie

25% General American English

15% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

I expected to have more DIXIE than I did. Oh well, I guess the low % is because of my Missouri upbringing.

And, in case anyone's confused--it's Missour-EE NOT Missour-UH

brokeplex · « **Reply #28 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:01:57 pm »

Quote from: Shasta542 on April 11, 2009, 06:57:51 pm

I expected to have more DIXIE than I did. Oh well, I guess the low % is because of my Missouri upbringing.

And, in case anyone's confused--it's Missour-EE NOT Missour-UH

where I was raised, I am surprised it isn't 90%. perhaps the mass media culture has had an effect on all of our speech patterns. too bad.

I always have said "missour - ee".

what part of the country says "missour - uh"?

Lynne · « **Reply #29 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:03:45 pm »

You Speak General American English!

40% General American English

30% Dixie

25% Yankee

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Shasta542 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:11:09 pm »

what part of the country says "missour - uh"?

I don't know, but I've heard people say it.

And many around here say Ill-uh-noize!!!!!

brokeplex · « **Reply #31 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:13:44 pm »

really Illin-noize? I have always said Illinoi, well we say it more like Ill-i-noi-ee draggiing out the vowels.

BayCityJohn · « **Reply #32 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:51:29 pm »

I started out speaking in New Jerseyian, with hints of Scotland, but by the time I started school I was speaking Oklahoman.

When we moved back to NJ, my cousins couldn't understand everything we said and they called us 'Southerners'

From the 2nd through the 6th grade I went to school and lived on miltary bases, so I was influenced by just about every American accent. We also lived in Germany for 3 years during that time and I had a lot of German friends, so I also picked up some of their accents.

We ended up living in Michigan when my father retired from the Army, so I picked up a Michigan accent which is perly influenced by Canadian English.

One of the best things about being on these forums is that people can usually understand what I type, because most people can't understand me when I talk.

Lynne · « **Reply #33 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:52:49 pm »

Quote from: BayCityJohn on April 11, 2009, 07:51:29 pm

I started out speaking in New Jerseyian, with hints of Scotland, but by the time I started school I was speaking Oklahoman.

When we moved back to NJ, my cousins couldn't understand everything we said and they called us 'Southerners'

From the 2nd through the 6th grade I went to school and lived on miltary bases, so I was influenced by just about every American accent. We also lived in Germany for 3 years during that time and I had a lot of German friends, so I also picked up some of their accents.

We ended up living in Michigan when my father retired from the Army, so I picked up a Michigan accent which is perly influenced by Canadian English.

One of the best things about being on these forums is that people can usually understand what I type, because most people can't understand me when I talk.

I've never had any trouble understanding you, John! Miss you, bud!

Aloysius J. Gleek · « **Reply #34 on:** April 11, 2009, 08:36:23 pm »

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/results/?AM=40&Y=35&D=20&UPM=5&M=0

You Speak General American English!

40% General American English

35% Yankee

20% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

Hmmm. My parents were born furriners, but I am a born and bred New Yorker. As the poet Philip Larkin said about parents : "They fuck you up, your mum and dad--"

As I got older, and went to primary school, I purposely shed certain things, carefully writing 'color' instead of 'colour,' 'gray' instead of 'grey,' and NEVER pronounced GA-rahj. I said guh-RAHJ.

Again, hmmm. 35% Yankee? All these years, I must have been channeling Katherine Hepburn--but her accent was also partially constructed and enhanced, too.

20% Dixie? Well, exactly 20 years ago, I accidently fell into a New Orleans coterie-cabal here in New York, and I have been with them ever since, and I have been in N. O. many times. If any of it rubbed off, I'm glad!

Whew. 'You Speak General American English?' Good!

(And good thing it all adds up to 100%, or I would have been worried that some of my left lobe had trickled out of my ear....

)

News:

Author Topic: What Kind of American English Do You Speak? (Non-Americans encouraged to reply) (Read 15650 times)

one_of_one

moremojo

Marge_Innavera