September 20, 2004

Speak English

by David Sturtz

Read an article in the New York Times on the pronunciation of Italian words in New York and New Jersey and went off on a tangent. Found a “guide to Philadelphia English” from the City Paper. Also a more technical discussion of the Philadelphia Dialect.

I also discovered a very interesting Harvard dialect survey with maps of the results. Among the more divisive terms are the well-know differences in the word for a “sweetened carbonated beverage”, the “paper container used to bring home items you bought at the store”, and the pronunciation of “Florida”.

As a transplanted Iowan I’ve picked up “soda”, was previously unaware of the bag/sack dilemma, and have made a conscious attempt to crack myself up by routinely saying “Flah-rida” (and “hah-rrible”). To communicate clearly I try to remember to say “tahl” for towel and “tohr” for tour. I’ve also discovered my Iowa accent, saying “ruhf” for roof and “ruht” for root. I know what people mean when they say they have to “tap MAC”, and I try to remember that here you “call out” sick, rather than calling in. So much to remember…